Bluthner Tuning

[Susan Kline]

Hello, Aart. I've tuned modern Blüthners a few times, enough to feel 
comfortable tuning the fourth string.

My procedure is this: use two wedge mutes. Insert one between the second 
and third string, and one between the third and fourth. Tune the first 
string, remove a mute and tune the second string to the first. Move the 
second mute so it only mutes the fourth string. Finish tuning the normal 
unison, and get it to your satisfaction. You haven't let the fourth string 
vibrate yet.

Now comes the fun part. Take out the last mute, and see what happens to the 
unison and its timbre, when played normally. Often it starts to sound 
crummy. Pluck the fourth string to be sure it isn't out in left field, and 
then move it a very short distance up and down, until the unison rings 
sweetly again. Then, for insurance, pluck the fourth string and see that it 
is still roughly the same pitch as the others. The timbre of the unison 
determines where the fourth string is tuned, not its exact pitch, but it 
should be close to the others. I experimented a little with moving it down 
to different notes, and got some good sounds from the main note, but I knew 
it was designed to be a unison (in the high treble, at least) so I brought 
it back up.

The listening is quite pleasant, and fairly soon the fourth string won't 
take much of your time to set. Once the fourth strings have been tuned well 
a few times, they seem to offer a stability to the unisons in the high 
treble during loud playing. I was surprised by this, but I have observed it 
several times.

I thought about why they built in the fourth string. It doesn't add volume 
... But, tuning the speaking strings first, with the fourth string muted, I 
believe I found a good reason for the fourth string. The normal strings are 
so clean that they sort of disappear when played together, if well tuned. 
You know that experience, when you've really nailed a clean unison on a 
clean-tuning grand, and the sustain disappears and the tone goes all white? 
The terminations of the fourth string are slightly weird, and its timbre 
isn't all white like that. It puts back the sustain and tonal interest by 
removing the unreasonable cleanliness from the unisons. Just (TOTALLY) my 
own opinion!

Best,
Susan Kline

At 08:46 PM 1/31/2006 -0500, you wrote:
>Hello All.
>
>I just received a call to tune a Bluthner.
>This is the first time I am tuning this manufacturer's piano.
>Can anyone please advise me on the tuning of the fourth string per note in 
>the treble that vibrates sympathetically with the other three.
>
>Thanks and Best Regards.
>
>Aart Markenstein
>
>
>Aart in America Piano Services
>Hoboken, N.J.  07030
>201 406 2594
>aartinamerica@optonline.net
>
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