Tuning a concert piano with humidity control

[Michael Gamble]

Hello Don and List
Surely adding a bottom to a grand when used for recitals/concert work would 
alter the tonal characterisitics. A lot of the sound comes from under the 
piano. Please comment.
Regards from after a day in Brighton where my son Maxim came second in 
violin competition (he's 7yrs.) BTW the piano I accompanied him on was out 
of tune, had one key-top (plastic) missing and was a small living room 
upright. Yuk!
Michael G.(UK)
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don" <pianotuna@yahoo.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 8:58 AM
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
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>>
>>
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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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