Bluthner on Bluthner

[Avery]

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Geoff.

At 12:17 PM 2/8/2006, you wrote:
>Greetings all --
>
>I have been following the conversation on how to=20
>tune the fourth string on a Bluthner piano and=20
>what I noticed is that everybody appears to be=20
>guessing. I'm sure that is not really the case,=20
>but most of the responses sure read that way.

Not from the post I sent. And I "think" several=20
others sent the the same type of post!

Avery

>Anyway, I decided to do a little research and=20
>wrote to Bluthner UK directly. Below is my=20
>message to them and one R D Wilson's reply.
>
>I recently had the opportunity to look over an=20
>older Bluthner concert grand. It had been in=20
>storage and was about to be shipped back out to=20
>the owner. In investigating the fourth string on=20
>this piano I sadly discovered that while the=20
>ones in the treble section were fine, all of=20
>them in the alto section had been deliberately=20
>damped off with stringing braid. So much for=20
>seeing how they might have been tuned. Why do you suppose this was done?
>
>-- Geoff Sykes
>-- Assoc. Los Angeles
>
>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:thetuner@ivories52.com>Geoff Sykes
>To: <mailto:info@bluthner.co.uk>info@bluthner.co.uk
>Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 7:03 AM
>Subject: Question on fourth string tuning
>
>Greetings --
>
>Recently, on the Piano Technicians Guild email=20
>discussion group, there has been much talk on=20
>the correct way to tune the fourth string on=20
>Bluthner pianos. So far everybody admits to be=20
>either just guessing, or posting personal=20
>experiences that gave pleasing results to them.=20
>I thought that the best way to find the real=20
>answer would be to go to the source. Therefore I have a couple of=
 questions:
>
>1: Why was this fourth string introduced to the=20
>Bluthner piano, and what is it's purpose?
>
>2: What is the correct, or suggested, method of=20
>tuning that string and how does the tuning of=20
>that string relate to the three unisons below=20
>it? In other words, is it tuned beatless to the=20
>unisons below it or is it tuned to a different partial altogether?
>
>I look forward to your answers and hope that by=20
>adding them into the discussion we might all learn something.
>
>Thanks --
>
>Geoff Sykes
>Associate Member
>Los Angeles Chapter
>Piano Technicians Guild
>
>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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>
>Dear Mr Sykes
>
>Thank you for your recent email.  My apologies=20
>for the delay in replying due to my absence from our offices due to=
 illness.
>
>In response to your questions, I should advise as follows:
>
>1.  Most manufacturers have tried to create a=20
>unique feature to their instruments.  Bluthner=20
>was a pioneer of thinking and development of his=20
>pianos and created the Aliquot system as a=20
>string which was affixed to certain models of=20
>grand pianos, was never struck but intended to=20
>vibrate in sympathy to surrounding notes when=20
>the damper restricting its movement was lifted.
>
>The new Bluthner catalogue and technical=20
>information on the web site give further details=20
>and it should be noted that an Aliquot system is=20
>fitted to all Bluthner grands above the 5' 1"/154cms model.
>
>The early Aliquot system was very clearly=20
>obvious, having its own bridge in the centre of=20
>the soundboard covering the alto and ending just=20
>beyond the treble bar break.  An individual=20
>brass stud was fitted to the slim Aliquot bridge=20
>and a string affixed.  This string was damped by=20
>a small additional damper on the side of the main damper.
>
>The principle is that as a piano is played, the=20
>soundboard is naturally vibrating, therefore the=20
>Aliquot bridge would be vibrating, creating=20
>vibration on the string which should enhance the sound obtained.
>
>As with any device, there will always be=20
>critics, but you and your technical friends in=20
>the Piano Technicians Guild will know that the=20
>Aliquot is indeed doing something as when trying=20
>to tune a Bluthner grand with the Aliquot=20
>system, clear tuning of the struck strings=20
>cannot be undertaken unless the Aliquot strings are damped.
>
>On new Bluthner grands there is no separate=20
>Aliquot bridge and indeed the inexperienced eye=20
>may look at a grand and consider no Aliquot is=20
>fitted. This, as previously stated, is incorrect=20
>and the treble bridge beyond the treble break in=20
>the grand has four strings, all using the main=20
>bridge, but the fourth string being slightly=20
>higher and not actually hit by the hammer.
>
>2.  Tuning.
>
>Where the Aliquot strings have their own=20
>individual bridge, the strings should be tuned=20
>an octave above the unison.  Where the Aliquot=20
>bridge ceases and Aliquot studs are fitted to=20
>the main treble bridge, they should be tuned in=20
>unison or generally slightly sharp to unison.
>
>As a practicing tuner/technician for some=20
>thirty-five/forty years and working extensively=20
>on Bluthners, I personally found that the=20
>simplest way to tune these was to initially lay=20
>a piece of listing felt over the Aliquot strings=20
>and tune the piano in the normal way,=20
>subsequently returning and playing the note an=20
>octave above the Aliquot string that was to be=20
>tuned, plucking the Aliquot string and tuning to=20
>the note struck an octave above.
>
>Obviously when moving to the treble section=20
>where the strings are tuned in unison or just=20
>over unison, then the simplest method is to=20
>either pluck the trichord and the Aliquot string=20
>or play the trichord and pluck the string, tuning to unison or just over.
>
>It is easy to talk about these things, but upon=20
>re-reading this email, I wonder if I have been=20
>clear or not, but hope this is helpful to you=20
>and any of your colleagues.  Could I say that if=20
>any of you should be in the West End of London,=20
>we would be delighted to see you at the new=20
>Bluthner showrooms at the address below.
>
>With best wishes to you all.
>
>Yours sincerely
>R D Willson
>
>
>---------------------------------------------
>Bl=FCthner Piano Centre Ltd.
>1 Davies Street
>Berkeley Square
>Mayfair
>LONDON W1K 3DB
>Tel. 020 7753 0533
>Fax. 020 7753 0535
>Email: <mailto:info@bluthners.co.uk>info@bluthners.co.uk
>Website: <http://www.bluthners.co.uk/>www.bluthners.co.uk

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