Thoughts for Newbies was RE: Spinet

[pianotune05]

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Hi Alan,
I think I have the Schaff 204 mute that you mentioned, but I have a =
question about it.  The mute is a split rubber mute, but one part seems =
a bit thicker than the other.  For whatever reason, perhaps lack of =
practice and patience with it, I have trouble use it to mute in the =
trebble.  The handle gets in the way of the hammer typically, but I'm =
with you. I hate strip muting the trebble. I don't even waste my time =
with the bass.  I use a stick mute and mute off the right string of one =
and go down to the next right string, then when Im finished the bass, I =
go back and do the left strings. =20

You mentioned making intervals sound good. I find that when tuning the =
bass, if I tune the tinny sounds out of fifths and fourths, Im usually =
right in where the note should be. =20

I'm new at this too, and I agree, join the PTG.  It's like being part of =
a family of other tuners.  So, Alan, if you have any ideas for any for =
anyone who is sight impaired on how to use that blue steeled mute you =
mentioned, please let us know. =20

I found that one way to know if the tuning is good on a spinit is when =
the customer comments that it sounds louder when I'm finished. =20

Have a good one.
Marshall
ps. I'm now an associate member of the PTG. I cannot wait to get my =
materials in the mail.
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Alan Barnard=20
  To: Pianotech List=20
  Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 2:20 PM
  Subject: Thoughts for Newbies was RE: Spinet


  Some thoughts.

  If pins don't hold, Stop. You cannot tune that piano unless and until =
you deal with that problem.

  As to muting strings, I strongly recommend that you order a Treble =
Mute (Schaff p33 item 204). It is misnamed: You can use it on all =
trichord unisons.=20

  Place it as shown in the attached photo and tune the center string. =
Then move it one unison to the right and tune the left string of the =
unison you just worked on and the center string of the new one. Then =
shift it again, tune the right string of the first unison, the left =
string of the second, and the center of the newest one. Etcetera. Works =
like a charm in many situations. I like to use it in all uprights for =
the trebles that still have dampers, for example, because I don't like =
stripping behind dampers.

  If you are tuning aurally (the hard road to making money but a great =
road to really learn tuning--if you persevere) then you can use the mute =
instead of stripping and tune the whole unison of each note as you go. =
This will FORCE you to develop good hammer technique, good unison =
tuning, and an accurate ear for intervals.

  You should be able to strip mute all or most of that spinet but you =
will have to place the strip then carefully slide it down on the strings =
until it is well below the strike point.=20

  If the block is weak, as you seem to have found, it is likely that the =
instrument is rather old or ill-used and the dull thuddiness of the bass =
strings is due to dirt, corrosion, and general aging. You can try tuning =
each bass single or bichord unison, one at a time, down until it is =
pretty floppy than wanging HARD on the key to break up the crud. Then =
carefully bring them back to pitch Sometimes it does no discernible =
good, but sometimes it makes a dramatic difference.

  Some old spinets (a P.A. Stark I knew all-too-well comes to mind) will =
sound pukey no matter how well tuned it is. BUT at this stage, you =
shouldn't just assume that an instrument you are facing is one of those. =
You must work hard and long to make it sound the best it can.=20

  Set a temperament that has three things for sure: Clean octaves, =
almost-pure but narrow fifths with acceptable fourths, and evenly =
progressing major thirds. Then, going down, you should tune by =
octaves--gradually changing from 4:2 to 6:3 by C3 or so--but tweak those =
octaves based on the same criteria as the temperament. In other words, =
extend the temperament across the bass/tenor break.

  Going up out of the temperament, clean octaves, clean (almost pure) =
fifths, and evenly progressing 3rds (or tenths, seventeenths, etc.) =
still rule but your octaves should begin to narrow slightly in the fifth =
octave, tending toward slightly stretched 2:1 octaves and nearly pure =
4:1 double octaves. You must learn the M10-M17 and M3-M17 tests. Also, =
you can usually hear the 4:1 by holding down the lower note, say D4, =
without sounding it, then strike and hold the double octave, D6 in this =
case, and listen for any beats in the ghost.

  In a similar vain: As a new tuner you must not quickly assume that =
every hard-to-tune unison is a result of false beats (wild strings). =
Almost any unison can be made acceptable, if not good, with careful =
tweaking and solid pin/string settling. In other words, don't give up =
too easily here, either.

  All this makes early tuning a laborious, time-consuming, and sometimes =
frustrating experience. But if you will read articles and books and =
list-posts on what you are doing, and concentrate, study, and THINK =
about what you are feeling and hearing, you will learn and will be a =
better tuner--and ultimately faster and better able to handle the =
ugliest pianos--than the guy who starts out just getting by and never =
really gets past that stage.

  Join PTG, attend meetings, go to conferences and conventions.

  Alan Barnard
  Salem, Missouri


    ----- Original Message -----=20
    From: Anson Kao=20
    To: pianotech@ptg.org
    Sent: 02/23/2006 11:46:43 AM=20
    Subject: Spinet


    Hello everyone;

    I am just starting out with tuning.  I did my first Spinet last =
night and it was terrible!  I see why they say expensive grands are =
easier to tune.  The bass was in drastic condition and some of the =
strings had a dull sound that I couldn't identify.  Some of the notes =
couldn't hold the tuning, once I tuned it the pin would just slip back =
on its own.  Another problem I had was I couldn't figure out how to mute =
the outside strings for the treble--there was no space for a temperament =
strip and I couldn't figure out a good way to do it.  Thankfully it was =
just a friend's piano I was doing as a favour, and I got away with a =
rough tuning.  Anyhow, for any of you who have dealt with these problems =
before, any advice? =20

    Thanks
    Anson


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