Yamaha tuning problem reply

David Streit streit_david@hotmail.com
Sat, 11 Nov 2000 09:12:03 -0800


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Thank you all who answered. I will reply in one post to all in a cut =
down version.  Even so, it will be a little longer than I would like.  =
Here goes...
Was the furnace fan (or other fan) running?  Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., =
A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T.

If both pianos have the same problem in the same area of the scale, you =
might look elsewhere. Would there be a ceiling fan running?  Jim =
Krentzel

* In answer to both, there was no ceiling fan.  The studio was a small =
nicely remodeled room off of her garage.  The only source of heat or =
other climate control was an electric plug-in baseboard radiator about 6 =
foot long. Humidity was 61% and the temperature was 63* F.  I stressed =
the importance of climate regulation to her and recommended  dampp =
chaser system for both.

The bass strings are quite often shot due to industrial pollution, =
probably some dealer did a bit of a clean up job on the strings before =
selling them. The majority of grey market instruments in our area, need =
re pinning and stringing after a year or so. If you live in a dry =
climate start checking glue joints on the bridge, cap, and ribs. Roger =
Jolly

* I am very familiar with grey market Yamahas being that I used to work =
for a Yamaha dealer.  The climate here in Portland has rain forecasted =
normally about 9 months out of the year.  We usually don't have humidity =
problems here that you would have in most of the rest of the US =
affecting the grey market pianos. But you are right, Rodger.  I did =
check the piano out before I tuned it.  The bridges are solid as well as =
the glue joints and they don't have any cracks at all.  Even hairline.

I think you will find that there is as much as 20c difference in the =
pair on another partial that is causing the racket. This makes the piano =
untuneable IMHO and replacing the set is the only way to go. Re scale =
too. One thing that I will try just before taking the strings off is to =
let the string down a fifth to an octave and use the notes hammer to try =
to move the winding by pounding the note 10 to 20 times very vigorously. =
This works on dead strings to bring some life back into the string.   =
Joe Goss

* I could well believe the 20c difference.  Perhaps these two are even =
worse.  What is IMHO?  I know what you mean by pounding the life into =
strings, Joe.  It's great, but it didn't work.  Sorry, I forgot to put =
that in  my original post. I need to get an ETD over there and measure.  =
Things are pointing at a rescaling and string replacement.

When I run into this sort of thing, it's probably because I haven't =
stretched the previous octave enough. Going back, stretching and =
blending, I can usually clean up after myself and find a minimum garbage =
situation that I can live
with. If not, and in the unlikely event that the customer can tell the =
difference, it's time for that rescaling discussion. Following others' =
tunings, I often find the low bass too sharp (at least, by my =
reckoning).   Ron N

* These were so far out in the partials stretching wouldn't work, and =
yes, she can tell the difference...unfortunately. :o)  I find the same =
thing in the low bass too.

Mostly likely these are scaling problems. If you send me the speaking =
length, core and wrap diameter of one or two notes we can do the =
calculations and know for sure. Bridge, board and rib design do effect =
tone but I doubt as much as these basses. A redesigned set of bass =
strings could do wonders for these pianos. Send me the numbers and we =
can have more real data to talk with.   Newton

* If she will let me in again, I will take the measurements and send =
them to you.  :o)   I let her know at the first appointment that there =
was a good possibility that the only remedy may be to replace the set of =
bass strings and perhaps a rescaling.  If she is that interested in =
getting a good sound, she's had time to let the idea sink in.  I already =
have my foot in the door.


Thank you all for the wonderful answers.  I'll keep you posted.

Dave Streit, Portland, OR


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