[pianotech] Stability question

[tnrwim at aol.com]

Hi Phil

First of all, you know you are a good tuner, so don't blame yourself for the conditions. Second, although the piano you're working on is not the top of the line, don't blame it for being subjected to extreme conditions. 

With it being played 7 times a week, I should say, pounded on for an hour and a half, 7 times a week, in a show, with lots of lights, humidity changes, etc., I don't think a top of the line piano would fare much better. (In most concert venues, the tuner is there before the dress rehearsal, and again before the performance.) 

The fact that the management of the theater is allowing you in twice a week indicates that they are fully aware of the punishment a piano is subjected to. Count yourself lucky that they want you that often. There have been some shows I've worked for where they thought one tuning the week before a 6 week rehearsal, was enough to last them through a month of performances.  

Wim




-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Bondi <phil at philbondi.com>
To: Newtonville <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Wed, Sep 8, 2010 8:25 am
Subject: [pianotech] Stability question


Hi All.
I've been lurking for quite awhile, except when that Driscoll guy calls 
e out.
My question today involves stability, or lack of it.
The subject is a Wurlitzer C-173. It is being used for a 1.5 hr. 
all-to-wall dinner theater production. I did alot of work to the piano 
o get it in decent shape for the theater to even consider..regulate, 
ot rid of the back check chewers and shaped the tails, re-shaped the 
ammers(rocks), soften the rocks, etc, and added a DC system to it. The 
heater spent a decent chunk of change to get the piano in shape for 
his production.
My question is: is this instrument not really capable of holding a tune 
or very long for such a grinding show? 7 shows in 5 days - broke a 
ouple of wire(replaced) - adjusted let-off to closer to 6-7 mil in the 
breaking wire' section(break area of low tenor and octave 6). I was 
hinking as the show goes on and I tune the piano(2x a week), it will be 
asier to tune and see less unison drift. I'm not seeing it.
When you start to see stuff like this, you start to question your pin 
etting technique..but I've been doing this long know to know that some 
ianos are not capable of this type of grind in a professional atmosphere.
Regardless of the work that was done, is this simply one of those pianos?
-da Rook has returned.


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