Piano tuner haters

[Joe And Penny Goss]

Hi Tom,
I would suggest getting a split rubber mute with a long steel handle.
Not perfect but usually one can mute the right two strings with one tip and
then tune the center to the right and then left to center. I suggest the
long handle but one can just use a longer wire and single mute it.
Also try cutting the tip back so that there is only a 1/4" left at the tip
or less. The 3/8" mute is too wide to let the hammer hit the strings.
Usually you can reach in and lift the dampers back ( two or three )  as you
place the mute where it needs to be.
Joe Goss
imatunr@srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message -----
From: <Tvak@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2002 3:56 PM
Subject: Piano tuner haters


> I had the misfortune to tune a Bush & Lane upright piano yesterday.  Never
> have I have such a difficult time tuning a piano, but not for the usual
> reasons.  The plate construction of this piano was such that it was next
to
> impossible to mute the strings in the top 3 octaves: there was about 1/2"
> clearance between the top of the hammers and a big old plate strut.  Two
> mutes were impossible; I was lucky to get one stuck in there. So I had to
> tune one string with a second string ringing, hoping to get close, then
tune
> the second string and see where I was.   The people who made that piano
must
> hate piano tuners.
>
> Tom Sivak