Dampp Chaser or not, that is that question!

Woodrow, John (Parramatta) John.Woodrow@pil.com.au
Tue, 1 Feb 2000 10:40:36 +1000


List,
Piano is a Kawai GS-30 grand that I am guessing is about 14 years old.  The
piano is an ex-institution piano currently being restored.  It has lived all
its life in a mild coastal environment (60-90 F) where one can be pretty
certain the relative humidity of its environment was greater than 50%.  The
soundboard has a few noticeable pressure ridges but nothing extreme. Board
has minimal crown (although much the same as every other GS-30/40 measured),
pins are TIGHT!  The to be restrung strings are rusty.

The piano is now located in a room that the humidity swings from 60% to 80%.
On occasions it dips briefly to 50% on very 'dry' days.

So my question to the list is do I:
(a) install a DC de-humidifier (tropical version which is set at 55% or so I
believe), or
(b) because the piano has lived in a high humidity environment all its life
and settled into that groove just leave it alone.

I am concerned that the pressure ridges may open up if the DC is constantly
trying to pull the humidity down from the 70% to 55%.

Appreciate the wisdom of the list on this one.

Regards,
John Woodrow
Sydney, Australia ICPTG. 


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