"Noise"

[Leslie W Bartlett]

Dear List:

Well, I seem to have stirred up a bunch of framming with the question
about doping hammers.  I have several
others..................................................................
Today's burst of trouble deals with a tuning I did today.  I told the
lady, 'Your piano is difficult to tune.", to which she replied, "Yes, I
know. Others have said the same.  Why is that so?"  And I couldn't answer
her to my satisfaction.  It was an 'inferior' piano, but that doesn't
explain anything, since the church where i direct music has an inferior
piano that is an utter delight.  "Inharmonicity" is another buzz word
that has a lot of overtones, but often doesn't communicate much.

The ratio of noise in the piano, relative to the sound of the fundamental
and partials, is quite high.  Nothing is really clear.  I have heard
other cheaper pianos with the same problems throughout, but some are very
clear.  Thus it can't be the "make" of the piano, since it isn't
consistent.

I would appreciate YOUR discoveries in this realm.


Leslie Bartlett M. Mus
Houston Chapter PTG
lesbart@juno.com