Tuning stability

[Jorgensen, Michael L]

Jeff,
     Could it be something environmental?  New lighting? New HVAC?  new pianist who pounds? Lots of prepared piano? Getting moved in and out of a green room with a different climate more?  
     You might try a little protek on the pressure bar bearing points and counterbearning to see if it helps the strings to render better and stay stable.  With heavy use, perhaps the tone is growing brighter which makes it sound more out of tune than a mellow piano for a given amount of tuning discrepancy.   
-Mike Jorgensen

> ----------
> From: 	Jeff Stickney
> Reply To: 	jpstickney@montanadsl.net;College and University Technicians
> Sent: 	Thursday, March 25, 2004 11:46 AM
> To: 	Caut (caut)
> Subject: 	Tuning stability
> 
> All, 
>         Our main performance piano is a 1974 Steinway D, which to my knowledge has never been restrung.  It has gotten increasingly hard to tune over the last few years - a lot of false beats and very hard to get clean unisons, much less get them stable.  I have been able to get it there in the past, but recently the unisons just don't seem to hold.  Is this a symptom of "worn out" strings?  Am I losing my touch?  The piano was not used very much until the #1 piano got worn out - but since this one became the #1 piano about 5 years ago it has gotten extensive use.  I would appreciate knowing why the aging/extensive use of the strings would cause instability - if in fact it does - so I can back up that claim and it doesn't sound like an excuse.  I suspect loose bridge pins are part of the equation as well.  
> 
>         The action is, of course, on the same slippery slope.  I'm starting to feel like Chicken Little around the department - the contract currently covers tuning and not much more, so it's no surprise.  I'm pushing for a half time position - for better or worse - but in the meantime money for maintenance is minimal.  Short of restringing, is there anything I can do to help this situation?  Thanks for your input.
> 
> Jeff Stickney, RPT 
> University of Montana 
> jpstickney@montanadsl.net 
> 
>