Combining Partial Changes with Scaling Issues
Inaccurate partial changes in tuning software can create problems in the tuning.
When using any computerized tuning system software, partial change errors are common. Sometimes they can be large enough to easily cause audible ‘hiccups’ in the tuning.
Some systems have as many as 4, 5, or even 6 partial changes built into them The most audible problems are heard in the lower half of the piano.
If the errors are less than 0.3 cents or so, they are insignificant. But partial change errors of .5 cents or more can easily be heard and create ‘hiccups’ in the tuning.
Inaccurate partial changes combined with the scaling challenges in the lower half are what cause many tuners to turn off their machines and tune aural only.
Almost any tuning system’s software will work on a long scale piano, but on the shorter scales, the combined effect of scaling issues and the partial change errors, can cause the software to not work very well at all in the bass and mid range Particularly on small grands, consoles, and spinets.
Only after the partial changes have been corrected, can an accurate stretch be determined. Simply increasing or decreasing the ‘stretch’ is not a fix.
Transitioning from plain wire to wound strings, and going from long bridge to bass bridge, is a challenge for both designer and tuner.
Scaling issues are often made worse by partial change errors.
Many highly regarded technicians turn off their ETDs for bass tuning. Their software just doesn’t work very well in the bass.
Some tuning software tries to remedy the scaling issues by allowing the technician to enter the locations of the bridge break and the plain wire to wound string break into their software before the tuning is ‘calculated’. This may improve their results a little, but it’s still a ‘guess’ as to exactly what is going on at the pianos’ scaling breaks and the software’s partial changes.
Some years ago, when talking with Al Sanderson about the potential problem at the tenor partial change, Al asked me with a smile, “Did I get any of them right?”. I answered, “Yes!”. Al knew, there was no way he or anyone else could get it right on every piano. He always said our job was to tweak the tuning aurally to compensate for all those things that the computer couldn’t catch.
Only after the partial changes have been addressed can a real solution be found as to how to best deal with the scaling issues.
Bob, The piano sounds beautiful! I did some recording of it tonight. Suzanne
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Bob, Thank you for bringing my piano back to life! It sounds beautiful! Linda
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Hi Bob. . . Yamaha sounds fantastic! Great Job! Thanks so much, Carol & Wayne
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Bob, my piano sounds much better! I'm impressed with your ear and your knowledge.
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dear bob, just wanting to tell you, piano sounded great. yours is the best tuning I’ve had in years. let’s set up another time for some more magic.
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Hi Bob The piano sounds beautiful. Thank you. I’ll put you on the calendar for next year.
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Bob, I just wanted to tell you how wonderful the tuning job was, I never heard the piano sound better, either I am getting older and cannot hear or you are getting better, I think it is the latter. You...
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. . . the piano sounds great!
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Thank you, Bob, for the fabulous job you did with our piano. It sounds wonderful! Regards, Meryl Wade
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Thank you so much. We feel really grateful to have you keeping our piano in working condition. It’s so nice to have someone we can trust and who always does such a great job.
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Bob, I have owned the 1904 upright you recently tuned for over 50 years. I don’t know what magic you did, but I must compliment you! My sturdy old friend has never sounded better in all the years I have owned...
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Hi Bob. Thank you so much for the exceptional job you did tuning my husband’s old piano back on February 13th. He was thrilled and it sounds just gorgeous now! Best, Janet Mabon
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Thank you so much, Robert, for the wonderful job you did tuning my very old upright grand piano. Stopped playing long enough to write this review. You worked a miracle and what a thrill to hear those rich bass sounds...
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Just a note regarding my Schimmell grand piano. It sounds fantastic and bell like with very pure tone just like when I bought it. I played it quite a bit this weekend and as you noted one hears every note....
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Good morning Bob…….Thank you for sending the excellent report. It is well written, thorough and….well, perfect! You have mucho expertise when it comes to pianos…..we were lucky to have such a person….
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Very professional. . . . .
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My Hamilton console piano had not been tuned for over 6 years and moved from humid South Carolina to dry Tucson. So I called a friend, who plays the contemporary music at our church, and he immediately recommended Bob Conrad....
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Bob, your class at the Convention was amazing. Now I have a thirst for more. I am interested in your tunings for my SATIV.
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Bob is a great tuner. He has tuned not only my studio piano but those of my my voice and piano students. He’s more than just a tuner, he’s a fine technician as well. He’s a fine musician too, possessing...
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Bob did the best job possible tuning my piano which I had neglected for five years I am ashamed to admit. Thanks Bob it sounds awesome....
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