>From Sy Zabrocki RPT=09 Circumstances on a job last week has prompted me to post this topic Fork = or Float. A lady here has two Steinway grands which I tune twice a year. = In January both pianos were flat 14 cents (at least in mid range). Now = in July both were sharp 12 cents. So in the winter we yank them up to = pitch, in the summer we push 'em down. This classic example reminded me of a symposium held at the PTG = Convention in Kansas City in 1994. A panel of several members was = selected to debate the issue. Some members defended the principal that = we should always tune exactly to the "fork" at A-440. Others defended = the concept that it is permissible to "float". Float means that if the = pitch is 12 cents sharp in the summer it is OK to tune maybe 6 cents = sharp knowing that in a couple of months the humidity will decrease and = the pitch will settle down to A-440 on it's own. Likewise in the winter, = if the pitch is flat 12 cents, then tune maybe 6 cents flat knowing in = the spring it will rise to A-440 on it's own. The debate was about an hour and half. Those on the fork side stated it = will probably be necessary to tune twice anyway so tune to 440. The = piano is out-of-tune, you've been called and it your duty to tune = A-4440.=20 I can't remember all the points stated. The float members believed the = tuning should involve as little movement in the strings as possible to = put the piano in tune.Over many years this would be less wear in the = tuning pin holes. The average customer is not going to notice 6 or 8 = cents flat of sharp. Of course we tune to 440 in a concert situation. =20 If you inclined to the float theory then you will have to deal with the = bass. The bass many times hardly moves at all. If tuning sharp for = instance, then maybe you would have to raise the bass, or lower if in = the winter. But there fewer strings in the bass than in the mid and = treble range.=20 I've tuned school pianos a little sharp without my conscience bothering = me. Tuning flat seems like a greater offense. I do admit to tuning these two Steinways last week at A-441.=20 Until the convention in 1994 I had not heard of this term Fork or Float = nor has it been mentioned since. Sy Zabrocki--RPT--Billings, MT only4zab@imt.net
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC