Strip Muting/unisons

[Roger C Hayden]

David,

I think that we discovered the same method independently.  I'm sure it's
not exclusive with us, 'there's nothing new under the sun'.  But it may
be new to me, so I'll keep learning.

Thanks,  Roger

On Mon, 31 Jan 2000 23:07:10 -0800 "David ilvedson" <ilvey@jps.net>
writes:
> Roger,
> 
> Some years ago Ron Berry did a class at a national 
> convention where he gave a tip on temp strips.  He suggested 
> using one strip to do every other unison and another to do the 
> whats left...
> ... strip1...strip2...strip1...strip2...strip1...etc.  When the 
> middle strings he simply pulled out one strip which left...
> strip2...     ...strip2...   ...strip2...   ...strip2... This 
> enabled you 
> to tune the right string of one unison then the left the next, 
> right of the next, left of the next etc.  I always thought this was 
> a very cool way to strip mute.  
> 
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> 
> To:             	pianotech@ptg.org
> Date sent:      	Mon, 31 Jan 2000 21:58:36 -0800
> Subject:        	Re: Strip Muting/unisons
> From:           	Roger C Hayden <rchayden2@juno.com>
> Send reply to:  	pianotech@ptg.org
> 
> > Graeme,
> > 
> > I use three strips.  The newest felt  in the temperment area.  
> Stuffed
> > between every unison.    !!! felt !!! felt !!! felt !!!  etc . 
> (BTW if
> > you're having trouble setting temperment, try a new felt.),  the 
> second
> > newest in the high treble above the break, making neat short loops 
> and
> > sliding them behind the dampers, (tough in some pianos).  And the 
> third
> > most worn strip in the bass, (closer strings, thinner felt). Then 
> I set
> > temperment, and octaves chromatically into the treble, tuning all 
> middle
> > strings.  Next to the bass, tuning chromatically whatever single 
> string
> > is singing.  (You'll catch on to the pattern in the tuning pins of
> > singing stings quickly.)  
> > 
> > Then I pull out all the felts, yes, all the felts!!  And stuff the 
> mid
> > section felts back in, this time between every other unison.  For 
> example
> >   !!! felt  !!!  !!! felt !!!  !!! felt  !!!   etc.  This is where 
> I use
> > whole steps, in tuning the unisons, and where it seems to go very
> > quickly.  You'll notice that the available pins/strings needing 
> tuning
> > are in a straight line.  I do the top set of pins in whole steps 
> to the
> > top.  Then the bottom set.
> > 
> > Then I go to the bass, and tune down, using whole steps again, and 
> again
> > you'll notice the pins needing tuning are often in a straight 
> line.  Then
> > I 'turn the corner' and tune the rest of the bass strings coming 
> back up.
> > 
> > Next, I pull out the temperment strips and tune the other 
> available
> > strings in whole steps, also in a straight line.  
> > 
> > I have had only to use rubber mutes three times, at the breaks and 
> on the
> > top C.  (And of course for checking and tweaking.)
> > 
> > I tried pulling out the felts and tuning one side of each unison, 
> and
> > lost time because it was extra motion, plus it has to be done
> > chromatically.
> > 
> > I found by taking the time to stuff the felts back in again at 
> every
> > other unison I save a lot of motion.
> > 
> > I originally had learned to tune by moving the rubber mutes 
> around, and
> > found the tedium driving me crazy.  With the felts and this method 
> I can
> > leave my hands at their work, not reaching for mutes or felts, 
> just tune,
> > tune, tune.
> > 
> > I once did a quite satisfactory fine tuning in 17 minutes.  (A 
> very
> > friendly Baldwin spinet, but I don't think it would have passed 
> the
> > exam...)  My fine tunings average 35 to 55 minutes,  for which I 
> charge
> > $65.00.  I used this tuning sequence method for my RPT tuning exam 
> and
> > scored very high.  (two points short of CTE score, and some 100's)
> > 
> > My pitch raises, including putting in the felts, average 13 to 15
> > minutes. (For which I charge $35.00)
> >   
> > (BTW, felting grands can be done just once with four felts, and 
> going
> > into every other unison alternating your felts.  Tune all middle 
> strings
> > and singles, pull out one set of felts, tune a set of unisons, 
> pull out
> > the other set of felts, and finish the unisons.)
> > 
> > Roger Hayden, RPT
> > 

________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
Try it today - there's no risk!  For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.