birdcage pitch?

[Thomas Cole]

Holly -

Some questions come to mind. Why is this piano three half steps flat? Is 
the pin block delaminating and leaning forward. Are the tuning pins 
starting to point downward instead of up? Is there some structural 
problem with the bridge or plate? Is the piano uniformly flat or just 
one area?

Maybe it's none of the above, but a thorough inspection should be done 
before doing any tuning.

Tom Cole

holly quigley wrote:

> I've had the pleasure (har) of dealing with my first birdcage piano. 
> It was, at my first visit, kid you not, a minor third flat. Apparently 
> they bought it from a used piano dealer in Ireland, who said they 
> "refurbished" it (another har). For one thing, the hammers were 
> blocking against the dampers - ? After some inspecting and problem 
> solving, I just shimmed the damper rail to raise the damper line up, 
> and that at least got it playing. The pin block feels viable. The 
> plate sure is weird, and it's straight-strung, not cross-strung. My 
> only real question is what pitch are birdcage pianos usually tuned to? 
> Is A440 safe, or should I keep it lower (although obviously not a 
> friggin minor third lower)?
>
> Unfortunately I can't find the piece of paper I wrote the piano's info 
> on right at the moment. However, if it's indeed Irish, it'll be the 
> second Irish piano I've encountered to much frustration and chagrin. 
> The first one was an almost entirely plastic action. No, seriously. 
> Including the keys, including the capstans, screws, everything. 
> Bizarre. Maybe they should stick to beer over there...
>
> -Holly Quigley.
>
>
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