tuning question

[Farrell]

I know what the problem is! You are tuning too fast. You pitch raised
(major, HA! - that was a world record!) a piano 600 cents and fine tuned it
in just under two hours? You gotta be bionic. Are you for rent?

On a more serious note, is there a typo here? If not, please shed some light
on your technique. (I am being serious here.) I am still in the
under-1,000-piano-tuning-experience catagory and am always trying to
increase my speed. Do you have a special technique, or just LOTS of
practice?

Even more to the point, yes, I have noticed the one string sharp thing also.
I use the Accu-Tuner and tune my unisons as I go. Therefore (on an upright)
I tune the center string, the right string (bottom pin) and finally the left
string (top pin). When I am done tuning and I go back just to double check
my unisons carefully, the norm is to find a few (well, maybe a bunch) of
right strings (bottom pin) just a tad (as opposed to a tish - but that just
may be my inexperience) sharper than the other two. I figured I was the only
one able to do that - so my assumption has always been that I was bumbling.
Thanks, I feel better now. I'm going to practice to get from a tad to only a
tish sharp though!

Very interesting question. Being that I am very consistent with this, I have
indeed wondered whether the cause went beyond my special talents. In my case
the sharp string is not the last one tuned as Dale spoke of. Anyone with an
answer? How about something funny from Ron - this might be good material?

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Mercier" <jaymercier@hotmail.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2000 8:38 PM
Subject: tuning question


> List,
>
> I notice lately that when I perform a major pitch raise (today, it was one
> that was 3 whole steps flat), by the time I'm done with the fine tuning
just
> under 2 hours later the unisons in the mid to upper treble range go out
just
> a tish, and about 90% of the problem is that the bottom pin (upright) is
> always just a tish sharp compared to the other two pins of the unison.
> Almost always I have to go back and lower every bottom pin to match the
> remaining two unisons.  Can this be avoided?  Any thoughts on this is
> appreciated.
>
> Jay Mercier
> New Associate Member
> Glenwood, MN
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Dale wrote:

Jay,
First, congratulations on becoming a new member! Hope to meet you in person
in Reno at the Annual Convention.
I have pondered this problem for some time. My mentor, Jimmy Gold, thought
that it was because that was the last pin he tuned, it did not get settled
as well as the other two. I have tried a variety of muting/tuning schemes
which have led me to believe there may be some validity in his thesis. If
this is not the last string you tune it obviously does not apply.
I do find it harder to set the bottom pin on an upright primarily because it
is more difficult for me to get the short length of string between the
tuning pin and the pressure bar to render.
If you figure this one out, please let me know!
Best,
Dale
Dale Probst, RPT
Member, TEAM20001
PTG Annual Convention
Reno, NV --July 11-15, 2000
email: wardprobst@cst.net
(940)691-3682 voice
(940) 691-6843 fax
TEAM2001 website: http://www.equaltemperament.com/PTG/