Environmental tuning mysteries: solved, hopefully

[Farrell]

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Comments below:

Terry Farrell


  *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).=20

  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,

  If folks turn on the heat in the home during the winter - and I know =
they do in Georgia - the reletive humidity in the home will be less than =
optimal - so yes, a humidifier would be advised.

   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?

  Kinda. It is controlled by a humidistat - kinda like a thermostat only =
different - senses reletive humidity rather than temperature.

   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?=20

  No. But I wonder....... if the piano owner forgets to put water in it, =
does the little heater bar for the humidifier go on and stay on all =
winter?

  thanks,=20
  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,=20

      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...=20

      #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.  =20

      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.=20

      Any comments or thoughts on this one?  Just thought it was kind of =
interesting.  =20

      Dave Stahl=20

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