SAT Mystery

[Richard Oliver Snelson]

Dear Walter, 

I don't agree with your statement.  The SAT is an excellent tool to
assist one in his learning to tune by ear. Jim Coleman has recently put
out a video that explains some of the ways it can be used. Many of us
are studying by our self and can use the Sat to check either a completed
temp. or each of the steps after they are completed. 

It is in fact, I think a great way to learn hammer technique. I
understand you are moving the hammer based upon a visual reference, that
reference is extremely sensitive and can tell you very quickly if the
string has been rendered and is staying put. As you translate to "by
ear" tuning this same hammer technique applies. 

Richard  Oliver Snelson 



Walter Gramza wrote:
> 
> One should be able to tune by ear prior to purchasing the sat even
> Albert Sanderson states that.  All you guys that use these machines if
> the batteries went while tuning what would you do????? Or if the
> lights went out you would be up a creek without a paddle!!!!At 05:37
> PM 12/9/00 -0500, you wrote:
> 
> > Had finished installing new strings on 6' grand piano and had
> > chipped them
> > close to pitch.
> >
> > Got out my trusty SAT Accutuner II and started at middle C,
> > intending to work
> > down and then up.  Accutuner worked fine until I got to Bb (2).
> >  Then it
> > wouldn't register the note.  I tried moving the tuner, recalibrating
> > the FAC
> > numbers, trying a different grand piano stored tuning.  Nothing
> > worked.
> > Still registered fine above Bb(2)
> >
> > In experimenting I found that the lights stopped when I tuned Bb(2)
> > exactly
> > 1/2 step flat (in other words to A2) and all the other noted below
> > Bb(2) the
> > same 1/2 step flat.  I went ahead and tuned the bass by ear and then
> > started
> > up the piano using the same generic grand tuning I had stored in the
> >
> > accutuner.  When I got to Bb(5) exactly the same thing happened.  I
> > finished
> > the treble using the old fashioned but reliable "ear" method.
> >
> >
> > When I finished this piano I went to a Baldwin Studio piano in the
> > same
> > church and the accutuner worked perfectly.  Went back to the grand
> > again and
> > had the same problem.
> >
> > Are you on line Dr Sanderson or Ric B.?  Or anybody that can solve
> > this
> > mystery.
> >
> > Thanks and Happy holidays to all
> >
> > Dick Day
> > Marshall MI