May Their Practice rooms be filled with 1098's

[Paul]

Terry
A technique I use that seems to help: when the string comes to pitch, hold
your tuning hammer and hit the note with several quick firm blows. Ease back
on the hammer without turning the pin. There seems to be an equalization of
tension between the tuning pin and string segment above the speaking length.
I haven't thought this through as to why it works, but it does. Maybe some
one who knows will explain it.

Paul Chick
----- Original Message -----
From: Terry Sheetz <tsheetz@mediaone.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2000 7:18 AM
Subject: Re: May Their Practice rooms be filled with 1098's


> I tune these new for delivery in a Seinway dealer's shop/warehouse. The
three
> in-house tuners spread the "opportunity" :-)  around so none of us has to
do
> them all, though it seems I as the rookie am allowed more frequent
> "opportunity". On a day's tuning list of 10-15 various pianos we tend to
tune
> around them on the list until they are the only ones left. I was given two
very
> good suggestions about tuning them that really help. First, use the tuning
> lever in a 10 o'clock position. Secondly, avoid taking the string
high--this
> helps the rendering problem as it is tough to get it back down stably.
> Other suggestions?
>
> Terry Sheetz
> Associate
>
>
> Farrell wrote:
>
> > Ahhh, the 1098. Sounds like Christopher has not had the pleasure yet. Go
> > find a new one - the experience will be intensified. I learned to tune
on a
> > 1098. Actually, it was a 1098 that first introduced me to piano
technology -
> > i.e. by trying to understand the 40,000 (slight exaggeration - but only
> > slight) defects in the piano.
> >
> > The main feature is tight tuning pins, no plate bushings, and a
> > "V-bar"/pressure bar design that does not easily permit wire to slide on
> > through. So, you have nearly-Baldwin-tight tuning pins to deal with,
along
> > with wire that will not pass (easily) from the speaking length to the
> > segment at the tuning pin, and no plate bushings make for Big-Time
> > flagpoling tuning pins and speaking lengths whose pitch rises or drops
in
> > 1/10-step increments. And that is on a 1098 that does not have other
> > problems.
> >
> > They get slightly more mellow with age because the pins loosen up, but
the
> > speaking length still does not render well. And if you have one that is
25
> > years old, it's likely falling apart anyway. I have several that I
service
> > regularly and they don't bother me too much. You get used to them if you
see
> > enough. But they STILL are the among the most challenging pianos to
tune.
> > It's such a pitty though, because there is no good reason for it.
> >
> > If you like this kind of product badgering, please email me privately.
> > Thanks for the opportunity to sound off!  :-)
> >
> > BTW, Christopher, where you from?
> >
> > Terry Farrell
> > Piano Tuning & Service
> > Tampa, Florida
> > mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Christopher Witmer" <cdwitmer@spamcop.net>
> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 10:26 PM
> > Subject: Re: May Their Practice rooms be filled with 1098's
> >
> > > Okay, as a newbie I don't want to be the only one not in the know:
> > > what's so bad about a Steinway 1098? Why don't you like servicing
them?
> > > Thanks!
> > >
>