ETDs - The beat goes on

[Patrick C Poulson]

Clyde: This has been my usual experience in using the SAT on pianos where
the wound strings come up above C3.  The higher the intrusion, the more the
offset - typically.  Some pianos are better scaled than others, and  don't
need so much tweaking to get  a good progression of octaves.  I wonder how
the Verituner and other ETDs handle this problem? Patrick Poulson, RPT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Clyde Hollinger" <cedel@supernet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2001 4:13 AM
Subject: ETDs - The beat goes on


> Friends,
>
> I have been using RCT for almost three years now.  Before that I tuned
primarily
> aurally.  One thing I noticed is that with some pianos (for example most
Wurlitzer
> consoles and spinets), if I start in the middle and head toward the bass,
I will get
> substantial beating in the octaves as soon as I cross over to the first
wound
> strings.
>
> Now my mindset (rightly or wrongly) is that if a person needs to do
multiple checks
> on every note with an ETD and make adjustments, then there's not much
point in using
> as ETD at all.  Yes, I understand the viewpoint of those who say it is
just a
> helpful tool.  They imply one should always question and ETD's judgement.
But the
> main reason I bought one was to increase both efficiency and accuracy.
>
> So what I do is check the octaves, fifths, fourths and thirds when I cross
over to
> the first wound strings.  What I find is that frequently for those small
Wurlitzers
> I can get significantly improved results in the octaves (and improved or
at least
> acceptable 5ths, 4ths and 3rds) by adding 1.5 to 2 cents to RCT for the
wound
> strings.  I have found some 1980 Everett studio pianos where even +3 cents
seems
> necessary.
>
> I have never had any coaching for tuning, so there is a sense in which I
have some
> self-doubts.  (I did pass the RPT tuning exam on the first try.)
Nevertheless I
> keep some very good musicians happy, although I am certain my tuning is
not
> "world-class."  In the challenges that Jim Coleman has made to compare an
ETD tuning
> with any aural tuning, I do wonder how this would come out for him if the
tunings
> were done on a Wurlitzer spinet with RCT.
>
> I have also found that most grands (not the very little ones) and old
uprights will
> have very good tunings by just following the spinner all the way.  And
even some
> spinets sound fine.  I assume it's all in the scaling.
>
> Now my questions.  Is my hearing funny?  Would SATIII and Verituner react
the same
> way as I cross over to the wound strings?  Has anyone else noticed the
phenomenon I
> refer to when crossing to the wound strings?  Am I in need of some serious
> re-education here?
>
> Regards,
> Clyde
>
>