tuning high treble

[Mickey Kessler]

Hi all,
I've been following some of the esoteric discussions of various 
temperaments with some interest, but I have a much more basic question for 
the group -- particularly for the aural tuners out there.

I'm learning aural tuning pretty much on my own.  I have an ETD but I'm 
trying not to resort to it unless I just get too lost.

I don't have much trouble tuning the lower end of the piano, as a rule.  My 
headaches come in the high end of the instrument.

Most of my work is on short-scale spinets and consoles (sigh...).  So my 
first question is, how do most of you mute top section, above the 
break?  It's so hard to get to, especially on spinets.  Is there a good 
trick you can pass along?  Is there a way to strip mute the whole 
thing?  If so, what muting material do you use?  Commercial temperament 
strips?  Some kind of action cloth?  Do you use Papp mutes?  Rubber mutes?

Next, and more important, what tests do you use to make sure you're getting 
the right octave ratio?  I haven't found any test that seems to work 
consistently for me.  I'm guessing way too often, and I don't want to make 
it a habit.  I find that I have to make a lot of compromises between 
octaves, double octaves, tenths -- whatever intervals I can get to work for 
my ear on the particular piano.  As a last resort I use arpeggios, on the 
theory that at least it'll play in tune in a couple of keys anyway.  In all 
cases, it becomes terribly time consuming.

Finally, when it comes to unisons way up there, I find myself resorting 
more and more often to plucking strings with a fingernail.  Hitting the 
note with the hammer, I just get lost and can't tell if I'm too high or too 
low, or where I'm at.  Not all the time, but often enough to wonder what 
I'm doing wrong.  Am I just getting old and losing my hearing, or is there 
some technique I'm missing?

  How do all of you aural tuners handle the high end of the piano?  Any 
trade secrets you'd care to share?

Thanks in advance for all your great advice.

Mickey (Mark) Kessler