too much "pounding!"

[Richard Brekne]

Yes well we have all heard this one... be that as it may it can simply not be
denied that there are many tuners capable of extremly solid tunings without all
this beating up of pianos. Pounding is not neccesarry.. it is and remains only
one way of dealing with the problem of creating a solid tuning. I suspect your
Steinway tech was overstateing the point a bit to get you to use firmer test
blows. But in reality if you are breaking strings keys and action parts and
doing this often... ease off on the pounding. It just isnt neccessary.

Charly Tuner wrote:

> Here's the reply about "pounding" from our Steinway tech..."If you're not
> breaking strings, keys and/or strings (occasionally I'm sure he meant)than
> you're NOT tuning right".
>
> The former statement is referring to ONLY Steinway Grands.
>
> Terry
>
> >From: "John M. Formsma" <jformsma@dixie-net.com>
> >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> >Subject: RE: too much "pounding!"
> >Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 22:19:25 -0600
> >
> >Marcel,
> >
> ><<The hardest part of tuning I find is the guessing concerning the twisting
> >of the tuning pins. I find that Asian pianos in general have smaller tuning
> >pins than american made pianos. I also wonder if the steel used for pins
> >might
> >be a little softer. On some instruments, I have a hard time turning the
> >pins.
> >Now don't get me wrong, I'm strong enough to turn them, but the pitch will
> >move
> >" A LOT" before the pin actually turns in the block. For me this is the
> >hardest
> >thing to try to control. I wonder if there is a relationship between pin
> >size
> >+metal hardness and torque in the block. To me, softer or smaller pins
> >would
> >benefit less torque.>>
> >
> >I have been told that since the tuning pins are smaller (1/0), they are
> >more
> >prone to flagpole. Less diameter = more flex. I have the same problem with
> >some of the Asian pianos I tune. Finding the right moves for these pianos
> >is
> >difficult, but I have resolved that I can only do my best. If I do my best,
> >then I move on, and don't worry about inherent problems too much. For these
> >pianos, I use a smooth method, and just wait for the pin to move the
> >tiniest
> >bit. After that, the string needs to be set, and on to the next one.
> >
> >John Formsma
> >Blue Mountain, MS
> >
>
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--
Richard Brekne
Associate PTG, N.P.T.F.
Bergen, Norway