I just purchased an M&H AA from Piano Craft in Gaithersburg, MD. The piano has been customized at Piano Craft including:
* Individually tuned aliquots.
* Custom hammer weight
* Optimized hammer strike point
* Full action regulation - Multiple passes
* Action geometry analysis
* Create "Dynamic Response Action" with custom mass pattern
* Six tunings
* Voicing - Custom tone build
* Voicing - Mass load bridge
* Voicing - Voice soundboard ribs
* Hand-rub entire case

I will be living in Gaithersburg for another 2-years and will then move to Rapid City, SD. Am I likely to experience difficulty in finding local expertise for maintaining tuning and regulation of my piano in Rapid City? I'm especially wondering about the tuning of the aliquots, which I barely understand, but which I believe to be something of a complexity that is uncommonly addressed in piano tuning.

Tune once and forget it. If you keep the piano in tune, it should never be a problem.

I was not aware that the Masons have aliquots. I believe you are mistaken. Do you mean the rear duplex? That is a totally different thing.

Per my original post, Piano Craft lists "individually tuned aliquots" as part of their customization of both M&H and Estonia pianos (they both have duplex systems). They are two of the 3 manufacturers who use duplex systems. And I think you are correct that their use of the term aliquot is different than Bluthner's use of the term. And yes, as I understand it, they are referring to tuning the final interval of the piano string in the upper registers of the duplex system before they terminate on the plate.

On their website, Mason & Hamlin also refers to "tunable aliquots that allow a tone that is harmonious and accurate."

So, I guess, two different manufacturers use the term "aliquot" to refer to two different concepts. For Bluthner it refers to a fourth string that serves as a sympathetic resonance device; whereas M&H seems simply to mean a specific segment or portion of the piano string in the upper register. As you may know, the term aliquot is a generic term and has several meanings including "a sample or a portion of the total amount."

Best regards,

Aliquots are the metal pieces that are one bearing point for the duplex scale.

I'm pretty confident that that is incorrect.

With the responses I'm getting so far, I would guess that I might have difficulty getting assistance in tuning the aliquots when I relocate to South Dakota. I gather from the 2 or 3 people who have responded so far on the technicians' forum, that there is a general unfamiliarity with the term "aliquot" as used by Mason & Hamlin, Estonia, and Piano Craft

Hi Rod,

Maybe if you posted a photo of your piano?


Edit...
The M&H website does mention "tunable aliquots" under the heading "Tone"

http://www.masonhamlin.com/craftsmanship/


They also mention that they are now using "original Boston era designs".

* Individually tuned aliquots.
________________________________________________________________
Sounds to me like it has already been done by Piano Craft.
Have you plucked them to listen how they sound with their parent notes?

Apples and oranges............

The last major inventions of the era was Duplex Scaling, invented by Theodore Steinway in 1872, permitting parts of the string near the ends to vibrate freely, adding to resonance and richness of sound. Aliquot stringing, a similar system, was invented by Julius Blüthner in 1873 for Blüthner pianos.




al•i•quot (āl'ĭ-kwŏt', -kwət)
adj. Of, relating to, or denoting an exact divisor or factor of a quantity, especially of an integer.
n. An aliquot part.

[Latin aliquot, a number of, several : alius, some; see al-1 in Indo-European roots + quot, how many; see kwo- in Indo-European roots.]
Aliquot
Al"i*quot\, a. [L. aliquot some, several; alius other + quot how many: cf. F. aliquote.] (Math.) An aliquot part of a number or quantity is one which will divide it without a remainder; thus, 5 is an aliquot part of 15. Opposed to aliquant.
aliquot


adjective
1. signifying an exact divisor or factor of a quantity

noun
1. an integer that is an exact divisor of some quantity; "4 is an aliquot part of 12" [ant: aliquant]

This was discussed on This Topic last year.

In a duplex scale the strings are excited by the hammer and then produce tones off the end of the duplex scaling pattern. In the Aliquot system, the fourth string is not touched by the hammer but excited by sympathetic vibrations…here have another look at the Aliquot system from Blüthner.

http://picasaweb.google.com/silverwoodpianos/BluthnerAliqoutTour#5188143123161319474

It is not the same as duplex scaling although some would argue it is a type of duplex scaling.

I have also heard the term aliquot used for the movable metal pieces in the duplex scale.

To the original poster: Once set, I don't believe the aliquots would need to be tweaked at each regular tuning. I don't think they would move unless a string was detensioned or replaced.

One other point in regard to duplexes: When the piano is in the assembly process the duplex is used to help determie string downbearing and the finished height of the bridge. Changing its position will change string downbearing.

Thank you for the photos. By the looks of them I am wondering about the position of the aliquot string during shift playing: with the unacorda engaged does the damper felt move far enough to the right to actually dampen the fourth string? Thanks for anyone's thoughts!

Alex

If you take a close look at photo #5 of 13 you will see the small blue damper block attached on the right side of the main damper block. This block is elevated slightly just like the 4th string. This is the damper block for the 4th string set.

This photo here……

http://picasaweb.google.com/silverwoodpianos/BluthnerAliqoutTour#5188144922752616562

Also I should let you know, this is the old Aliquot system for Blüthner from 30 years ago. The Aliquot systems are not constructed in this way any longer.

The dampers do not shift or move when the pedal is used. Well, they move up or down like they always do.

Right. I was having a hard time wrapping my brain around the damper shape and its function with the fourth string. No reason to think it would operate any differently, but you throw one element of "surprise" into the equation and the imagination just goes to town.

Thanks for the clarification.

No problem it is easy to get mixed up sometimes Alexander. This one is a spare time project for me. Just this morning I was completing the stringing and discovered that the box of tuning pins was short about 20 tuning pins.

I was just about to call the company I purchased them from to scold them on the wrong count for the box and I realized my error. When you log back on maybe you can you tell me what my error was?

Blüthners with aliquot stringing use about 20 pins more than a set of 250.

Very good. You win first prize which is a years supply of toothpicks.And these aren't just any toothpicks......they are found in ALL 5 star restaurants.....

That will fill a lot of loose screw holes.

You'll be busy.....

The only time your aliquats will need to be moved or "tuned" would be after a rebuild or restringing. They "tune" as the piano is tuned each time with no additional adjustment or manipulation. "Aliquat" is a common part name and is known to most techs. Those likely not clicking are having a CRS moment, or a brain f__t. Be kind.