Tuning a concert piano with humidity control

Conrad Hoffsommer hoffsoco@luther.edu
Tue, 08 Mar 2005 08:34:46 -0600


At 02:20 3/8/2005, you wrote:
>Hi Conrad,
>
>The flashlights have a switch which can be used to turn *off* the buzz
>during a recital. Also the DC units should NOT be unplugged for
>performances (imho). At least where I live during many times of year there
>is an audible difference after as little as 20 minutes of "unplug" time.
>Your mileage may vary.

Never overestimate the ability of faculty to find an on/off switch - twice.

They may turn it off, but my estimation of the likelihood that it would 
ever get turned by someone other than me is close to lottery winning 
percentage.

>The whole reason for humidity control is stability--what better time to
>have it than during a recital? At least one location I know of uses an ups
>to power the humidity control system during concerts.


Even with the deviation from the best of all possible worlds, the 
instrument is still better than if it were completely devoid of any D-C 
unit. There's a NYC D, sans D-C, sharing the stage, so I have direct 
comparison every week (or oftener).




Conrad Hoffsommer, RPT, MPT, CCT, PFP, ACS, CRS.
Decorah, IA

- Certified Calibration Technician for Bio-powered Digitally Activated
   Lever Action Tone Generation Systems.
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