This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Some great tips..good job Geoff... David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, California Original message From: "Geoff Sykes" To: "Pianotech@Ptg. Org" Received: 2/8/2006 10:17:56 AM Subject: Bluthner on Bluthner Greetings all -- I have been following the conversation on how to tune the fourth string= on a Bluthner piano and what I noticed is that everybody appears to be= guessing. I'm sure that is not really the case, but most of the respon= ses sure read that way. Anyway, I decided to do a little research and w= rote to Bluthner UK directly. Below is my message to them and one R D W= ilson's reply. I recently had the opportunity to look over an older Bluthner concert g= rand. It had been in storage and was about to be shipped back out to th= e owner. In investigating the fourth string on this piano I sadly disco= vered that while the ones in the treble section were fine, all of them = in the alto section had been deliberately damped off with stringing bra= id. So much for seeing how they might have been tuned. Why do you suppo= se 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=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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D ----- Original Message ----- From: Geoff Sykes To: 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 discussion group, there = has been much talk on the correct way to tune the fourth string on Blut= hner pianos. So far everybody admits to be either just guessing, or pos= ting personal experiences that gave pleasing results to them. I thought= that the best way to find the real answer would be to go to the source= . Therefore I have a couple of questions: 1: Why was this fourth string introduced to the Bluthner piano, and wha= t is it's purpose? 2: What is the correct, or suggested, method of tuning that string and = how does the tuning of that string relate to the three unisons below it= ? In other words, is it tuned beatless to the unisons below it or is it= tuned to a different partial altogether? I look forward to your answers and hope that by adding them into the di= scussion 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=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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Dear Mr Sykes Thank you for your recent email. My apologies for the delay in replyin= g 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 unique feature to their i= nstruments. Bluthner was a pioneer of thinking and development of his = pianos and created the Aliquot system as a string which was affixed to = certain models of grand pianos, was never struck but intended to vibrat= e in sympathy to surrounding notes when the damper restricting its move= ment was lifted. The new Bluthner catalogue and technical information on the web site gi= ve further details and it should be noted that an Aliquot system is fit= ted to all Bluthner grands above the 5' 1"/154cms model. The early Aliquot system was very clearly obvious, having its own bridg= e in the centre of the soundboard covering the alto and ending just bey= ond the treble bar break. An individual brass stud was fitted to the s= lim Aliquot bridge and a string affixed. This string was damped by a s= mall additional damper on the side of the main damper. The principle is that as a piano is played, the soundboard is naturally= vibrating, therefore the Aliquot bridge would be vibrating, creating v= ibration on the string which should enhance the sound obtained. As with any device, there will always be critics, but you and your tech= nical friends in the Piano Technicians Guild will know that the Aliquot= is indeed doing something as when trying to tune a Bluthner grand with= the Aliquot system, clear tuning of the struck strings cannot be under= taken unless the Aliquot strings are damped. On new Bluthner grands there is no separate Aliquot bridge and indeed t= he inexperienced eye may look at a grand and consider no Aliquot is fit= ted. This, as previously stated, is incorrect and the treble bridge bey= ond the treble break in the grand has four strings, all using the main = bridge, but the fourth string being slightly higher and not actually hi= t by the hammer. 2. Tuning. Where the Aliquot strings have their own individual bridge, the strings= should be tuned an octave above the unison. Where the Aliquot bridge = ceases and Aliquot studs are fitted to the main treble bridge, they sho= uld be tuned in unison or generally slightly sharp to unison. As a practicing tuner/technician for some thirty-five/forty years and w= orking extensively on Bluthners, I personally found that the simplest w= ay to tune these was to initially lay a piece of listing felt over the = Aliquot strings and tune the piano in the normal way, subsequently retu= rning and playing the note an octave above the Aliquot string that was = to be tuned, plucking the Aliquot string and tuning to the note struck = an octave above. Obviously when moving to the treble section where the strings are tuned= in unison or just over unison, then the simplest method is to either p= luck the trichord and the Aliquot string or play the trichord and pluck= the string, tuning to unison or just over. It is easy to talk about these things, but upon re-reading this email, = I wonder if I have been clear or not, but hope this is helpful to you a= nd any of your colleagues. Could I say that if any of you should be in= the West End of London, we would be delighted to see you at the new Bl= uthner 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: info@bluthners.co.uk Website: www.bluthners.co.uk ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/ec/14/6e/b6/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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