tuning two pianos together

[Phil Bondi]

John, this is an example of how a machine can do a great 
job for you.

Here's my suggestions:

-Straight FAC, or whatever visual method of your choice. 
Don't make any big changes to the original settings you get 
from the machine.

-double-check all unisons. There's 2 places where you need 
to be extremely fussy. This is one of them. The other is:

-The Bass/Tenor Break area of the 'lesser' piano'..in your 
case, the Weber(?!!?!). Use the machine to find out where 
the D is sitting in this area..from C#2 to G2. If you're 
able, work this area to where the Weber and the D are 
close. There will be a little funkiness..don't worry too 
much about it not being in tune with itself here, or 
slightly out of tune..there's enough funk on that Weber, 
I'm sure, to compromise with its greater brethren for this 
application. There's not going to be a huge difference 
between the Weber being 'in tune' and the Weber 'in tune 
with the Steinway'.

John, you said:

> then tune with open unisons to get the most
> expanded tuning as will fit the piano.

I disagree because you're dealing with apples and 
oranges..not so much with the size difference, but with the 
scale/tension difference between the 2. I realize that 
you're trying to compromise for this difference with the 
style you're choosing. I have had bad luck trying to figure 
out "which way to go" when dealing with 2 very different 
pianos. It's been my experience to get each piano in tune 
with itself, and then deal with the differences from 
there..which, in most cases, is the Bass/Tenor Break area 
of the lesser piano.

You'll be fine.

-Phil Bondi(Fl)