[pianotech] Flagpoling

David Boyce David at piano.plus.com
Fri Aug 10 04:14:43 MDT 2012


Lim, "flagpoling" is a term used to describe the effects of flexibility 
in a tuning pin.

A flagpole (can also be written as two words, flag pole) is of course 
the long stick on which a flag flies at the top. It might seem thick and 
rigid, where it enters the ground.  But at the top, away up in the air, 
there can be considerable movement, as the wind whips the flag around.  
High buildings are the same, and are indeed designed to move several 
centimters in high wind.

Piano tuning pins are short, and SEEM absolutely rigid.  But in fact 
they can to some extent both twist internally, and bend. These effects 
have to be borne in mind when tuning.  The string may move sufficiently 
to be in tune, but only because the pin has bent or twisted without 
moving in its pinblock hole.  If that is the case, the string is likely 
to go out of tune quickly.

Tuning involves an awareness of, and a feel for, these "flagpoling" effects.

Best regards,

David.
www.davidboyce.co.uk
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