Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum tuning devices

Thanks again to all who contributed. I have been considering taking the technology course from the school out in Oregon and this information is helpful. If anyone has any thoughts on that matter I'd love to hear those too. One just has to wade through the opinions but that's what this whole process is about. Thanks again.

Also to Thammer, thanks for the apology. I take that to mean you'll use proper names from now on. Lord only knows how many x's I've changed feet in my mouth!

thammer,

Does that mean you read the Scientifc American article?

But no one in this thread was ever "anti-ETD". It has just been said that aural tuning skills are important even if you use an ETD, and the ETD is just a tool in the arsenal.

I'm not sure about that "John Henry" reference, though- don't you think that is more appropriate for the restringers? Wham!

Regards,

Rick Clark

Remember John Henry died with a hammer in his hand vowing not to let the steam drill beat him. Aural tuners vow not to let etd's beat them, to no avail.

I see. So you are still attempting to ridicule some of the finest tuners in the world.

Regards,

Rick Clark

Yes, but perhaps it is more specifically coming down to what extent someone needs to be familiar with the aural method before a high measure of success can be achieved with an ETD. In past ETD threads, here and on the PTG site I believe, the majority of ETD users have always done unisons aurally after the first string and time was the reason. Also, in a past PTG thread I remember reading a poll on how many tuners deliberately tune unisons imperfect. The response was again a majority stating their aim was pure beatlessness and, if they could get there, perfection. I haven't read the Sci Am link, but intend to when I can get the time.

If, Rick, you are suggesting some lack of phase that comes from a *very* slow beat as the goal, my question would be don't you also notice a reduction in sustain once the notes begin to be tuned in this manner? I try and keep in mind that sounds in opposite phase cancel one another. That's how noice cancelation devises work. As such, I am not convinced that anything other than pure unisons are the what to strive for.

Sorry for not reading the article. Our S&S B arrived home this morning and I am here at work itching to go home and tune the 7 month old strings. I brought them up from a half step flat on Sunday at the incredibly dry environs of the refinisher. Now, its at home in 50%RH with 4 go-bars I cobbed together and placed between the floor and the ribs. I am hopeful that what was very little crown will be prevented from possibly going negative. Laugh, if you want to.

Chris W1

Rick, Get a sense of humor!

Sorry to bring this up again, but I need a little advise. I have a Peterson strobe tuner which I bought used several years ago. I would like to get a new tuner and am thinking about the Sat III or the Verituner. Could I get some opinions about these two or if there are any other recommendations? Thanks.

Ralph, I don't know the Veri-Tuner at all BUT,,,, I DO know the SAT 3 and it is awesome!!!!

It is a very stable and dependable piece of technology. The Battery will last for a week, the thing can take rough handling,and it does NOT take up much space. It is worth every penny of its price. I really like the ways that you can tweek each piano to account for differences in inharmonicity. The only other alternative I can mention would be the RCT on the HAND-HELD Platform

Thanks Thomas. I think the Sat III is probably the industry standard. The VeriTuner advertises the ability to "listen" to multiple partials. I don't know if this would help or just confuse things for me. I have seen the Sat III but never the Verituner. Unfortunatetly I haven't seen the RCT but have heard good things. The Sat III is probably the safe choice since this has been around for a while.

Does anyone know if any of these ETDs will listen to intervals and determine if there are an appropriate number of beats? It sure would help if it could determine if major and minor thirds, fourths and fifths and properly "out of tune".

Ralph,

Any ETD that has temperment settings should be steering you for the beat rates of your choice. TuneLabs defaults to equal temperment and, by so doing, should achieve the 3 beat/5 seconds fifths, etc. If you don't like that, the software comes with mean(?) tone and all that other stuff.

FYI, Robert Scott's TuneLabs also measures up to the 6th/7th partials and, I believe, will function on a pocket PC. Check out Bill Spurlocks new tuning pin mount for these devices:

http://www.spurlocktools.com/id63.htm

From the pic, it looks like it the RCT works on pocket PC's, as well.

Chris

That sounds great Chris. I'm going to give Tunelab a try. I believe they offer a free download. I just received my Steinway B back after a total rebuild. It took 14 months, but the results are marvelous. I can't keep my hands off the piano, but I like to keep it in tune (who doesn't). I don't mind taking a tuning hammer to it every week or so just for a few touch up areas. After a while, I've found one begins to know a specific piano and all the "trouble" areas. I knew where they were before the rebuild, but haven't found any since. Still, every piano has it's own personality and I think, in time, I'll be able to tune it better and more often than someone else. Thanks again.