Octaves?

[Joe & Penny Goss]

Wrong wire size
Joe
----------
> From: Edward Carwithen <musicman@eoni.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Octaves?
> Date: Friday, July 17, 1998 11:46 AM
> 
> First off, I am totally impressed with the erudition and knowledge of the
> guys contributing to this list.  Today's answers to the sticking dampers
on
> Steinways.. Wow!
> 
> My problem is more mundane.
> 
> Tuning an old "Valley Gem" upright.  It's in pretty good condition, Atlas
> says manufactured between 1895-1900.  The FAC on the Acutuner is
> 11.2-8.4-9.0.  That is consistent with what it measured last July when I
> tuned it last.
> 
>  I generally tune chromatically, using the SAT, and check octaves,
> consistent 3rds and 6ths, 5ths and 4ths as I go along.  When I got to G5,
> and A5, the octaves sounded out by an abnormal number of beats.  I double
> checked the G4 (while working on G5) and A4 (while working on A5), and
the
> lower octave was where I had put it, and was ok with rest of piano.  In
> order to get an acceptable octave with G4, I had to lower G5 9 cents. 
That
> was still a bit on the wide side.  A5 was the same situation.  That made
> the octaves sound all right, but the 3rd 10th test indicated that the
upper
> notes were way off.  I ended up compromising by tuning to the 3rd-10ths
and
> SAT, and living with a less than perfect sounding octave.  B5, and up ..
no
> problem.
> 
>   I did tap all the treble strings to the bridge before I started work on
> the piano, as there was a tremendous amount of ringing the last time I
did
> the piano.  It helped with the single string ring.
> 
>   Any ideas as to why those two particular notes had such strange
> properties????
> Ed Carwithen
> Oregon