sharp piano

[Billbrpt@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 10/29/00 8:25:14 AM Central Standard Time, 
tomtuner@mediaone.net (Tom Driscoll) writes:

<< Any guesses on how far south this thing goes when the heat comes on? Tom 
Driscoll. P.S. I'm putting a note on the humidifier and will make a proposal 
to the board for a climate control system. >>

Tom,

If you really lowered the piano all the way to 440 during this extreme 
condition, you can pretty much expect it to go just about as flat as it was 
sharp once the heating season has begun.  I don't know which state you are in 
but if you assume that even with that humidifier running, the humidity will 
fall to about 1/2 of what is was when you tuned it, 35%.  If they stop the 
humidifier, easily 20%.  Of course, the low tenor will be the most volatile.

Your idea of the climate control system is recommended but in a public place, 
you will have difficulty keeping it plugged in and watered.  Unless the piano 
is always kept near a wall with an electrical outlet, you will need to 
provide for an adequate cord and possibly a runner.  Don't just dangle that 
light duty cord out of the piano and plug an extension cord into it.  Get a 
heavy duty cord, possibly bright orange if it is appropriate (or black to be 
less conspicuous), and make the connection up inside the piano, anchored with 
at least a few clips, not just one.

You may have to do a lot of tuning if the piano is to be used frequently for 
serious work.  The best thing to do would be to get the climate control 
system installed, 6 piece system with 50 and 25 dehumidifiers and smart 
humidifier bar and let the piano acclimate as long as possible until the next 
tuning is required.

I would also suggest a string cover, the cloth kind that you get from Schaff. 
 I usually just cut out a piece from the 2 yards of cloth I buy.  Some people 
put stays in them or make fancy ones but just the cloth will work for the 
Steinway.  Not only does it keep dirt and foreign objects out of the piano 
but it is a great enhancement to the climate control system.

The piano will probably be unstable for a while so just accept that as a 
problem you had no contribution to but for which you do have some solutions.  
The customers should understand that it will be a *process*.  Once you feel 
that the climate situation has stabilized, it would be a good idea to tighten 
plate bolts and lightly tap the strings on their bridges.  This will, of 
course, knock it out of tune again but at least you will be seeing the light 
at the end of the tunnel.

After that is all settled, assess the need for voicing.  This would be a good 
time for hammer filing and string mating.

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin