The A4 Numbers
These quick and easy measurements tell a lot about the piano. They also give me the locations of two 'Target' notes that will be used for the tuning. Continue reading
Targets and Mini-Targets
The ‘main’ targets are every A on the piano (including A0 and A7).
The ‘mini’ targets are the D’s and E’s in the 3rd and 4th octaves.
The LC spreadsheet uses the locations of target notes to create the tuning.… Continue reading
The ‘4th’ A4 Number
The '4th A4 Number' is the width of the prime's 2:1 after it has been tuned as a pure 4:2. Knowing this 4th A4 number from the very beginning lets me know immediately what I'm going to be dealing with on that particular piano. Continue reading
Mapping the Treble with Templates and a SAT 980
Mapping the treble uses:
1. information found when the A4 numbers were measured and
2. the completed mapping of the prime octave: A3, D4, E4, & A4. Continue reading
Mapping A1
Once the location for A2 is known, mapping A1 is very straightforward. A good location for A1 is as a 6:3 octave (from A1), 3.0 cents wide. Continue reading
Mapping A0
Mapping A0 can be done any number of ways. It can be mapped however you like, but just like A1, once you have it where you want it, it's location must be measured using it's 4th partial, since the LC Spreadsheet uses the 4th partials for A0 - A4. Continue reading
Templates
Template: A gauge, pattern, or mold (such as a thin plate or board) used as a guide to the form of a piece being made; an overlay; something that establishes or serves as a pattern. Continue reading
Prime Octave
When we were working on all this, we kept needing to talk about the A3/A4 octave. Over time, it just became easier to use the words 'Prime octave' instead of saying the A3/A4 octave. Continue reading
Mapping
Mapping (and tuning) notes during the mapping process is the equivalent of setting the temperament in aural-only tuning. Continue reading
Combining Partial Changes with Scaling Issues
Inaccurate partial changes in tuning software can create problems in the tuning. When using any ETD's computerized tuning system software, errors at it's partial changes are common, can be large, and can easily cause audible 'hiccups' in the tuning. Continue reading
What is a Partial Change?
When using any tuning software, different partials are used to tune different parts of the piano. The partials used are designed into the software. All tuning software systems therefore contain partial ‘changes’ as part of the tuning.… Continue reading
Download Tunings
To make them easily available, these download tunings are in both .SAT and Excel file formats. Also included is a Header Sheet in Excel form, which contains the piano mfg, and model, and the settings for each 'A' on the tuning. Continue reading
Downloaded Tunings news
Available for download here is a group of individual pianos (complete 88 note tunings). These tunings were the result of a custom mapping routine to create a custom tuning for that particular piano at that time.
These tunings… Continue reading
The New AccuTuner Max IV “980”
The new Sanderson Accu-Tuner Max "980" has 980 pages of memory - more than double the number of available pages of the standard SAT IV. Continue reading
“Double Octave Beat” – DOB
DOB allows us to easily stretch or contract a template or tuning stored in the SAT. A DOB setting of .1 expands the double octave - increasing the beat rate of the double octave - by one tenth of a beat per second. A negative or minus DOB setting contracts the width of the double octave thereby decreasing the beat rate of the double octave in one tenth beat per second increments. DOB can be used where ever more or less stretch is needed. DOB is a feature found on the Sanderson Accu-Tuner III and IV. Continue reading
FAC Tuning Tweaks
This article addresses the potential 'Tenor' partial change issue found in all FAC Tunings, and describes a method for checking and correcting it. Continue reading
Excel (Spreadsheet) Tuning Organization
For those without Accu-Tuners, or for those with older Accu-Tuners without the Piano Librarian software, the download package may still be of interest. In addition to the tuning files in the .sat format, the download package also contains the templates in the Excel Spreadsheet format, for opening with Excel or any other spreadsheet program.
Continue reading
Accu-Tuner Sales
The Accu-Tuner allows the technician to become as involved as he wants in the tuning process. The Accu-Tuner is a sophisticated and accurate pitch measuring device,
Piano Librarian Manual
The Piano Librarian Software Instruction manual is available for download. Continue reading Accu-Tuner Manuals
All Accu-Tuner manuals are available for download. Continue reading What Customers Have Said
Thank you for your business and special thanks to everyone for leaving such kind words of support. It is very much appreciated! Each and every comment is important to my piano tuning business here in Tucson, AZ. Continue reading What’s a Registered Piano Technician (RPT)?
The field of Piano technology is an unregulated trade. Therefore the Piano Technicians Guild has set its own standards of quality for piano technicians. The Guild has ... Continue reading Piano Tuning: How often?
Manufacturer recommendations ~ Who would know better, when you should tune your piano than the people who make pianos? Continue reading Piano Action Regulation
Piano regulation is the mechanical adjustment of pianos by a trained piano tuner, to compensate for the affects of wear, and settling. Continue reading Communities Service Area
Conrad Piano Services is now serving Tucson and surrounding communities including: Continue reading 
Piano Tuner Customers Say:
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. ...
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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...
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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...
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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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Bob, I just wanted to thank you again for all you did for my little Steinway. Even I sound good now, and that is not an easy task !! Thanks again, Jaynie Kane
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Bob, I am so pleased with my (sounds like new) piano. I have been playing it for the past hour and am just delighted. It sounds SO much better. Notes that didn't resonate before that were supposed to...
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I acquired a Yamaha Concert Grand CFIIIS in March of 2011. It had been part of the Artists Reserve unit at the Yamaha facility in CA and had been used for concert work for a period of about 10 years....
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Hey Bob- Again, thank you so much for your professionalism, advice and honesty in handling this for me. I wouldn't have done this without your help. Ray Barber, Riverside CA
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Thanks for all your help.
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Bob, My wife is deeply pleased with the performance of our Kawai as a direct result of your skills. I just stood near the piano and luxuriated in 'Porgy & Bess'. Thank you. Your concern has made a difference...
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