This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment "I have observed that some old pianos that haven't been tuned in many = years respond to pitch raise and tuning much more readily than others. = This can only be due to established memory." This sounds like a bunch of poppycock! Established memory? Maybe a = persistent bend in a string, but established memory? Way too romantic. = Is this theory promulgated by the originators of "the circle of sound"? Any chance, as compared to a newer piano, that this old piano simply has = strings that have lost much of their elasticity and has a flat = soundboard? I wouldn't call such a condition "established memory", but = rather "lack of function". I remember one time that I pitch raised to A440 and tuned an old = turn-of-the-century Kimball upright that was a good 200 cents flat when = I started. I got called back three years later to tune it again. I = provided a little extra time for that service appointment because I KNEW = the piano would require at least a 10 to 25 cent pitch raise (if not = larger). That old gal surprised me as it was right up to pitch. = Established memory? I really don't think so. Non-elastic strings and a = flat soundboard? Seems much more likely to me. Terry Farrell =20 >One thing we didn't mention in the discussion of pitch raise, and = help=20 >with 'bad tuning', is established memory. If the piano has had a well = >established memory at one time, it is easier to re-establish that = memory. > =20 >=20 Oh I like this concept.... Please... elaborate on what exactly you = mean=20 and how you think a piano can manage to achieve such an attribute. =20 >Kenny Finlayson, >RPT > =20 >=20 Cheers RicB =20 =20 Hi RicB: =20 I happen to be playing Grieg's Lyrische Stucke at the moment. Very = beautiful stuff.=20 =20 By piano memory, I refer to the stretching of the extremely hard piano = wire, what we used to call 'music wire,' across a cast iron, what we = used to call 'pig iron,' plate.=20 =20 It never ceases to amaze me how old pianos say of 80 - 100 years, = manage to stay together and support the tremendous pressure exerted by = the tension of the wire, cumulatively of approximately 18 tons. It says = a lot for their sturdy construction, put together with hide glue, what = we used to call 'horse glue.' =20 =20 Does it sound like I'm getting over the hill? I turned 60 recently. =20 When the piano has reached a point where it will hold its pitch, the = memory is said to be established.=20 I have observed that some old pianos that haven't been tuned in many = years respond to pitch raise and tuning much more readily than others. = This can only be due to established memory. If a piano teacher in the = 1920's had the piano tuned two or three times a year for 20 years, the = memory would certainly be well established. A similar old piano, tuned = only every several years, may not ever have had good memory established, = and could conceivably go through all its life without being in tune; and = this must be the piano that falls in pitch almost immediately after = pitch raise and tuning. Well established memory is an enviable achievement for any piano. It = can only happen by repeated regular tunings and care by qualified piano = technicians. Best wishes for the season. Kenny Finlayson, RPT ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/66/cc/33/bb/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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