Environmental tuning mysteries: solved, hopefully

[Andrew & Rebeca Anderson]

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Ilex,
Dampp-chaser systems with "smart heater" bars will not turn on to evaporate 
water if no water is present.  So there is no possible harm.  You just lose 
half of the system if you neglect it.
My problem is people don't remember after being told that when I install a 
system, the piano will need tuning after the climate has been stabilized in 
it.  I suggest two or three weeks.  It it is humid, it will go flat, if it 
is dry it will go sharp, particularly in the middle.  After that followup 
tuning things are really good.

Andrew

At 12:41 AM 9/17/2004 -0400, you wrote:
>*shrug* i run into it all the time, both the Kawai story (in regards to 
>their stability) and the Steinway one (i'm in GA - woohoo what a climate! 
>it's rare that at this time of the year i do anything other than dropping 
>pitch).
>
>my question i would like to pose is this: does anyone have any arguments 
>*against* dampp chasers? as a pianist, i grew up playing a little kawai 
>upright that is now 25+ yrs old and still like new - upon its first 
>regulation ever (after about 22 or so years), it really didn't need 
>anything except an adjustment of the letoff. it holds its tune for years 
>on end, both a testament to kawai, as well as to dampp chaser, as we have 
>had a full system in the piano since it was purchased, and have 
>religiously kept it watered. i ask about arguments against dampp chasers, 
>because my current employer has actually been discouraging people here 
>from using them, due to the climate. on one hand i can understand the 
>point that if people get a full system installed, water the piano fairly 
>well for the first few months and then start forgetting, it may cause more 
>harm than good. however, i still don't really get it. he's also raised 
>points that you don't really need the humidifier system here, but that the 
>dehumidifier might overdo it.... uhm, it was my impression that the whole 
>"climate CONTROL system" aspect included a thermostat that actually sensed 
>when it needed to work? i'm not all THAT familiar with dampp chasers, 
>except for my own positive experience as a pianist. are there any 
>negatives of using this, or what?
>
>
>
>thanks,
>ilex
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On 
>Behalf Of Marcel Carey
>Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 12:05 AM
>To: Pianotech
>Subject: RE: Environmental tuning mysteries: solved, hopefully
>
>Dampp chaser with undercover.
>
>Marcel Carey
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On 
>Behalf Of Piannaman@aol.com
>Sent: September 16, 2004 11:38 PM
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: Environmental tuning mysteries: solved, hopefully
>
>Esteemed list scholars and such,
>
>I don't know how many of you remember  the case of the corroding strings 
>on a brand new Kawai Rx-3 I encountered in January of this year.  I 
>followed up by strongly suggesting that they stop mopping the radiant 
>concrete floor with a vinegar-water solution(acid steam beath), which they 
>did.  I thouroughly cleaned the strings, tuned the piano a couple of 
>times, and went back a week ago, and voila--no more corrosion!  Not only 
>that, the bloody thing was so close to being in tune I almost felt badly 
>taking the money--well, not really...
>
>#2.  I've been tuning a Steinway M that has new strings, hammers, pins, 
>block, wips, but I'm not sure about the board.   She's a very good 
>customer, gets her piano tuned every 6 months like clockwork.  I first 
>tuned the piano 2 years ago, and today was my fourth trip out.  First 
>time, it was 10-15 cents flat.  Second time, it was 10 cents or so sharp, 
>third time, 10 cents flat; today 5-10 cents sharp.  I do know how to 
>stabilize a piano, so this was a mystery to me.  At least until I heard 
>the air conditioner go on.
>
>It's been hot in these parts lately, and pianos are going flat in 
>droves(the houses in this part of CA are built for earthquakes, not 
>inclement weather), but in the case of this piano, it's in a very large 
>luxury home, with all the amenities.  Unfortunately, the piano is directly 
>under a duct that dumps cold, moist air directly on it.  I'm convinced 
>that is what's going on here.  In the winter, the heat comes out of the 
>same duct, but to slightly less effect, since the heat rises.  The duct is 
>now permanently closed.  More details next time.
>
>Any comments or thoughts on this one?  Just thought it was kind of 
>interesting.
>
>Dave Stahl

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