Greetings:

Joe Hutter poses the question:

> I would be most interested in knowing the general consensus regarding
> the question ==> What is the best value in piano tuning equipment
> currently on the market?

I am quite sure others can knowledgably answer the question that Joe is
actually asking, which of course refers to electronic equipment. As far
as I am concerned, the best value in piano tuning equipment is (you
guessed it) a good pair of ears. Here's why:

Tuning is primarily (though not exclusively) concerned with the problem
of perceiving and adjusting relationships between pitches. As accurate
as some of the electronic tuners are, *not one* is capable of listening
to more than one note at a time. The electronic tuner is limited to
measuring first one pitch, then another, and (at best) calculating an
optimum relationship.  Your ear can do this very quickly listening to
pairs, perhaps even trios of pitches simultaneously. An experienced
tuner can very quickly assess the relationships that exist among many
notes, where the electronic device must listen one at a time and impose
an idealized scale upon an instrument and scale that may be far from
ideal. If one is only going to attempt tuning a piano very
occasionally, I suppose there could be some justification for the
electronic tuner, though one might be disappointed at the discovery
that there is no electronic tuner that will completely substitute for
aural tuning experience.

Assuredly, there is a great deal that can be learned about tuning and
tuning theory through the use of an electronic tuner. Professional
situations exist (particularly in institutions) where a good electronic
tuner can be invaluable for pitch raises, matching pairs of performance
pianos, and so forth. And there are some excellent tuners available.
The Sanderson Accu-Tuner, for example, is a real Cadillac among
electronic tuners. It has many very nicely engineered features. Once
tuned, a scale (many scales, in fact) can be "memorized" for future
reference, down-loaded to a PC for storage or analysis, and optimum
stretch can be accurately calculated for just about any scale.

The tuning exam given to applicants for Registered Piano Technician
certification in the Piano Technicians Guild involves the use of the
Accu-Tuner for recording the "master" tuning of the exam piano, and
further used to compare the aspirant's tuning with the "master". The
"master" tuning, performed by a Certified Tuning Examiner, is *still*
done entirely by ear, however, and its correctness is judged by a
committee of Certified Tuning Examiners - by ear. Once that tuning has
been agreed upon, that particular piano may be subsequently tuned for
exams with the use of the Accu-Tuner and the memorized "master" tuning
data. The CTE's still listen to the piano, of course, before
pronouncing it ready for exams.

A central problem is that even with the very best electronic tuners,
those instruments that have always been difficult to tune - small,
poorly scaled spinets and consoles - are still hard to tune. Where the
professional tuner might really appreciate assistance, the electronic
devices are not much help. Tuning those poorly scaled instruments is,
like politics, the art of compromise. The ear and brain are still the
best tools for that task. The very best electronic tuners are also
quite expensive. I would think that only professional technicians who
can fully justify the cost would want to spend US$1200 or more on an
electronic tuner. And, it has been observed over and over again that
many piano tuners who start out with an electronic tuner never become
good tuners by ear, which is almost always the same as saying they
never become good tuners, period.

I realize that the stance I am taking is considered, in some circles,
to be old-fashioned and reactionary, and I am quite prepared for the
onslaught of criticism that may come my way. This discussion has been
raging among members of the Piano Technicians Guild for many years. My
remarks are primarily aimed at those non-tuners or novices who are
hoping that the purchase of the right electronic tuner will solve for
them the whole problem of tuning pianos. By itself, it won't. Judging
from what I have seen, it may in fact further retard the slow process
of becoming a good tuner.

The bottom line for me is how my piano-playing clients feel about the
tuning I do. In twenty-two years of tuning professionally for students,
teachers, institutions, concert artists, etc., I have been asked many
times whether I used an electronic tuner. In all cases, the clients
were relieved when I said "no". I have *never* had a client express
disappointment that I tuned by ear. The results that I get tuning by
ear satisfy the ear, not the machine.

Cheers

Doug Rhodes¶
RPT - The Piano Technicians Guild¶
Victoria, British Columbia¶
CANADA