Hello, everyone. I should have known better when I was told the 1901 Clunquer & Sons hadn't been tuned in a long time. Just taking the front cover off covered me in thick black gritty dirt. I wouldn't have been surprised if the last person to tune this sled was Jerry Cree Fischer himself. A sticker from the most recent tuner had his phone number - 4 digits. A quick check with my 440 fork confirmed my worst fear- it was a good 300 cents flat (F# against the A.) After quite a while, and three broken strings, I got it somewhat stable at 425 (10 bps below my 435 fork), as high as I dared to pull it. At least I got lots of practice on my tuner's knot. I tune aurally, listening for F-A at 7 bps, F-D at 8 bps, A-C# at about 8, etc. Here's my question to the list: Do these beat rates remain the same when the reference A is way below 440 as mine was that day? And, if you tune aurally with nothing but a 440 fork to relate to, what do you do when you find yourself way below 440 and the pitch is shiftng as you tune? Those beat rates were not working for me as they always do at 440, so I just went around and around in 4ths and 5ths until I was satisfied. What would you have done? Thanks, and every little bit helps, Greg Livingston _______________________________________ Gregory P. Livingston, Piano Tuning and Service 781-237-9178 Piano Technicians Guild, Boston chapter (associate member) * * * Always remember September 11, 2001
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