World's Worst Tuner

[UNATUNER@aol.com]

The last time I saw a piano with a bass bridge uprooted and pulled at least
1/4 inch up toward the treble, I say "UH OH" some "*!@#$" raised the pitch
all at once!

My feeling is that the piano holds an enoumous strain from the tension of the
strings and it is the duty of the technician to respect what that tension can
do to a piano.  I know that bass bridges do not come loose and crawl up due
to old age and gravity!  I feel that I should at least respect the integrity
and structure of the piano by restoring this strain at  a slow and regular
pace.   I do however offer to the customer that the pitch can be raised in
one session, but if they want this service, they will have to sign a
disclaimer stating that I will not be held responsible for the consequences
which can include, although extremely rare, fracturing of the piano plate
which may render the piano useless and unrepairable.  (No one has ever agreed
to a pitch raise). Many people, however, have set up with me, a regular
program to raise pitch in a manner that is not potentially injurious to the
structure of the piano.  I am not lazy, I just believe that I have a duty to
preserve the piano in it's best condition for as long as possible, in
addition , only adding or subtracting tension in amounts no greater than
typical seasonal changes (do) cannot in any way be construed to be injurious
to the piano or incompetence on my part should an accident happen.

Over the years, I have experienced numerous bridge problems, especially
tipping of the bridges,  waves and curves in soundboards, and a few cracked
plates which I believe can only be caused by quick and sudden increases in
string tension and the effect this has on pulling the bridges toward the
treble.

I'm probably the Worlds Worst Tuner

Jerry Wood

P.S. Car tire pressure and piano plate tension are two completely different
things
PPSS.  Pianos that are tuned flat can be very useful instruments and I have
yet to read any studies where it ruins childrens ears.. In fact, was'nt
standard pitch A 435
at one time?  Pity, all those poor children!!!



In a message dated 97-03-31 00:59:22 EST, you write:

<<  Suppose you took your car into Schwab's and asked them to "check the
 > > tires".
 > > They do.
 > > As you drive down the street you notice your car is sloshing around as
 > > you change lanes or turn corners, so drive back in and ask them about
 > > what they did.
 > > "Sure, we checked them. Some had more pressure than others, so we made
 > > them all the same. They all have about 28 pounds pressure in them."
 > > "But the sidewall says they should have 35#, not 28#", you reply.
 > > "Oh, it doesn't matter, as long as they are all the same", they reply.
 > > Balogna! It DOES matter!
 > > Your piano was designed to have about 40,000 pounds of tension on it
 > > (about 35,000 pounds for spinets). That tension bleeds off over time,
 > > just as tires on a car go flat - whether it is driven, or whether it
just
 > > sits in the driveway. When the tension is allowed to bleed off, and the
 > > pitch to drop, it is like letting a fat lady out of a girdle. Glue
joints
 > > break loose, and the soundboard goes flat as the rim spreads and it can
 > > actually pull the soundboard apart. That is one reason we want to keep
 > > the piano up to pitch.
 > > Another reason is because if you hear flat tones, you will learn an
 > > incorrect sense of pitch. This is especially true of children, who will
 > > learn to sing flat if they grow up hearing a flat instrument, and will
 > > have a poor sense of developed pitch their whole lives."
 > > >>