temp change=how much pitch change?

[Andrew and Rebeca Anderson]

Patrick,
In the Steinway & Sons Technical Services Division Guidelines for 
Institutional Piano Service you will find the following in Steinway 
Guidelines G. Green pg. 2 under section heading 2. Piano Services and 
a) Tuning and Overlook:
         "... Concert Instruments should be tuned  to A-441 to more 
easily address requests for pitch changes. ..."
By concert instruments I would assume they mean B's or D's.  A lot of 
roving orchestras, bands and even occasionally, soloists require this 
on their contracts.  When asked about this they usually comment on it 
as a matter of self-defence against pianos that end up under A4=440hz 
during concert conditions.

As Guy Nichols noted, concert conditions usually don't mirror tuning 
conditions.  One of my venues is now well trained.  The D is on stage 
where it will be with full concert lighting two hours before I am 
scheduled to arrive to tune and prep it.  That is the 
exception.  They have agreed to keep it a 441 and I think the only 
ones who get cross-eyed are vocalists.  Even then the hall is cooler 
than it will be when it is packed full of enthusiastic audience.  I 
haven't bothered to check pitch on the piano during intermissions 
like Guy did to document pitch-drop in the halls he serviced.  No-one 
has had any complaints or requests for me on the pianos I service. 
(With the exception of a D born defective and sold to one venue here 
with the strings out-of-reach of action adjustments.  The Steinway 
tech. had broken off some drop screws attempting to raise drop above 
1/4" and failed to mention anything to the university.  That warranty 
saga continues still without any end in sight other than a gift of 
action shims!)

Gave me pause when I first saw it too.  Makes sense to me after consideration.

Andrew Anderson


At 07:53 AM 2/11/2007, you wrote:
>Um, what piece of literature would that be? Page 57 of the Steinway &
>Sons Technical Refernce Guide does mention A440, but that wasn't model
>specific.
>Yes, I do like references and footnotes ...
>Patrick Draine
>
>On 2/10/07, Andrew and Rebeca Anderson <anrebe at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>>Probably why Steinway literature recommends tuning the D to 441.
>>
>>Andrew Anderson

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