Hazard of Accutuner ( Have I ruined my new bass strings ?)

[Billbrpt@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 11/12/98 9:55:34 AM Central Standard Time,
pianotoo@imap2.asu.edu writes:

<< What happened to you with the SAT is one reason I always tune the Bass 
 downward after tuning the treble. It is less likely that you will be tuning
 by the 5th or 7th partials if you have a treble reference. It is more 
 common to tune by the 7th partial when starting in the Bass because that is
 the first clear partial which you come to in pulling the pitch up to 
 where it registers on the SAT. Especially is it difficult to hear the pitch
 of the A0 on a small piano.
 
 Jim Coleman, Sr. >>

I always knew there might be a good reason not to tune a piano from A0.  I
know that many people do but to me, it just doesn't seem right.  I guess I
also have a good enough sense of pitch (but I would never call it *perfect*)
that I could not make this mistake.

That doesn't mean there might not be another reason why I might accidentally
tune a wound string a whole step high by mistake.  I have heard manufacturer's
reps caution not to tune a wound string more than 20¢ sharp yet I know that in
the factory, many have been tuned much sharper than that with no ill effects
afterwards.  This is especially true of the lowest double wound strings of a
small piano.

So, breath a sigh of relief, Russell, you may have merely accelerated their
break in time a little.

Franz Mohr used to recommend tuning a plain wire a whole step sharp when doing
a replacement before a concert.  Do that replacement before proceeding with
anything else and lower it the very last thing.  The tendency for the new
string to go flat will be counteracted by its wanting to go sharp after having
been so high.  I have done this many times and I must say, it works.

The natural question follows:  "What about a wound string?"  Franz replied
that tuning it a whole step sharp "might damage it".  He recommended a 1/2
step for a wound string.  I have always followed that advice and it has always
worked well.  The new string, either plain or wound treated this way will
still go flat later on but pulling it this extra amount high in an emergency
replacement will save the unison and the concert (and possibly your
reputation).

In a normal stringing circumstance however, I would recommend 25¢ and 50¢ for
the high treble.  Why?  Just for moderation's sake.  We must be moderate in
all things, including moderation itself.  I think the error made may have been
a little like driving your car 100 miles per hour.  You know it is not safe.
Your tires are probably only rated as safe up to 80 mph.  But, there was an
overriding circumstance and you did it and nothing happened.  So, you just go
on being careful not to let that mistake happen again.

If any of the strings do turn out to "buzz" you can still give them a twist to
cure the problem although I doubt that you will have one.

Sincerest regards,

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin