Chipping

[Jon Page]

I run a strip of masking tape along the agraffs or pressure ridge too
but mark all the sharps with a line. That way I have my bearings from
the 'keyboard' configuration of the marks.

Also, if you had used a measuring guide (other than 4 fingers) to cut
the wire you can be assured the becket placement will be consistent.
( read - Becket Tool )
So express chipping can be accomplished simply by becket placement
to get tension on the strings. Initially pulling the beckets to 1:00 with a
stringing hook is in one hand and the hammer in the other, zips right along.
Space strings (ESPECIALLY the tenor section over the wide cloth 
counter bearing), tap coils, squeeze beckets.
Then pull to 2:00. Check pitch and chip via plucking. check coils.

Once the tension is up it's time to trash the tension by squeezing the wire
at the 
hitch pin; removing the natural curve on the duplex, bridge pins,
v-bar/agraffs
and counter bearing bar. Tension may need to be re-established intermittently.

Double check coils on pins.

tune, tune , level strings, tune, fit hammers to strings, tune

Tired yet?

Regulate, install dampers, and yes, you guessed it; tune. fit hammers to
strings,
tune.

repeat as necessary.

I'm tired just writing this.

Jon Page
Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. (jpage@capecod.net)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At 11:43 AM 7/5/98 EDT, you wrote:
>In a message dated 98-07-05 08:42:22 EDT, you write:
>
><< So I'm looking for an aural tuning shceme. >>
>
>Jerry;
> I agree with what Dr. C. and Dale have said, and include the following for
>your consideration:
>Place masking tape on the strings just below the pins and above the first
>pressure point, usually this will put it on the plate felts...thats ok just
>don't press it down too hard.  Label each note on the tape, starting at one
>end with a magic marker.
>This will take a minute or two but if you are like me it will save a lot of
>Duh'ing and aw shucks's by keepin you on the correct note without stopping to
>count every so often. Try it you will like it.  
>P.S. As soon as you can justify an ETD it will make this process much easier
>as well as faster.
>Just my opinion.
>Jim Bryant (FL)  
>
>