Yamaha C7 tuning instability

[Fred Sturm]

--On Thursday, June 17, 2004 3:31 PM -0400 Mark Dierauf <mark@nhpianos.com> 
wrote:
>I was thinking about trying one of the Edwards wool
> string covers, but I assume that this would change the sound (and
> volume) and throw off his miking procedure. Has anybody used one of
> these covers who could comment? Would a DC bottom cover across the top
> of the case (in place of the lid) be likely to help?
>
> - Mark

	I think either solution would be a good one (not from personal experience 
with either, but certainly with experience from similar principles). A 
string cover might require a bit of mike changing, but it might also remove 
a bit of extraneous problem noises (damper whoosh etc). Anything that will 
deflect airflow will help the situation. I have found that when I am faced 
with airflow of a different temp (hot or cold), causing a pitch change that 
is usually most rapid and extreme in the bass, getting rid of the draft one 
way or another (close the lid, turn off the heating/cooling unit, closing 
the door or window) and waiting 20 minutes, the pitch returns to where I 
had put it, or at least quite close. Get the draft off the strings one way 
or another (also stage lights, if and when that is ever possible - but 
that's another story altogether). As long as the temperature is relatively 
stable overall in the room, pitch will stay fairly stable. But any draft 
will wreak havoc.
	Dampp-Chaser undercover material could probably be stretched and held in 
place with well placed magnets (maybe with a small wooden prop or two if it 
wants to touch strings somewhere), and the recording engineer would 
probably not throw as big a conniption (sp) fit as with an Edwards cover.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico