Duplex

[Duplexdan@AOL.COM]

To Technicians Down Under

I am delighted to be in communication with technicians around the world 
regarding the benefits or limitations of the duplex scale. I am continually 
learning about this subject, the more I study it myself, and hear of others 
who are actually practicing tuning of duplex scales, the number of which has 
increased greatly along with the number of manufacturers who are designing 
improved dulplex scales. Your communication seems to suggest that Steinway 
was wrong and all the manufacturers who adopted this feature are wrong, and 
that our experiments are wrong, and that you can provide reasons  that 
corroborate your opinion. I will anxiously revue any data that you can 
provide proving we've all been wasting our time. I could then devote more of 
my time to playing golf. ( and I understand there are some great courses in 
Australia )

While I am waiting for this information may I respond to your communication 
in the following: 

Point 1. The effect of one side of a unison around the same hitch pin being 
affected 
by the tension of the other. Even though the reaction of one side may be 
considerably less in the case of a common bichord to a string whose chords 
connect two sequen tial pitches , I still believe there is some eventual 
tension adjustment. I base this on my years of chipping pianos in which the 
phenomenon is readily apparent because the disparity of pitches is much 
greater than in pianos that have been tuned.

Point 2. You note that  " I would also add for Dan's benefit that I do not 
employ Kangaroos, apart from the fact that they have difficulty holding 
tuning levers, they are dumb. I prefer not to employ idiots"

Well, this is very revealing about your choice of students and your choice of 
employees.  It is also junjustifiably denigrating to an ancient class of 
earthly inhabitants. You say they "have difficulty holding tuning levers"  
How many kangaroos have you tried to teach? Perhaps they need a different 
kind of lever. I wouldn;t give up so soon on such an interesting challenge. 
We do need more tuners. 

As far as kangaroos being dumb, I am not in a position to dispute your 
opinion my acquaintance being quite limited. But I must say they they have 
been hopping around for alot more years than we have been tuning pianos, and 
I daresay they know at least as much about hopping as many of us, myself 
included,  know about tuning. 

Point 3. About some manufacturers setting their duplexes to a semitone higher 
than the corresponding partial, I can only suggest that empirical evidence 
gathered from a quantity of instruments is more reliable than forming an 
opinion from a few. If any manufacturer has actually intended to design a 
duplex scale such as you mention I would be most interested in some thorough 
research on this point. 

Hopping to hear from you (oops) Hoping to hear from you further, I remain 

Duplexdan.