Re: Tuners and tuning concertinas


"Richard Morse" <r-morse@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:JrydnRDZOeE5kgnbnZ2dnUVZ_sKunZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
marino.michael wrote:
I currently have Tune!It 4.43 and Chromatic tuner v3.3. 1) In the opinion
of the person here which is the better (more
accurate) tuner? The reason for asking is that they will often
disagree on octave and whether a note is flat or sharp.

I use Tune!it, but not for tuning... I use it mainly for relative overtone
amplitude (for analysis). Our shop uses several brands of high-end
electronic tuners with analog (needle-meter) display plus outboard mics
for tuning concertinas which we find much more sensitive and easier to
interpret that digital readout models. The outboard mics are vastly better
than the built-in ones.

I've not heard of "Chromatic tuner".

He means a Korg chromatic tuner. Irt has a needle gauge, and I found it to
be worthless. They needlew would jump like crazy for no apparent reason.
I use a PC with G-tune installed, and a Behringer single-tube pre-amp with
48 v. phantom voltage, a Behringer measurement condenser microphone,
plugged into a USB external sound card. Needle gauges may be fine for some
folks, but the software lets me see waveforms, and nodes, and I can isolate
harmonics to measure their prequency. I have no longer any need for
stand-alone frequency measuring equipment.
The Peterson Strobe Tuner was very good, much better for my purpose than
needle gauge equipment, but it is now no longer made. I preferred it to
their newer fancy digital tuners. It had a servomotor and a wheel with
markings that responded to a strobe light activated by wave peaks. I
remember I thought my motor was bad because I sometimes had to whack the
machine with a block of wood to start the motor. I got a new motor from
Peterson, but it did the same thing. You can still buy them on ebay
sometimes for around $300.

2) I have some reeds that their secondary harmonics are as strong or
stronger than the desired note. Most of these are above the note
desired not below (below being normal fatigue of the metal according
to what I understand. What if anything can be done about this?

I suggest you get a better mic. This may be indicative of the limited
sensitivity of the mic you're using. I've also heard that sound cards that
process audio signals vary enormously in quality with the worst ones being
the ones that come with the computer.

If you want your computer to process the sounds you need both a good mic
AND a good sound card that is approprite for what you're doing. If you go
into an electonics store an ask for a really good sound card they will
probably sell you one that makes video games sound great, or rock
music.... both not ideal for measuring the tonal responses of concertina
reeds.

The best external USB sound card is around $50. Just remember to set the
sample rate to a multiple of 24,000. Using the default rate will screw the
calibration. The default rate works with the internal PC cound card that
came with the PC.

3) Does anyone know where I could buy brass that can be formed into
tongues?

MSC is a good place. Consider spring bronze instead as it's harder, more
resilient and more durable. Check out
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/GSDRVSM?PACACHE=000000021141595

The also have several qualities of brass stock as well.

You'll probably want two thicknesses, one for the lower (thicker) reeds
and another for the higher (thinner) reeds. That way you'll not have to
work so hard removing so much stock.

Also - I think you meant "fashioned" or "fabricated" rather than "formed"?
Lots of machining and/or filing to make reeds.

I don't want to retongue this instrument to steel reeds as I
like it's sound with the brass but also realize that I will need to
find a source of brass to make replacement reed tongues.

If you only need a few tongues replaced get a junker accordion with brass
reeds and file them to size.

I have
experience in micro machining and other types of precise work so the
time and effort doesn't matter keeping the voice quality of the brass
reeds does.

You may have to determine the matching specs on the brass as well.

I thank any and all answers to the above questions as i am also laying
out the patterns for a 36 key Anglo that will be C/G with the
secondaries to allow A/D to also be played on the instrument and have
found a Czech firm for the reeds now just have to get everything
together and build it. This will be a low tech hand work job as it is
for myself and don't mind taking the time.

Sounds like quite the project - I wish you many hours of enjoyment! A
really good place to go for advice/suggestions/help is
http://www.concertina.net/forums which is a very active and large group of
concertina affectionados including a many concertina tinkerers, repairers
and a handful of concertina makers.

-- Rich --


.

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