A= 440 Fork modification?

[Dick Beaton]

Phil....
The temperature of the fork has an influence on the frequency.
Dick MT
-----Original Message-----
From: Kent Swafford <kswafford@earthlink.net>
To: pianotech list <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Wednesday, October 27, 1999 8:31 AM
Subject: Re: A= 440 Fork modification?


>Phil Bondi wrote:
>
>>I received an A=440 fork from a supply house we all know and love..and
>>it's a fine instrument.
>>
>>It registers on the SATll at 440 and 1 cent.
>>
>>I do not intend to pull hairs here..rather..I would like to know
>>if..during the Tuning Exam, there is a deduction for this? If I set A4 to
>>this fork and nail it, the SAT will read that A4 is 1c above 440.
>>
>>I thought I understood that there is a compensation factor built into the
>>test to accomodate such a phenomenon..is that correct?
>
>The tuning of A4 to A=440 constitutes an entire section of the PTG tuning
>exam. When this is scored, the exam piano's A is measured relative to 440
>with no consideration for the accuracy of your pitch source. Your pitch
>source is expected to be accurate.
>
>It is usually recommended that examinees tune their tuning fork (ahead of
>time) to give themselves the best advantage.
>
>However, although there are no "compensation factors" in measuring your A
>for the pitch section of the exam, there _are_ tolerances. If you miss
>440 by up to 1.0 cent your pitch score will still be 100. A three cent
>error on A4 yields the minimum passing pitch score of 80.
>
>Kent Swafford
>