DC

[tune4u@earthlink.net]

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Re: DCWell I disagree on a couple of points.

One: I just installed a full system with bottom cover on my own 1920 Geo.
Steck Grand. I absolutely believe in the DC. I've seen untunable pianos
given new life. I've seen soundboard cracks-so wide you could watch the
owner's dog playing under her 1906 Steinway S-completely close up. And I've
installed one in a Chickering quarter grand with a terrible pinblock that I
had struggled to keep in tune for 2 years, owner then sold it two months
later with the DC intact and it was hauled into the hills (literally), I got
called to tune by the new owner and the darn thing almost needed no
tuning--amazingly in tune. And that last piano had gone from a
well-regulated climate in a manufactured home to an old farmhouse using
wood-stove heat and it was the dead of winter. I honestly can't understand
why any tech  who works in an area of wide temp/humidity swings and has
installed a few systems would not be as enthusiastic as I.

Two: You said "...our primary reason for existance is not to make money." To
which I say, with respect, bullmuffins. The primary function of any business
is to make a profit. The primary purpose of any employment is to make money.
Can we do that with integrity and honesty? Absolutely. But I'm not in
business to be noble: it's my livelyhood. This is NOT a personal critisiscm
of you or your operating philosophy, but making money is a good thing. I've
made quite a lot of money on DC systems. And I've made my life simpler--when
I tune pianos with DC systems I sincerely believe (from experience) that
they tune more easily, require less pitch correction (if any), hold their
tune better, and are simply more stable. I would like to see a well
installed--plugged in and maintained--full DC system in every piano I'm
asked to tune.

Nor do I "push" the DC systems or act like the stereotypical life insurance
salesman. For appropriate situations, I explain how climate affects the
piano, point out any specific problems with their piano and environment, and
give them a brochure and/or let them watch the video. I quote my price and
two-thirds of the time they say "Gimme one."

I know I'm not the only tech who's enthused about the DC, but I will stand
down from my soapbox now, gotta go to work. I have 4 upright systems and 1
grand DC system sitting in boxes in my living room. I will be installing
them this week and next.

Alan Barnard
Salem, MO
  -----Original Message-----
  From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On
Behalf Of Armond
  Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 7:03 AM
  To: Pianotech
  Subject: Re: DC


  on 2/12/03 2:54 AM, KENNETH FINLAYSON at kennyfin@jetstream.net wrote:


    Hi List:

    Time and again I have come across DC installed in a piano, and I feel
the customer has thrown his money away. What really was wrong was tight
centre pins, or tight key bushings.

    As RPT's, our primary reason for existance is not to make money: but to
ensure quality piano care within the musical community. I ran across another
DC recently installed in a brand-new Samick. In my opinion, it was a waste
of money, which gave satisfaction only to the piano store who made a profit
by installing it.

    I never recommend DC. I don't believe in them. I might someday, but it
would have to be under very extenuating circumstances.

    From David Slolnik, Feb 10, Vol 156 Section 3 :- "In fact, Steinway's
web site makes absolutely no mention of
    DampChasers.  They recommend maintaining the room environment at between
    45% and 65% by the use of room humidification, dehumidification and
    air-conditioning.  My experience has been that Steinway has been
extremely
    reticent in recommencing the use of DampChasers, as they have no control
    over the quality of the installation, nor the dependability of the
product
    itself."

    Kenneth Finlayson, RPT

    the thing is, soundboards, or real ones anyway, create the proper tone
and curve at 42% humidity.  the string tension against the board when
strings are tuned at 440cps., also is engineerd to the proper curve in the
soundboard.  therefore, all soundboards should be kept at 42% relative
humidty.  granted the DC systems are not the best way to do this, but by far
the practical way to, and are necessary and there are no different opions on
the subject because piano engineering is mathematical and physical science.

    Armond




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