Flag-poling: a way of life, or...?

[Jon Rhee]

Tom,

I'm presently working my way through Randy Potter's course.  He speaks at
length on how to properly manipulate (tweak) the pin in vertical pianos.  He
advocates this practice and does not discourage it at all.

Jonathan Rhee
Weymouth, MA


> From: Tvak@AOL.COM
> Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 09:05:29 -0500
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Flag-poling: a way of life, or...?
> 
> 
> In a message dated 11/29/01 1:56:05 AM, remoody@midstatesd.net writes:
> 
> << The way I learned and then was glad to see it in Reblitz and Braid White is
> to "draw (which I took to mean actually turning the pin) it above pitch
> then manipulate the pin down". (vertically)   I think after that, you find
> that  you go under and over once or twice (very little and quickly) and
> leave the pin so that the 170 lb tension actually pulls the pin to its
> position and  the string then is then magically in tune. >>
> 
> <<The idea is to leave the pin in a position so that it
> won't be moved>
> 
> Yes, yes!  That's such a great description of exactly the process I use.
> Since adopting this technique my tunings have been extremely stable.  (Not
> just my opinion, but those of 3 RPT's whom I have had coachings with.)
> 
> The intent of my original post was to confirm in my own mind that many of us
> use this legitimate technique (vertical or lateral manipulation of the pin)
> in spite of the fact that textbooks (Randy Potter, Reblitz, etc.) either omit
> this information or in Potter's case, actually go out of their way to
> discourage it.  
> 
> It was my tutoring session at Reno (with an RPT who shall remain nameless)
> that brought me to write about this.  Whereas he chided me for vertically
> manipulating the pin ("Never, never do that!) I watched him DO IT HIMSELF!!!
> 
> <<This requires practice and results in your own particular way
> of "setting the pin".>>
> 
> I think this is true.  Watching others tune leads me to believe that everyone
> has a slightly different approach to skinning this cat.
> 
> Tom Sivak