I recently took over the tuning for a church with a 7' Imp. Bosendorfer. On my first visit the music director asked me to remove the tank. I lifted a section of the full-length cover and got under the piano; it was quite warm and humid, too much. This is an old church with wooden floors with the parish hall below. The heat radiated up through the floor and was trapped within the cover causing the piano to become even warmer. With the humidifier running it was like a sauna or greenhouse (to a degree). Of course, as I was tuning, the piano drifted since it is now being acclimated to the room. That was fun. I recommended that they ditch the full length cover and supplement the rods with a string cover. This way the string cover can remain on during services and removed for performances if needed. I don't think they need the H20 since there's no excessive heat or cold in the winter and no one willing to monitor it. I suggested they place a hygrometer inside to monitor the piano when first opened and after service and to ascertain the effect of the full cover and whether they really needed the H20 in the winter. They have yet to do that. The music committee asked the dealer about the full cover and DC and the dealer naturally stuck by their sale. I was asked by the music director to give my suggestion at a committee meeting next week. So my question is, with the heat radiating upwards from the hall below is a full cover ideal. I believe a string cover and heat rods are sufficient. I can see where a full-length cover in an auditorium can be useful but in this case I think it is detrimental. They don't really need the bulky, protective cover because there is no traffic around the piano. A lighter cover would do if desired. -- Regards, Jon Page
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