Ragtime/Honky Tonk tuning

[A440A@aol.com]

<< Jon Page submitted;


"The ragtime composers and performers I've tuned for greatly prefer a full

bore Well Temperament. That is, until they play in Modified Meantone.">>

 I agree, (though I haven't tried a MM).  I have, in the past, had good 
results with a Young or Kirnberger III and loose unisons from middle C up.  There 
is nothing to be gained by loose bass unisons, since the melodic choral effect 
is what you are after.  As far as measuring the strings against each other, my 
belief is  why bother? 
  As you go upwards in the scale, just toss the notes together, doing it "by 
feel" as it were.  If there is still some complaint about it not sounding 
authentic enough, simply go through and whack a few farther out, here and there.  
    Just try to get into the frame of mind of an an old, tired, poorly 
trained tuner who has been paid in beer at the last two bars he tuned for that day.. 
 I suppose the approach could be called the "Getting loose by tight".   I 
think in terms of the Raku masters, who at the pinnacle of their art, are able to 
make their pottery appear to be crude and primitive.  It takes practise to do 
this sort of stuff right! 
Regards,  

Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html