Hi Tom, Thanks for the plug but you do not need to use your teeth with the Grand T <G> And except for the occasional piano with very tight pins, one hand will do. Joe Goss imatunr@srvinet.com www.mothergoosetools.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "thepianoarts" <thepianoarts@home.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2001 9:00 AM Subject: Re: Flag-poling: a way of life, or...? > > > Tom, > > Turning a tuning pin with lever will always result in 'Unintentional' > flag-polling. The only way to avoid what I call 'flexing', is to use a > 'T-handle lever' (with two hands), and turn the pin with one's teeth. > > Dan > > > > > on 11/25/01 10:19 AM, Tvak@AOL.COM at Tvak@AOL.COM wrote: > > > I wonder how many of you on the list manipulate the pin vertically (on a > > vertical piano, that is...). Having started out with the Randy Potter > > course, it specifically states that the tuning hammer is not a slot machine, > > and no vertical movement should be used, and then tells you that the last > > motion to set the pin is DOWNWARD and to the left. At my recent tutoring > > session in Reno I was tuning A4 to match the tuning fork and began to > > flagpole it to zero it in, and my tutor took the tuning hammer away from me > > and adamantly informed me I should NEVER move the pin vertically like that. > > Then, of course, I watched him do the same thing! > > > > Is this something we all do, but no one will admit to it or is unaware that > > they are doing it? > > > > I remember back when I started with that Randy Potter course going to the > > Cultural Arts Center in Chicago and coming across a tuner working on a piano. > > It seemed all of his motions were vertical! This was taboo according to > > Potter! Yet here he was, tuning a piano for the Cultural Arts Center---he > > must be good, I figured! > > > > The only man I know who not only admits to flagpoling, but teaches it is Nick > > Kircher, a local RPT, who taught me that vertical manipulation of the pin > > helps to render the string and also helps to find a good "resting point" for > > the pin. Since using this tecnique I have found my tunings to be very > > stable. > > > > I also find it easier to make subtle changes of pitch as I zero in on a good > > unison with this technique than actually turning the pin. I generally get > > the pitch slightly sharp (by turning the pin) and then flagpole it even > > sharper, then relaxing it downward to its resting point. To be stable the > > pin must rest not high nor low, but comfortably in the middle of that > > vertical range. > > > > I do use it less on grands than verticals, but it still works well in the > > upper register. (The only piano I have come across that this technique will > > not work at all is the Steinway upright.) > > > > Flame me if you will, but I confess: I flagpole and I believe it helps me > > achieve a more stable tuning. > > > > Any comments? > > > > Tom Sivak > > > > > >
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC