The Burrows had rather rusty bars--they'd been turned over to hide it! And, yes, I thought that cleaning them up made the tone a little better: clearer, with less sizzle. But I'd strongly recommend testing one first. If they're steel (try a magnet), it might be advantageous to use "naval jelly" (phosphoric acid), as it will return some of the rust to iron, thus making less change in the bars' mass (that could affect tuning?). Again, a trial bar first!
Doug
On Sun, 27 Jun 2010, denisikeler at aol.com wrote:
> I'm in the process of going through a Schiedmayer right now.
>
> The tone bars, except right where the hammer hits them, are very tarnished. Would shining them up with some Flitz be a good idea? Would that perhaps improve their tone or sustain?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Denis Ikeler
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Douglas E. Wood <dew2 at u.washington.edu>
> To: caut at ptg.org
> Sent: Sat, Jun 26, 2010 6:21 pm
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Schiedmayer Celesta
>
> Now that I'm getting to emails, I thought I'd make a few comments on this thread. I'm sort of getting to be the local "expert" on celestas, having actually regulated/repaired all of four! But
> basically what I've done is to follow Steve Carver's excellent Journal article, mentioned in one of these posts ('93?). I have been able to apply it to all 4 very different instruments, as one
> would use a recipe in the kitchen using available food and tools. The principles apply very well throughout, combined with some experience with keyboards in general.
>
> The four makes that I've worked on are Schiedmayer (an older one), Mustel (a very old one), Richard Burrows (England), and one of unknown and likely hobbyist make. As I say, they all responded to
> the recipe pretty well, with some piano-style repairs added.
>
> As to pitch, these four have been from A440 to A443. I was told that it generally works better to have the celesta at a pitch slightly above the nominal pitch of the orchestra (the one we use when
> tuning the piano), as there is very low on no inharmonicity, and the high notes blend better. 1 to 2 hz high seems the preferred amount. The Mustel is at A443, and is in use at the Pacific
> Northwest Ballet. It is a little uncomfortable for them when the orchestra is at A440.
>
> I looked into tuning, and decided that I'd leave it to the percussion specialists. The tone bars, after all, are similar to those in some other percussion instruments. It is a matter of adding or
> subtracting metal in the right places, and I decided that I did not wish to learn that specialty at this time.
>
> Doug
>
> On Mon, 21 Jun 2010, Richard Brekne wrote:
>
> > Thanks Gary... I was planning on calling them, but its great to have a name to ask for. I'd love any copies of service manuals you could provide, and I'd echo the thought about PDF format if
> thats
> > possible.
> > > The funny thing is that the Philharmonic has two of these.. a large and small one. The small one is used for touring and is oddly enough tuned to 440. The other one is tuned to 442 which is
> > standard pitch here. And the orchestra is really adamant about using 442. I checked it for the first time a few days back as the orchestra dug it out of its hiding place to take up to a short
> trip
> > gig a couple hours drive from here and noticed its pitch after getting done with tuning the grand... Seems they've had it for years (looks like it too I might add) and no one had ever noticed it
> > was 2 hz flat of everything else.
> > > Go figure :)
> > > Ric
> > > Ric,
> > We're getting on in July-August. tuned 440.
> >
> > Very good assistance from Elianne Schiedmayer and her technical staff.
> > Perhaps we can trade notes. I have some tech manuals I'll try to forward directly.
> > > > Schiedmayer Celesta GmbH
> > Schäferhauser Str.10/2
> > 73240 Wendlingen / Germany
> > Tel. ++49 - (0)7024 - 5019840
> > Fax ++49 - (0)7024 - 5019841
> > www.celesta-schiedmayer.de
> > schiedmayer.stuttgart at t-online.de
> > Geschäftsführerin/CEO:Elianne Schiedmayer
> > HRB 225560 Amtsgericht Stuttgart
> > > Best,
> > Gerry C
> > Gerald P. Cousins,RPT
> > > Musical Instrument Technical Services
> > West Chester
> > University College of Visual & Performing Arts
> > gcousins at wcupa.edu
> > 01.610.436.2634
> > > > > > > Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2010 23:16:59 +0200
> > > From: ricb at pianostemmer.no
> > > To: caut at ptg.org
> > > Subject: [CAUT] Schiedmayer Celesta
> > >
> > > Hi folks
> > >
> > >
> > > I find my self in need of any information as to regulating and tuning
> > > one of these. I have not opened the thing yet, and looked at the website
> > > of the company without finding all that much of help beyond an action
> > > diagram.
> > >
> > > Looks like these are not something one can just tune without further
> > > ado.... but that the case I at least need any basic action regulation
> > > advice I can get
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > > RicB
> >
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>
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