45 minute tuning

[JIMRPT@AOL.COM]

<<"I think this is true, but if it is possible to do the same level of work in

half the time, then that means mo money (and mo free time).  :-)">>

John;
 I am not sure that tuning a thingee in 45 minutes is really a 'goal' to 
shoot for. Rather I think that it is a thingee that happens more or less by 
itself as technique and expectations come closer to a 'given' situation.  As 
for myself I would never do a 45 minute tuning per se.  While the tuning 
itself might only take 45 minutes there is 'always' something else that needs 
to be tweaked or keys cleaned, etc. to fill out the hour with. And trust me 
on this......... The lady of the house or the housekeeper/butler will think 
more of your offering to clean the keys than of the "Concert Quality" tuning 
you just put on their Acrosonic... :-)
(I don't carry cleaning material with me simply because I want the customer 
to know that I am going to clean their keys, or whatever, and one sure way to 
do this is to ask them for some "Whatever" and rags or paper towels) (ala 
Kristinn's psychology)

 As for the "tune twice" thingee...if you will give it some thought and try 
it you might find that it does sorta make sense and does work.  The first 
pass is to get the strings more or less doing the same thing in the same way 
at the same time and not meant to be a fine tuning..but close........that way 
during the second pass there is typically less string/pin movement, less 
reaction from strings to firm test blows, less adjacent string movement, less 
downbearing change to the bridge...... and therefore a more stable tuning 
that changes less as the scale is completely finished. 

 Hammer technique is individual to us all but some things to think about:
1. Don't hit a key without moving a pin.
2. Don't move a pin without having hit a key.
3. Carefully set/fit your Hammer on the next pin so that it is fully seated 
'the first time'.
4. Develop the habit of 'always' moving the pin/hammer FIRST in one 
direction, either sharp or flat, on all notes......when this becomes 
ingrained it will take away those milli-second decisions and leave your mind 
clearer ! :-) (Don't trust me on this try it for yourself.)
(of course this does not/may not apply in some instances such as pitch 
lowering/raising an entire scale)
5. Practice tuning bichords without using a mute.

  In my opinion the 45 minute tuning ain't a thingee unto itself and I don't 
think that it really should relate to increased earnings by giving you more 
time to do another tuning that day...rather it is a result of efficient 
movement and "reasonable" choices which will allow you to more fully service 
each instrument you have on the schedule that day. The better you can feel 
about what you have done each time......... the longer you will love your 
work :-)
My thoughts.
Jim Bryant (FL)