tuning (mute methods and deebees)

[holly quigley]

(Figured I'd put it under one heading instead of a third post)

Regarding you more experienced tuners and your one-mute method - about how
long did it take you to transition from strip muting to unisons-as-you-go?
What I mean is, how much time in practice did it take to get your time down
and result in a clean enough tuning to do unisons-as-you-go in the field on
a paid basis? Does my question make sense? I know in theory, if you're
capable of producing a clean and stable tuning using other methods, there
shouldn't be much of a transition time, but still. I've fiddled with tuning
with one mute (I mean aurally here - I use one mute all the time when tuning
with an ETD), and it takes me longer because I'm used to the sound of
intervals and octaves in single-string format. I don't get to practice it
all the time though, because I gotta work. It's like the fact that I
wouldn't go out and start putting Stein-way style tunings on pianos without
having practiced and refined the technique on my own. People shouldn't have
to pay extra (time or money) for the technician's learning
experience/practice-time.

Also, regarding deebees (the EAR protection thread). Would it make sense to
think about it this way: the piano is an instrument designed to be heard
clearly and appreciated at a distance. Which means even at "normal" playing
levels, it still has to be loud enough to project out to an audience (not
bringing in the topic of hall acoustics, etc.). Which means of course
there's a lot of volume right at the piano. In a perfect world, even piano
players would wear ear protection, just as much as drummers (should) wear
ear protection. Not saying those two instruments are of the same hearing
damage level, but they can produce damage. I've been able to hear just fine
when wearing ear plugs and tuning, so why not take the extra precaution
anyway? For me, though, it's just a matter of getting into the habit. This
should be a good reason to!

Regarding whether or not a person is striking the notes too hard when
tuning, though - I do know that a certain piano manufacturer's head tech has
informed tuners time and again that particularly with new grands, it helps
when tuning them to strike the notes, HARD, to ensure stability at first.
Particularly in the capo bar areas. Which is where the sound gets more
painful. This as a response to "the piano is defective because it won't
holds its tune" reports. I know everyone tunes differently, and it'd be a
shame to turn a thread on the importance of protecting our most important
tool into an argument on hard or soft hitters. Sometimes depending on the
piano, though, one technique is better than another to use, maybe?

cheers,
Holly Quigley
(just an associate member)
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