Bill, Nice hearing from you. Let me know whenever you're down this way next time. Terry >From: Billbrpt@AOL.COM >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org >To: pianotech@ptg.org >Subject: Re: tuning speed WOW >Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 20:13:12 EST > >In a message dated 1/11/02 6:23:46 PM Central Standard Time, >pianolover88@hotmail.com (pianolover 88) writes: > > > > Amazing. That would imply that a single tune would take as little as 15 > > minutes? That would include strip muting, setting the temp., tuning the > > bass > > & treble (and of course all the usual tests and checks) and tuning the > > unisons ALL in 15 minutes? WOW! Sounds like Fairchild territory! > > > > Terry > > >Not really, Terry, Steve Fairchild can get through the whole piano in under >5 >minutes. Actually, 15 minutes is not an extraordinary time. Some have >asked >where I learned how to tune so fast. It goes back to the lectures that the >late George Defebaugh RPT and Jim Coleman Sr RPT (both Golden Hammer Award >winners) used to give. George had a presentation called "Speed & >Accuracy". > >You don't do "all the checks" when you do your first Rough Tuning. You >simply pop the string into approximate tune with one or two quick strokes. >I >appreciate Conrad's contribution but it really doesn't matter much whether >I >use the ETD or not. There are cases when I really am in a hurry so I don't >have time for the ETD, I just get down to business as quickly as possible. > >In his demonstration, I recall George getting through the whole piano in >about 9 minutes (although in the class description a claim of 7 minutes was >made). I can get through the whole piano in 10 minutes, maybe a little >less >under ideal circumstances and if I am at the height of concentration. > >The key to doing this is to tell yourself that you will not try to fight >with >the piano once but to tune it twice, both times far more easily and with >far >less stress than a one pass attempt. George used to say, "You can tune a >piano twice a lot easier and quicker than you can fight with it once". > >The 1st pass or Rough Tuning puts the piano basically well in tune and >leaves >the unsettled strings for the second pass. This does allow you to do aural >checks and a really fine tuning on the second pass and still be very quick >about it. > >My final job today was a Walter Console which was fairly new but which had >not been tuned enough and was nearly 1/2 step low. There were also a few >hammers which needed spacing, a few keys which needed leveling, several >keys >which needed easing and all the pedals needed several cranks of the thumb >screws too. I did 3 complete passes plus all of the other work and was >leaving in just a couple of minutes under 90. > > I took the time to say that it is a great choice of piano, I have one >myself >and to comment on the beautiful rugs they had. No rush, just the usual >pace. > One reader asked if I thought I was doing too much. I began to develop >tendinitis at age 40 from working very hard but not taking the time to >stretch first. I do special stretching exercises to keep myself limber. I >visit the Chiropractor monthly for *wellness* maintenance. > >On New Year's Eve I had an unusual acute attack of low back pain that may >have had something to do with working extra hard during the holiday season >but probably more with having slept in an awkward position the night >before. >I had the back pain after having *rested* 8 hours, not working. It took 2 >days of good rest to settle down. > >The suggestion that I not do what I enjoy doing and earn good money at just >so I might not have a few aches and pains does not even occur to me. If >you >ask me which would I rather have, thousands more dollars in my bank account >each month or slightly fewer aches and pains, I'll take the money and go >get >a good massage and have a steak dinner out to boot and still have money to >save and invest. I'll be enjoying the fruits of my hard labor now when I >really am too old to work. > >By the way, I wanted to show you my technique and explain how you could >increase your speed but maintain your accuracy when I was out your way >visiting but you didn't quite have time for it. Maybe next time you will? >(George Defaubaugh was also a Los Angeles area resident and tuned at my >high >school). > >Bill Bremmer RPT >Madison, Wisconsin > <A HREF="http://www.billbremmer.com/">Click here: -=w w w . b i l l b r e >m m e r . c o m =-</A> _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
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