Compromises, was Re: [tuning] >12pitches/octave

Sorry for waiting for the reprise...

My treble viol (scale 390mm) is fretted in 19-tet, which while crowded is still
within reason. I agree with Fred Reinagel that adding notes is not an
inconvenience for playing. I have 12 frets, however, where historical
instruments have 7 even though the alteration is not much of a task nor is it
irreversable.

There are far more ambiguous choices in designing a keyboard than a fretboard,
and not all of them having to do with navigation (does anyone remember the
multiplexing Timex Sinclair?). There are issues of key-dip, spacing, width at
balance rails, even - or especially - string and action spacing; though these
have been overcome (despite the diificulties) in a number of historical
keyboards, obviously these did not become standardized. It took the Jankko
keyboard to bring about the "generalized keyboard," by abandoning the straight
7+5 arrangement (which split sharps, up to 17 tones/naturals up to 19, do not).

The music industry still seems to be faring fairly well with 12 tones (as they
seem to be doing with presets on "synthesizers"). It is a least common
denominator that sounds within reason - both simpler to learn and play (and if
we are discussing historical [ie corporeal] instruments, to tune), and simpler
to manufacture.

Not that I let this stop me, though.

Clark Panaccione