Setting them pins!

[Mike and Jane Spalding]

Benny,

With only 3 years in the field, I'm working with the same issue.  It seems to me that a description of the one correct pin-setting procedure does not exist, except in the most general sense.  (Exception:  The Kawai RX model that I took the tuning test on was text-book easy)  As soon as you have your hammer on a specific pin in a specific piano, you're improvising to suit the characteristics of that pin and piano.  Do the strings render easily through the v-bar/agraffe, or do they jump with that little "ping" sound?  Pins smooth or jumpy, tight or loose?  Pin bushings?  Manipulating the pin and string is at least as important as pounding (ask me about the lady who insisted that I tune gently enough to not break any more elbows in her old spinet).   Do you know the book "Different Strokes" by Ken Burton RPT?  Dozens of different ways to move the pins.  Plus an appendix of point / counter-point on "To pound or not to pound".  Essential reference for anyone still learning how to set pins.  my 2 cents.

Mike Spalding RPT



----- Original Message ----- 
From: Benny L. Tucker <precisionpiano@alltel.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 9:40 PM
Subject: Setting them pins!


> Hi folks,
>     I would appreciate some feedback on pin setting technique. In the past,
> I would always set the pin pretty hard.
>     During my short career in piano technology, I've had a chance to
> re-visit several customers for 6-month/yearly tunings. My findings on return
> trips were kinda disappointing.
>     I'm always trying to improve my technique, and I just got to wondering
> if I was setting the pin "too hard" leaving a little too much twist in it.
>     Now I'm pretty confident that my string settling is pretty good, simply
> because I pound pretty heavy during tuning, and my tunings seem stable
> enough when I'm finished. "I can't knock it out of tune" after I'm finished.
> But, I've heard some pianos that I've tuned and they sounded pretty bad just
> a couple of weeks later. Others last for months on end, not sounding great,
> but not too bad either.
>     To cut to the chase, I'm currently not setting the pin hard at all, just
> a counter-clockwise push until the "beginning" of resistance is felt. Now
> I'm sure there is no excess twist in the pin, but for some reason I can't
> get confidence in this technique. It just don't "feel right" If I don't push
> hard down-pitch.
>     So, my question this time, "How hard to you guys and gals set the pins"?
> And do you feel confident with it's holding power?
> 
> Thanks for your input!
> 
> Benny L. Tucker
> Precision Piano Tuning & Repair
> Thomaston, Ga.
> 
> 
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