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  Emmons Co Tuning chart

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Author Topic:   Emmons Co Tuning chart
Fred Rushing
Member

From: Odin, IL, USA

posted 10 January 2004 10:26 PM     profile     
Back some time ago I printed a tuning chart for E9 on the Emmons Co website. I can no longer find that chart there. Did I not get it there? Was it somewhere else? I believe it was one the Emmons Co uses to tune their guitars at the factory. Can anyone help me on this? Thanks Fred Rushing
Kevin Mincke
Member

From: Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA

posted 10 January 2004 11:27 PM     profile     
http://www.buddyemmons.com/TTChart.htm

[This message was edited by Kevin Mincke on 10 January 2004 at 11:29 PM.]

Fred Rushing
Member

From: Odin, IL, USA

posted 11 January 2004 06:37 AM     profile     
Thanks Kevin. For some reason I could not remember where I found that chart. All is well again. Fred
Tom Olson
Member

From: Spokane, WA

posted 11 January 2004 03:01 PM     profile     
I took a look at the chart. Sorry if this has already been covered "ad nauseum," but if this is a "tempered" tuning as the chart is labeled, then why isn't everything tuned "straight up?" Is it to account for "cabinet drop?" Thanks.
C Dixon
Member

From: Duluth, GA USA

posted 11 January 2004 05:06 PM     profile     
Tom,

Interesting observation. The answer is probably that many refer to a JI tuning (which the Emmons chart mostly is) as a "tempered tuning".

ET (eqaul temperament) IS a tempered tuning. And as you say, it is straight up 440. When one shifts away from this, it is no longer a tempered tuning. It may become a JI tuning or a meantone tuning; or something in between. Since this chart falls closely to a JI tuning it is clearly not a tempered tuning.

I find several other intersting things about this tuning chart:

1. Why is it that the 9th string is at 440 and yet the D note on the 2nd string half stop is -20?

2. The A's on pedal B are tuned 7 cents Flat? That much cabinet drop?

3. ON C6, the Eb on pedal 6 is tuned THAT flat? Wow! That would make the major third in the C chord on strings 5 and 6 be 30 cents flat. I wonder if that might be a typo?

4. Pedal 6 shows the 2nd string F to not be tuned to the same pitch as the 9th string pitch?

Has anyone actually tried this chart on and Emmons; and if so are you comfortable with these settings?

carl

Bobby Lee
Sysop

From: Cloverdale, North California, USA

posted 11 January 2004 05:13 PM     profile     
In the language of tuning systems, anything that isn't "just intonation" is "tempered". Tuning straight up on the tuner is "equal temperament", the most common way to temper musical instruments today.

The Emmons chart is an attempt to approximate just intonation (JI) while compensating for "cabinet drop". It is not true JI, so it is proper to call it a "tempered tuning". It is very close to JI, though. It probably sounds pretty good.

------------------
Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Bobby Lee
Sysop

From: Cloverdale, North California, USA

posted 11 January 2004 05:30 PM     profile     
Carl has pointed out some amazing discrepencies in that chart that I hadn't noticed. I can only assume that they expect the player to avoid certain string combinations. Setting the 2nd string D to -20 would pass muster for an E7th chord, for example, but it'll sound pretty bad against that 1st string F# (+4 cents).

The Eb (-25) on the C neck must be a typo. I can't imagine how anyone would hear that as "in tune" with the C below it or the G above it.

------------------
Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Ernie Renn
Member

From: Brainerd, Minnesota USA

posted 12 January 2004 08:17 PM     profile     
Thanks, Kevin! I missed it...

The chart approximates Buddy's tuning on The Black Album! As I remember it sounds pretty close, too.

------------------
My best,
Ernie

www.buddyemmons.com

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