to A442 & back(D)

[Farrell]

I usually measure 12 to 15 notes to get a good feel for an average pitch. We just don't get much seasonal pitch change down here in Florida. From my experience, 10 cents would be suprising. I rarely see 5 cents change - except for just a couple Florida Crackers that do not have AC! (But even those will be less than 10 cents really.)

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don" <pianotuna@accesscomm.ca>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2002 3:30 PM
Subject: Re: to A442 & back(D)


> Hi Terry,
> 
> The problem for floating pitch is where do you measure? Do you pick what
> you believe is the most stable string for this instrument? Or do you always
> measure only at A4? Is it dependant on the time of year? I.E. winter to
> summer pitch will generally rise and visa versa.
> 
> If you choose the A4 approach then it may be possible to cause plastic
> deformation on the bass strings, without you even realizing it if you are
> going from dry to wet.
> 
> If you choose the "most stable" string then you may well be lowering some
> notes in the wet season by 25 cents, while raising the top end a similar or
> even greater amount depending on the design of the instrument.
> 
> I'm a fan of humidity control as you probably know for these and other
> reasons.
> 
> As to the original thread if I change pitch 2 cents on a D at A4 it is too
> much for the standard of tuning I demand of myself for concert level work.
> 
> At 09:57 AM 5/5/02 -0400, you wrote:
> >But for stability sake, what do you do when a home console is above or
> below A440?
> >
> >If it is above, I generally leave it (unless I am aware they NEED it at
> A440). If it is flat - even one cent - I tune the piano at A440. I just
> figure a small nudge each time if it needs it to keep it at A440 is better
> than letting it slide flatter and flatter and then need to do a significant
> pitch raise. No? Yes?
> >
> >Terry Farrell
> >  
> >----- Original Message ----- 
> >From: "Clyde Hollinger" <cedel@supernet.com>
> >To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> >Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2002 7:55 AM
> >Subject: Re: to A442 & back(D)
> >
> >
> >> David,
> >> 
> >> My thoughts exactly.  But when the intonation in relation to other
> instruments
> >> is important, I guess one can't fault the first performer arriving for
> doing a
> >> check.
> >> 
> >> But for a solo piano concert, I bet an extremely small percentage of
> performers,
> >> or piano technicians for that matter, would be able to tell for sure,
> without
> >> any outside reference, whether the piano is at A439 or A442.  That's
> partly why
> >> I react negatively to the thought that every piano in every situation
> has to be
> >> tuned at A440, as was suggested on this list a couple weeks ago by
> someone (I
> >> don't remember who), especially on average pianos in private homes.
> >> 
> >> Regards,
> >> Clyde Hollinger, RPT
> >> Lititz, PA, USA
> >> 
> >> David Love wrote:
> >> 
> >> > If they have to pull out their little Korgs then they probably can't
> really
> >> > tell.
> >> 
> >> Guy Nichols wrote:
> >> 
> >> > >     While I agree with the placebo effect (I'll never forget the
> praise I
> >> > > got for an improvement that never happened), I have to disagree
> about the
> >> > > artists "not noticing". Many I've tuned for have pulled out little
> >> > > electronic tuners to check the piano, especially when in trio, or the
> >> > like.
> >> 
> >
> >
> >
> 
> Regards,
> Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T.
> 
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