Tuning a concert piano with humidity control

[Jerry Cohen]

Thanks for the reply, Don.

The piano will be a Bosie 225 (7' 4"). The piano has not been delivered yet,
so I am trying to think ahead.

This piano requires a dual tank system, and because of the complex beam
structure, the tanks must be mounted below the beams. Actually, one of the
tanks would just fit, but the other just misses. Therefore a bottom cover is
not an option. That is why I am requesting a custom floor length cover. 

With no bottom cover, does it make sense to keep it plugged in during the
concert? They do mostly chamber music, so the piano gets repositioned
depending on the number of instrumentalists for each work.

With all this in mind, what is the best timing sequence for removing the
cover and tuning?

Thanks,

Jerry Cohen, RPT
NJ Chapter

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Don
Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 8:58 AM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Re: Tuning a concert piano with humidity control

Hi,

I would arrange for it to stay plugged in during the concert, or else add
an uninteruptible power supply (like the ones for computers) to it.

I'd add a bottom cover to the piano immediately. I recently measured a
5'10" (175 cm) grand. Room was 16% and humidity at the controller above the
beams was 18%. This was in a classroom so there was no lighting to deal
with. As a bonus, the instrument will also look esthetically more pleasing
with a bottom cover.

In an ideal world the piano would be under performance conditions (full
stage lights etc) for 8 hours before the tuning began.

At 10:32 PM 3/5/2005 -0500, you wrote:
>
>
>If a Dampp-chaser system is installed in a piano that is only used for
>concerts, what is the best schedule to observe for unplugging the
>Dampp-Chaser, moving the piano on stage, and tuning?
>
>Here is the problem I see. The Dampp-Chaser will maintain the piano at a
>fairly constant humidity, especially with a floor length cover over the
>piano. But when the piano goes on stage, the lid is raised, and the lights
>are on, the humidity as well as the temperature will change. I understand
>that the effect of temperature change, especially from the lights striking
>the strings is almost immediate, while the plate takes longer to warm up.
>The effect from the humidity change is much slower since wood takes longer
>to change its moisture content.
>
>As a practical matter, how soon before the concert should the Dampp-Chaser
>be disconnected, and the piano moved on stage? And when should it be tuned?
>
>Looking forward to your responses.
>
>Jerry Cohen, RPT
>NJ Chapter
>
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Regards,
Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T.
Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat

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