Pianotech

I will be tuning a Storytone piano in a couple weeks. I tried looking through the archives about the Storytone piano [early electronic piano with no soundboard] , but did not see anything about Actually TUNING one... Have any of you done that? Do you have to move microphones or other wires?  Other surprises?  Thanks in advance for your input.

------------------------------
Sheffey Gregory, RPT
------------------------------

Hi Sheffey,

I haven't been into one of those in a long time and don't appear to have a schematic in my library but the electronic part will definitely be analog oscillators that  will tune with tuning coils (either slotted or hex  insert) and your tool preferably needs to be non-metallic; commonly called an alignment tool in the electronics world. The caveat is that sometimes the working values of the capacitors in those old oscillators have changed enough to put them out of a range that can be corrected by the tuning coil. There can also be some issues in the circuits because of the changing values of the vacuum tubes but this often shows up more as a gain issue or a divider that doesn't work. 

I hope this helps but feel free to call if it doesn't make sense.

Stay well,

AG

------------------------------
Allan Gilreath, RPT
Registered Piano Technician & President
Allan Gilreath & Associates, Inc
Calhoun, GA
706-602-7667
allan@allangilreath.com - www.allangilreath.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-21-2021 20:00
From: Sheffey Gregory
Subject: Storytone piano

I will be tuning a Storytone piano in a couple weeks. I tried looking through the archives about the Storytone piano [early electronic piano with no soundboard] , but did not see anything about Actually TUNING one... Have any of you done that? Do you have to move microphones or other wires?  Other surprises?  Thanks in advance for your input.

------------------------------
Sheffey Gregory, RPT
------------------------------

It has strings so no tuning coils.  There's electromagnetic pickups that sense the strings' vibrations and is then amplified with a tube type amplifier.  Built in 1939 it most likely has the large octal socket tubes as opposed to the newer and smaller tubes that came out later.

I'd expect this is a very difficult piano to tune without a working amplifier.  Headphones would be ultra useful to hear the intimate nuances better. 

I can't believe what they're asking for one of these .... and in more than one place.  EEEssh.

------------------------------
Larry Fisher
Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
Vancouver WA
503-310-6965
Working the gravy zone for the rest of my days.
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-21-2021 20:00
From: Sheffey Gregory
Subject: Storytone piano

I will be tuning a Storytone piano in a couple weeks. I tried looking through the archives about the Storytone piano [early electronic piano with no soundboard] , but did not see anything about Actually TUNING one... Have any of you done that? Do you have to move microphones or other wires?  Other surprises?  Thanks in advance for your input.

------------------------------
Sheffey Gregory, RPT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 1/22/2021 10:16:00 AM
From: Larry Fisher
Subject: RE: Storytone piano

It has strings so no tuning coils.  There's electromagnetic pickups that sense the strings' vibrations and is then amplified with a tube type amplifier.  Built in 1939 it most likely has the large octal socket tubes as opposed to the newer and smaller tubes that came out later.

I'd expect this is a very difficult piano to tune without a working amplifier.  Headphones would be ultra useful to hear the intimate nuances better. 

I can't believe what they're asking for one of these .... and in more than one place.  EEEssh.

------------------------------
Larry Fisher
Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
Vancouver WA
503-310-6965
Working the gravy zone for the rest of my days.
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-21-2021 20:00
From: Sheffey Gregory
Subject: Storytone piano

I will be tuning a Storytone piano in a couple weeks. I tried looking through the archives about the Storytone piano [early electronic piano with no soundboard] , but did not see anything about Actually TUNING one... Have any of you done that? Do you have to move microphones or other wires?  Other surprises?  Thanks in advance for your input.

------------------------------
Sheffey Gregory, RPT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 1/22/2021 12:36:00 PM
From: Sheffey Gregory
Subject: RE: Storytone piano

If it doesn't have coils, how are the strings attached? 

Sheffey Gregory, RPT

Gregory's Piano Service 

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7

Original Message:
Sent: 1/22/2021 10:16:00 AM
From: Larry Fisher
Subject: RE: Storytone piano

It has strings so no tuning coils.  There's electromagnetic pickups that sense the strings' vibrations and is then amplified with a tube type amplifier.  Built in 1939 it most likely has the large octal socket tubes as opposed to the newer and smaller tubes that came out later.

