In a message dated 5/29/98 7:32:50 PM Central Daylight Time, PDtek@aol.com writes: << You measure the 2nd partial, stop the pattern, and tune the octave. Just like a Site-O-Tuner. Dave Bunch >> This does not compensate for inharmonicity within the temperament octave. It also assumes that you only want a 2:1 octave. This would rarely be an ideal stretch. Any kind of Strobe Tuner is inadequate for tuning a piano. It does not provide the right information and is not nearly sensitive enough. If what I say shocks you because you have used one for many years and still do so, you must simply recognize that you could never meet that standards required to pass the PTG RPT Tuning exam by using one. If you did try this, you might accidentally come within passing range of the temperament section but there are still all of the other octaves to tune. Using the Strobe Tuner to arbitrarily tune 2:1 octaves will show errors on your Exam score form. These errors will be able to be verified by skilled aural tuners. You may be able to tune to exactly what the Strobe Tuner says is right but the problem will be that it is exactly wrong. Again, you just might be able to come withing passing range but the Strobe Tuner does not tell you what you really need to know. Even if you are able to barely pass the electronic portion of the Exam with a Strobe Tuner, you must then prove that you can do 2 octaves entirely by ear up to a certain standard which is very leniant in most tuning professionals' opinions. If you depend upon a Strobe Tuner and are not able to tune by ear, the work you are doing does not meet today's professional standards. If you are not able to tune by ear and desire to produce professional quality tunings, you need to use a more sophisticated ETD. The cheapest available is the Yamaha PT-100. You might also be able to find a used Sight-O-Tuner for sale at a bargain. Soon, the SAT III will be on the market and you might expect many people to be wanting to sell their old SAT II's at a bargain price. I agree with those who say that it might be useful in chipping a piano or for tuning other kinds of instruments. However, if you own an ETD which is really useful for tuning a piano, you can use it for that too. In summation the Strobe Tuner is an obsolete tuning device. Even though it may have helped many people over many years do a better job than they could do entirely by ear, time and technology both in aural and electronic tuning have progressed greatly in the last 20 years. To meet current standards and expectations, you need to have up-to-date skills and tools. The best source for the knowledge and skill is PTG. The best source of information on tools and their suppliers is also PTG. Those who feel that they cannot "afford" to attend the Annual Convention coming up in about 6 weeks should look for a way to make it a priority in their lives. They will be missing the most important opportunity to better themselves in their profession that there is. Bill Bremmer RPT Madison, Wisconsin
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