[pianotech] Reducing tuning time (was Re: frustrated)

[Duaine Hechler]

Thanks, this is all great advice.

Now - what are the tricks to strip mute ?

When I first started, I tried to strip mute and could never get enough space in the loops and the felt seemed too thick.

Also, since most of mine are uprights, it seems the traditional strip mute is too wide for the upper notes (either the 
dampers are in the way or the hammers are blocks)

There must be a special technique for getting the right size loop - and - getting the right size mute felt so the above 
does not happen.

Would thick key bushing cloth work ? (I have a whole roll of that - used in various places for player work)

Duaine

On 01/11/2013 04:04 PM, Duaine Hechler wrote:
> I've been tuning, with an ETD, now for about 13 years and I can't seem to get much faster than about 2 hrs.
>
> First, 99% of my tunings are pitch raises - one pass - with a very wide range of cents - usually way flat.
>
> Hear is the basics I do.
>
> - Start from A0 and go up.
> - Leap frog mutes - (M=mute, TM = tune middle, TL = tune left, TR = tune right, S = String group)
>
>   (I think this is accurate ? - I had to draw the strings and place and move mutes on paper)
>
>   M1 - TM1 - M2 | M2 - S2 - M1 | TL1 | TM2 | M1 - S3 - M2 | TR1 | TL2 | TM3 | M2 - S4 - M1 | TR2 | TL3 | TM4 
> ..............
>
>   So I think I'm already moving mutes as little as possible.
>
> - Pull strings slightly sharp of pitch then back down to pitch (seems better for stability)
> - Check for stability
>
> I know that going sharp and coming back down -  takes time.
>
> Any pointers to get faster ? On the upper treble, is it better (hearing wise) to pull up to pitch or go down to pitch ?
>
> On 01/11/2013 12:22 PM, tunerboy3 at comcast.net wrote:
>> I wouldn't waste that much time on any piano. 4 or 5 hours on just the tuning? No way.
>>
>> I will normally spend about one hour to tune a piano. 2 hours if it's a concert tuning.
>>
>> I would try to figure out what the problem is.
>>
>> Jerry Groot RPT
>> www.grootpiano.com
>


-- 
Duaine Hechler
Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ - Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding
(314) 838-5587 / dahechler at att.net / www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
Home & Business user of Linux - 12 years