A=440 was Tuning

[Pianoman]

In many ways it seems like the more precise we can be  the more our clients 
don't even care or are even aware  I know for most of my clients I care more 
about where their pitch is than they do.
James
James Grebe
Since 1962
Piano Tuning & Repair
Creator of Handsome Hardwood Products(
314) 608-4137   1526 Raspberry Lane   Arnold, MO 63010
Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History
BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!
www.grebepiano.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Brekne" <ricb at pianostemmer.no>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 5:57 PM
Subject: A=440 was Tuning


> Just saw the bit about getting exactly a 440.... and had to offer an 
> observation which has become increasingly obvious with each passing year. 
> In practice... musicians seem nearly without exception totally inept, 
> incapable and downright ignorant of what 440 really is.  In reality as 
> long as you say you have tuned at 440, and have some device that shows 440 
> for A... even if its rigged... pitch can float anywhere between 438 and 
> 442 and nearly no-one is capable of reacting.  A rare exception..
>
> Orchestras are the absolute worst.... they nearly all have fast tuned 
> instruments like vibraphones and the like tuned to various pitches...which 
> makes the whole matter rather moot to begin with.  I ran into a pop group 
> with a big A= 440 in their contract and came with a rhodes tuned to 443... 
> This is common place.
>
> We deal with both 440 and 442 in contracts over here on a regular basis... 
> and I've gotten into the habit of tuning to 441.... 99.8% of the time this 
> is absolutely no problem.
>
> I guess I've come to the conclusion that the whole pitch standard thingy 
> is basically overdriven bs.
> Cheers
> RicB
>