<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2919.6307" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I tuned a square grand from the back, = once. Rather than plucking the strings, I had the customer repeatedly hit all the = notes, as required.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>He hasn't called me back to tune it, I = wonder why. :-)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>John M. Ross</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: = 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net" = title=jonpage@mediaone.net>Jon Page</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title=pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, February 14, 2000 = 9:51 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Steinway = square</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=3>A few of these, I would not have = attempted to remove the lid by myself;<BR>let alone struggle to get it moved away = from the wall.<BR><BR>But it sounds like a good way to tune from the = back.<BR><BR>A method I use for locating the correct pins quickly in the temperament:<BR>Front rail punchings with the hole punched larger and = the letters of the<BR>naturals written thereon. After muting, (only two strings/note) I place<BR>the punchings on the appropriate pins. The = sharps are easily distinguished<BR>at this point. This indexing facilitates the = tuning process.<BR>Once the temperament is set, it's just tuned chromatically.<BR><BR>The Historical Society down the street has a = Woodward & Brown. It's tuned<BR>once per year for their Valentine Tea (hey- = they skipped this year!  :-(<BR>I'll call when they open, maybe they = forgot. maybe they stopped the Tea :-)<BR>The pins have just enough grip to = maintain a fair tuning 1/2 tone flat,<BR>Someone tried to sell them a big = "restoration" (would have been "devastation")<BR>saying that when it was done it = would be worth $100,00.00. Fortunately I was<BR>able to get it playing and the = broken strings replaced for a minimal charge (free).<BR>However, I am now a = Life Member of the Society. See, there are perks.<BR>So once per year I = maintain the tuning to maintain my membership.<BR><BR>Squares can be a good = education and are definitely a source of frustration.<BR>Know when to say when.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>Jon Page<BR><BR>At 08:20 PM 02/13/2000 = -0500, you wrote:<BR>>Hi Jon,<BR>><BR>>I have to confess, I have not = tuned one of these beasts.  But a friend of<BR>>mine told me how he = tunes them, and perhaps he's on to something.<BR>><BR>>He tells me that when = he can, he will remove the lid and the damper<BR>>assembly, and tune from = behind by plucking the strings instead of trying to<BR>>tune like we normally = do by playing the key.<BR>><BR>>It might not work so well if one can't = get behind the beast, but if one<BR>>can...<BR>><BR>>I too have = heard of the wonderful work tables these things can be = converted<BR>>to.  Very solid.<BR>><BR>>FWIW.<BR>><BR>>Brian = Trout<BR>>Quarryville, PA<BR>>btrout@desupernet.net<BR>><BR>>> Lying prostrate = across the strings to tune, praying that a string does not<BR>>> = break<BR>>> or an action part; ending up with a fatigued back . . .<BR>>><BR>>> There is a reason these instrument fell into = disfavor.<BR>>><BR>>> The last two I encountered have been = turned into work tables.<BR>>> And good ones at that.<BR>> = </FONT><BR> <DIV>Jon Page,   piano technician</DIV> <DIV>Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.</DIV> <DIV><A href="mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net" = EUDORA="AUTOURL">mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net</A></DIV>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~= ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>