[CAUT] Advice for achieving stability sooner?

[Don Mannino]

Diane,

I think Ron's comments are square on the nose.  The number one issue is
that these are new pianos, fresh from the factory, and were not tuned
anywhere near enough.  You can let the school know that 4 tunings in the
first year is normally recommended by any piano manufacturer.

Practically speaking, you can't simulate the passage of time and force
the pianos to settle down.  The wood is unstable for a while, and so are
the strings.  But there are some things that can help.  The question
becomes (as some have alluded to), will you be paid for stabilizing the
pianos, or is once a year pitch-raise and tuning all the school wants?

I am teaching my Tuning Stability class at the PNW convention on March
7th in the morning.  In that class I demonstrate a process that will
stabilize a new piano (or newly restrung piano) as quickly as possible.
Besides the usual pitch raise and tune, it will take another 20-30
minutes of string work to speed up the string settling process.

Another thing that I truly believe helps new pianos settle down faster
is to make them afraid of you.  :-D  This means pulling each string
quite sharp during the pitch raise, using a pounding tool and hitting
the key very hard as you settle it back down to the recommended overpull
point. I think mostly this helps to settle the capo bar string bend into
position a little, but it also helps the string to render through the
full length.  It's stressful on the arm, too, but a good pounding tool
helps.  But that piano might just try to stay in tune longer just to
keep you from coming back and beating on it so hard!

In the end, though, the customer is boss.  Let's just hope they don't
blame the piano or you for the sour tone through the rest of the year!
They need to tune these pianos more.

Don Mannino RPT
Kawai America
www.kawaius.com



-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Diane Hofstetter
Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 11:52 PM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: [CAUT] Advice for achieving stability sooner?


I just got a contract tuning 9 almost new Kawai UST-9 studio pianos at a
local community college.  The pianos were purchased last year about this
time and delivered directly to the college, through a snow storm, which
we rarely have in this part of the world.  Then they were unboxed in the
new music building, DC heating rods with HD humidistats installed, pitch
raised and tuned (all the same day).
 
Now a year of no service at all has gone by, and I have to get them
sounding decent.  I started one today.  It was about 30-40cents flat.
After a pitch raise and tuning, I now think it is ready for a tuning!
 
I'm considering doing less careful pitch raises, but doing two of them
before I try to tune.  Have also wondered about tapping strings on
bridges.
 
If anyone can give me advice for making the job less back-breaking and
higher quality, I will be very grateful!

Diane Hofstetter