This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Hi everyone, I got a call today from a lady who told me that there is evidence of = mice in the piano, or past mouse activity. I'm going over to take a = look at the piano tomorrow. Actually, she's willing to pick me up. She = drives Mercedes, an old one she tells me. If the spelling is incorrect, = blame my wife.:) =20 Anyway, I won't do anything with the keys and action of the bridal = straps are missing until I learn that repair. However, I want to = accomodate her the best I can. She wants it tuned, but a couple of keys = will go down but not up. I'm guessing there's a mouse nest in the key = bed, however, is there something I can do in order to give that key a = quick free up so it will go back up before I learn that bridal strap = repair etc? Also, I read in one of our past journals some time back = that lavender placed inside the piano helps keep mice away. Where do I = purchase lavender? =20 I apologize if this is a question already exists in the archives as one = guy on here reamed mb about a while back, but i'ts a lot easier than = hunting down an archive. Thanks so much everyone.=20 Marshall ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Aart in America Piano Services=20 To: Pianotech List=20 Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 7:15 PM Subject: harpsichord Hi Blaine. Thank you so much for taking the time to compose this very = informative and helpful email. The directions you have provided are invaluable! I'll let you and the other good folks on the list know how it comes = out. Very best regards, Aart Aart in America Piano Services Hoboken, N.J. 07030 201 406 2594 aartinamerica@optonline.net On Feb 16, 2006, at 9:01 AM, Blaine Vesely wrote: Aart, I get pianotech in digest form and have minimal time to read = everything, but your post prompted this email. Don't even worry about = taking inharmonicity measurements with a SAT2 since the machine does not = go below 2.0 I think. A harpsichord modelled after an old Baroque = French Double (sounds like this is the kind you will be working on) will = not have much inharmonicity. Just use the 4th octave settings on your = SAT to tune from B4 to the bottom of the harpsichord. A4 will be more = toward the treble than the bass side of the keyboard assuming a compass = of F to F. Probably the second A from the top of the range on the = keyboard. When you tune the C5 to top of the keyboard, you may have to = insert some stretch alittle, but not much. You can use the individual = settings and tune the notes directly, like set machine to D5 and tune = D5, D#5 and tune D#5. This gets you in the ballpark pretty much. Then = use your ear to test if some stretch is needed. On a French Double, you = will have two 8 foots and a 4 foot. I usually tune the top manual. It = will only operate one set of 8 foot strings. You must make sure the top = keyboard is coupled. Slide the whole keyboard front or back and it will = couple the keyboard to the jacks. When you get the top manual tuned, = then play the bottom manual. Make sure you only have the second set of = 8 foot strings coupled, and not the 4 foot. Tune unisons using the = bottom keyboard. Usually the 8 foot strings are the tuning pins closest = to the player. Then turn off the 8 foot (lever that moves the jacks) = and turn on the 4 foot and tune. The top 4 foot strings are hard = sometimes to hear and you may have to uncouple the top manual and tune = octaves with just the 4 foot, usually it is only the last several = strings because they are so quiet and high pitched.=20 Concerning tuning pins, if you have to replace a string, you = really have to back out the tuning pin all the way if it has tapered = tuning pins. If it has what look like miniature tuning pins that are = straight, then put coils on a dummy pin and then copy what the other = strings look like. I have not done any stringing with pins that have no = becket, to if that is the case, you will just have to practice and when = you get comfortable with it, go back to the customer. The pins = generally for harpsichords that are of a traditional nature are designed = to get tighter when tapped in and thus tapered. So take the pin out, = put the string in (you might want to take the jacks out) and cut it = maybe 8 inches longer than the tuning pin. Copy the way the string is = on the pin and it helps to maintain adequate tension when coiling the = string on the pin, and drive the pin in the hole. I have also been told = that when you bring the string up to tension that you should leave it a = little bit under pitch, maybe 50 - 100 cents for a few minutes. Someone = told me that it does something to the molecules in the iron strings and = makes it stronger. Then bring it up to full tension. Oh yes, the low = inharmonicity and lower pitch when stringing thing I just talked about = applies to instruments with red, yellow brass and iron strings. If you = know that the instrument has steel strings or has strings that are = wound, then there is probably more inharmonicity and will need some = stretch eventually in tuning. One way to tell iron from steel is that = when you bend or kink iron, it will be easier to bend and will give you = a definite kink. Steel is harder to put a kink in it. Some fast thoughts, have fun with it. Blaine Vesely, Piano Technician Kent State University School of Music Kent, Ohio 44242 office: 330-672-2898 fax: 330-672-7837 email: bvesely@kent.edu ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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