[pianotech] Pitch raise criteria

[David Love]

The SAT machine tends to overstretch the bass to my ear so I always tune it
last when I have a reference from tuned upper notes.  The lowest I'll start
on most tunings is at C3 where the machine switches from a 4:2 reference to
a 6:3 (going down).  Better to start at F3 or A3 (my preference), check the
A3 A4 octave and proceed upward.  After that go down through the tenor and
bass where you have checks from already tuned notes.

Lately, on critical tunings I've switched more to direct interval tuning
setting the machine to the relevant coincident partial and tuning with two
reference notes.  The machines do calculate scales which don't always match
the piano's quirks.  Best to check as you go.

I also like tuning P12th's starting in the 5th octave modifying it somewhat
for the last octave, but that's another story.  

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Jim Busby
Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 5:51 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pitch raise criteria

David,

I agree with you both. I've heard Al say 1-88 was best, but I do it your way
for one simple reason; tuning the bass is easy for me, so I do it last. It
seems to not mess up anything already done. Besides, I HATE to tune the
upper two octaves last, when I'm getting tired. And, that way I know it's
right on with the tenor, wherever it is. I've had many times when tuning
1-88 when the bass didn't quite agree with the tenor. then what do you do??
Change the tenor, or the bass? 

Many won't agree. Fine. Do what works for you. But after 31 years, 2 of
which I experimented a lot, I'll tune the bass last.  My 2 bits.

Jim Busby

________________________________________
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
David Love [davidlovepianos at comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 6:30 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pitch raise criteria

I agree with that.  Start in the middle and work out just like any other
tuning.

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Porritt, David
Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 4:07 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pitch raise criteria

Dave:

The thing I don't like about the A0 - C8 approach is that you have to have
total faith in your ETD.  You can't start checking intervals and their
relationship until you're nearly half way through your tuning.  If you don't
like some of the relationships at that point you either just leave it as is,
or go back and correct and do over what you've already done.

I start at F3 and go up through the temperament to A4 checking intervals and
make sure it's as I want it before finishing out the piano.  I also do
unisons as I go to check unisons.  I really do trust TuneLab like I trust my
banker but I still count my change.

dp


David M. Porritt, RPT
dporritt at smu.edu


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of David Stocker
Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 3:14 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pitch raise criteria

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

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Rob McCall" <rob at mccallpiano.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 22:47
To: "David Ilvedson" <ilvey at sbcglobal.net>; <pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pitch raise criteria

> David,
>
> I'm just curious of the pattern in which you tune.  Do you start with
> your temperament and go up from there and then come back and tune  going
> down below the temperament? Or do you have some other method/ pattern you
> use when you tune unisons as you go? Do you just use the  rubber mutes,
> set the middle string, then tune the unisons and move to  the next note?
>
> I'm sorry if this seems basic.  I just want to make sure I'm clear on
> what it is you're saying...
>
> I don't mind tuning unisons as I go.  I just want to end up with a  tuning

> that doesn't require me to go back through and fix a bunch of  stuff.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Rob
>
> On Aug 01, 2009, at 21:33 , David Ilvedson wrote:
>
>>
>> If you want to make a big change in your tuning experience, start  tuning

>> unisons as you go.   If that is too big of a change, start  with unisons
>> as you go for the pitch raise.   Right off the bat, the  pitch change is
>> less.   You don't spend time inserting the strip  mute. Start NOW and you

>> will be glad you did...
>
>=