Hello all. Looking for some insight on the timing of tunings and how it could pertain to the stability in months to follow. I'm curious about how you typically manage and plan for these...do you adjust accordingly for atmosphere conditions as they may be different year to year, season to season...ect...
Initially I was hired for this spring semester to do a certain number of tunings. After completing the first round on all the pianos, I had been in touch with my main contact to determine when they would want additional tunings done. For the semester, all the general practice room pianos are to receive 2 tunings. The piano major grands 3 tunings...piano faculty grands 3 tunings...concert pianos once a week and most other just one tuning. I've disclosed this in another post, but at the start all the pianos needed pitch correcting with most of the at -25 to -40 cents. I've been pretty happy with how the tunings have held up. Considering the amount of adjustment...they are all still within 1-2 cents of A=440 and most of the tuning stretch and unisons are still mostly holding up. I wasn't sure how much scrutiny my work was going to be held to when taking on this job, but there have been no complaints. Feeling pretty good about things, but I know I've got a lot to learn still and much refinement to do in many areas.
Now we're in the last month of the semester and there are about 40-45 tunings left to do. I inquired about the timing of when they would like these tunings done and I have been asked to tune as close to the end of the semester as possible so the tunings may last further into the following months. I have been giving this some thought for awhile and wanted to ask for some insight about the timing of tunings and how that actually pans out for stability.
From what I understand, when humidity rises wood more quickly takes in that moisture....that is, the wood takes in the moisture more quickly than it looses moisture when the RH drops. Does that sound correct? I'm am wondering how quickly do these changes occur in reality? If I tune a piano for any client, is the instrument just as susceptible to an environmental change if it occurs a week after the tuning or 1-2 months after the tuning? Does this question make sense? I hope so. I was trying to consider what would give the University the most value regarding the timing of the tuning work. Now they may very well have some things going on over the summer months, I'm not sure yet but will be asking about that.
I also am still trying to solidify my understanding about the "stability" after doing a pitch correction. In some accounts I've heard depending on the amount of pitch correction and the instrument, it may be best to revisit an instrument within a week of correcting the overall tension. Then put more of a fine tuning on it. In other accounts some techs feel the main thing that really is affected is the down bearing on the bridge/soundboard and in one appointment the pitch correction and fine tuning can be done with no problem. I've been fortunate to be able to evaluate what has happened on several pianos after correcting pitch. Some held up better than others, but all in all they've done well...still, there were some pianos that changed again days or weeks after the initial pitch correction. Is this always going to be a case per case basis? Perhaps I will be best to inform clients to keep track of how their pianos sound and schedule their following tunings as needed? It is difficult to know what is going to happen. To have that foresight. Glad to be able to see some of the after effects of my work. Still a little unclear about things though, so if anyone wants to offer some relevant info I thank you kindly.
Much appreciated.
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Cory Jacobson
Campbellsport WI
262-689-6043
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