Arto, perfectly said. That is my experience with tuning the harp ( and now that I tune the lute with the tuner I find even more difference - as you mentioned). Lute players have a similar problem to that of we double strung harp players, and that is "paired courses". Your ear must be the final judge! I have to use the machine for my 2X harp, there are 26 courses to tune (52 strings). But often I can get a perfect reading from the machine on a pair, yet hear a difference. Perhaps a bit of difference in the string mechanics, or something else - but your ear, and playing scales, is the final arbiter. The machine is a guide.
Best, Jon > I think this is just one of the problems with the tuning machines: > The starting sound of a string/course is different from the sound > already a second or couple later (I think it is higher in the start). > And with a lute the sound becomes much more quiet very soon. If you > tune your lute according the "late" sound, your audience will still hear > your too high starting sounds... This is one reason of using your ears > instead of machines: you use your ears, your audience use their ears... > > Best regards > > Arto > > > >
