[CAUT] How long to stabilize??

[Ed Sutton]

Diane-

How many watts is the Dampp-Chaser rod, and what is the set point on the humidistat?
Opening and closing the vertical piano with D-C rod can cause sudden temperature fluctuations.
I recently was told that the % pitch change of a string in response to temperature change varies according to the % breaking tension of the string. Thus in general smaller pianos are more sensitive to temperature change than a well-scaled concert grand.

Ed Sutton
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Diane Hofstetter -

  To: College and University Technicians 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 7:51 AM
  Subject: [CAUT] How long to stabilize??


  I know many of you have written in the past about the problems with tuning stability in brand new loaner pianos from manufacturers.  Fortunately the college where I am tuning has purchased these pianos, so they won't disappear just when we get them settled in.
   
  However, my question is this; in a practice room in a small college, how long, or how many tunings do you think it will take for the school's new Kawai UST-9's  to stabilize in tuning? 
   
   The pianos were  delivered directly to the college from the warehouse and uncrated there.  Before that they spent two days in the truck. It was snowing outside.  
   
  They have Dampp Chaser heating rods and HD humidistats installed, but my data logger, which was in their new Boesendorfer between December 4 and February 4, showed nothing but too dry.  Every time I have tuned in the practice rooms, my humidity gauge reads 36-38% RH.  I do expect the humidity to go up to around 60% in the spring.
   
  Each piano has received one pitch adjustment--usually pitch raises, but two of them took lowering--and one tuning since the beginning of February when they were delivered.  Already I want to tune a couple of them again, but this is not in the budget or mindset of either the store that sent me out or the college who now owns the pianos.  They all think the tunings should be stable already.
   
  Experienced opinions gratefully received!
  Diane Hofstetter


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