Tech question

[keys60]

When tuning, and running across those strings of a tri or bi chord or any string for that matter, that are still dead on, do you guys like to take the freebie and keep moving? Maybe not screw with its stability and or generate heat on the pin? Or do you prefer to retune it to break a forming bond of corrosion that may be forming on the V or pressure bars and hitch pins and other various contact points?
Thanks for your opinions.

[john90]

I would be interested to know if retuning something spot on improves the tone. Is it significant? Presumably it slightly distorts the string in places, on the other hand breaking corrosion might improve sound also, and perhaps stop a deeper grove forming in the string in that one place.

When I used to tune a sub $50 piano I would just move on! But for something special, out of ignorance and extreme caution, I would just move on again! I have never charged for a tune, not being a professional.

[silverwoodpianos]

Pretty difficult to tune something that is not out of tune.

[keys60]

Yes Dan, but I wondered, is it cheating to take the freebie or is it better to detune a retune so the contact points stay fresh and clean instead of running the risk of the string bonding to those points.
So I guess your saying to take the freebie and be grateful for it, huh?

[silverwoodpianos]

Oh I see what you mean…well, remember that the string is not entirely static; it does move on its own due to the ever-changing environmental conditions. Also pianos are tuned every 3 months or so depending upon the rate of play and conditions, so there is not much chance of the wire corroding in place unless it is really wet in there…..

Theoretically a piano will only stay in tune for 24 hours maybe less….. What I mean is that the instrument will theoretically remain where I leave the strings until such time as the humidity or temp changes; half a degree of temp change will change the position of the wire.

To answer your query it really depends upon the instrument and how it is performing or rather reacting to the applied physics which is tuning. Sometimes I leave them and sometimes I change them. The secret to longevity of metal tuning pins in a wooden block is the move them as little as possible.

Now when an instrument is “floated” for several years without changing the centre section much, this will cause ridging and /or corrosion of the wire underneath the pressure bar; pianos on the west coast have this problem a lot because of the mild climate here. If the instrument is played solo, then the floating of the pitch is not noticed much…even if there is accompaniment these instruments can tune up slightly or down unless we are talking brass and woodwinds……

So here on the west coast you can get the center sections stable over years and then move the outside octaves up or down according to the seasons…. This is only possible here with pianos that have been in the same place for a long time; you can almost “lock” the strings, sounding board, and bridges together so they move as one unit….hard thing to explain in words….it is more a mental picture…..some pianos that I have tuned for 30 years or more I don’t tune them any longer; I make adjustments to the scale….some of these instruments are only tuned once a year now…..

See the idea with pianos is the get them stable in one place for a long time; the longer they stand in one place with regular tuning the more “settled out” they become.  So once this begins to happen the tunings take less time. Then, I can use the rest of the scheduled tuning time to make small adjustments or cleaning. This creates better service for the client.I would consider it cheating if I did not replace the time saved on tuning with other work.

[keys60]

Thanks for the response, Dan. I usually take the freebie too. Just wanted to make sure of the best procedure and I respect your input.
People seem bewildered if you tell them the piano starts detuning before I make it to the door. Some things are just better left unsaid. It might cost me a call back. Some people actually do get it.