I'd expect this is a very difficult piano to tune without a working amplifier.  Headphones would be ultra useful to hear the intimate nuances better. 

I can't believe what they're asking for one of these .... and in more than one place.  EEEssh.

------------------------------
Larry Fisher
Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
Vancouver WA
503-310-6965
Working the gravy zone for the rest of my days.
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-21-2021 20:00
From: Sheffey Gregory
Subject: Storytone piano

I will be tuning a Storytone piano in a couple weeks. I tried looking through the archives about the Storytone piano [early electronic piano with no soundboard] , but did not see anything about Actually TUNING one... Have any of you done that? Do you have to move microphones or other wires?  Other surprises?  Thanks in advance for your input.

------------------------------
Sheffey Gregory, RPT
------------------------------

I was finally able to tune the Storytone... the customer kept going out of town, and changing the appointment.  It's just a regular spinet with no soundboard. The strings make enough sound that I could tune it without any issues.  This particular piano received a rebuild at some point in its life: Realistic amp to replace the original tube amp, repainted plate, restrung, new hammers and dampers. Which made me a lot more comfortable tuning it since it was made in 1939 and was almost 1/2 step flat. In one photo you can see the pickups behind the strings.

------------------------------
Sheffey Gregory, RPT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-21-2021 20:00
From: Sheffey Gregory
Subject: Storytone piano

I will be tuning a Storytone piano in a couple weeks. I tried looking through the archives about the Storytone piano [early electronic piano with no soundboard] , but did not see anything about Actually TUNING one... Have any of you done that? Do you have to move microphones or other wires?  Other surprises?  Thanks in advance for your input.

------------------------------
Sheffey Gregory, RPT
------------------------------

This piano is totally RAD...Who made this gem ? seems like something like this should be in the PTG collection. Other than missing a soundboard it looks like any other vertical

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-24-2021 21:18
From: Sheffey Gregory
Subject: Storytone piano

I was finally able to tune the Storytone... the customer kept going out of town, and changing the appointment.  It's just a regular spinet with no soundboard. The strings make enough sound that I could tune it without any issues.  This particular piano received a rebuild at some point in its life: Realistic amp to replace the original tube amp, repainted plate, restrung, new hammers and dampers. Which made me a lot more comfortable tuning it since it was made in 1939 and was almost 1/2 step flat. In one photo you can see the pickups behind the strings.

------------------------------
Sheffey Gregory, RPT

Original Message:
Sent: 01-21-2021 20:00
From: Sheffey Gregory
Subject: Storytone piano

I will be tuning a Storytone piano in a couple weeks. I tried looking through the archives about the Storytone piano [early electronic piano with no soundboard] , but did not see anything about Actually TUNING one... Have any of you done that? Do you have to move microphones or other wires?  Other surprises?  Thanks in advance for your input.

------------------------------
Sheffey Gregory, RPT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 2/24/2021 10:42:00 PM
From: James Kelly
Subject: RE: Storytone piano

This piano is totally RAD...Who made this gem ? seems like something like this should be in the PTG collection. Other than missing a soundboard it looks like any other vertical

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-24-2021 21:18
From: Sheffey Gregory
Subject: Storytone piano

I was finally able to tune the Storytone... the customer kept going out of town, and changing the appointment.  It's just a regular spinet with no soundboard. The strings make enough sound that I could tune it without any issues.  This particular piano received a rebuild at some point in its life: Realistic amp to replace the original tube amp, repainted plate, restrung, new hammers and dampers. Which made me a lot more comfortable tuning it since it was made in 1939 and was almost 1/2 step flat. In one photo you can see the pickups behind the strings.

------------------------------
Sheffey Gregory, RPT

Original Message:
Sent: 01-21-2021 20:00
From: Sheffey Gregory
Subject: Storytone piano

I will be tuning a Storytone piano in a couple weeks. I tried looking through the archives about the Storytone piano [early electronic piano with no soundboard] , but did not see anything about Actually TUNING one... Have any of you done that? Do you have to move microphones or other wires?  Other surprises?  Thanks in advance for your input.

------------------------------
Sheffey Gregory, RPT
------------------------------