[pianotech] Pitch raise criteria

[David Stocker]

This was in the early 90's, and I believe the question was stability. If a piano is close to pitch, you could tune any way you like, changing on alternate Thursdays. 

RCT is designed to do a pitch raise from A0 up. You can measure the notes ahead dropping as you proceed. There have been raging arguments about whether the bridge/soundboard move, or the plate, or the wood structure. None of us has the ability to measure accurately what moves. I don't care which one is moving (!!) as long as I can compensate for it in a manner that gives reliable, stable results. 

I always tune from A0 because it might matter sometimes and when it doesn't it certainly can't hurt. It also frees me from needing a temperament strip. I haven't carried one in years.

I hope we're not washed up, although I'm sure I need washing.

Dave Stocker, RPT
Tumwater, WA




From: Terry Farrell 
Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 15:48
To: David Ilvedson ; pianotech at ptg.org 
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pitch raise criteria


Dave - are you sure Dr. Sanderson advocated TUNING from A0 up to C8 - or was that just for pitch raising? Seems to me he either advocated starting in the temperament section or that it didn't matter. If the piano was at (or very close to) the proper pitch, what the heck difference could it possibly make what order you tune which string?


Or maybe I'm all washed up (perhaps more likely than I care to think.....).


Terry Farrell





    Several years before I made the jump to using an ETD, I sat in a class 

    taught by Dr. Sanderson (inventor of the SAT). He had conducted a study to 

    see which tuning order produced the most stable tunings. The answer was to 

    start at A0 and tune unisons as you go all the way to C8. That was one of 

    the reasons I went to an ETD.



    Some are worried such a procedure will cause the plate to crack from uneven 

    stress. Plates are so over-engineered I doubt it could make any difference.



    Dave Stocker, RPT

    Tumwater, WA
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