Piano On Ice.

[kitster@Polarnet.com]

I was always told cold storage would damage a piano.  My own experiences
over the last 5 or 10 years have caused me to have some doubt about that.

I service pianos annually that spend about 5 months a year in below
freezing conditions, with temps as low as -60 F.  Of course at these temps
there is NO humidity.  I recently was hired by a customer to look over a
slightly used Kawai grand that a local dealer admitted to me had spent the
winter in cold storage. 

In none of the cases mentioned above have I found any damage at all.  And I
really looked for it.  Sevaral of the pianos are old uprights that have
been going through this cycle for 20+ years.  Any gradual damage (failing
glue joints, delaminations, etc) should have shown itself by now.  I have
no proof of it but believe that the gradual cool down and warm up of normal
seasonal changes protects cold stored pianos.  I have seen rust on strings
of pianos warmed up too quickly when moisture condenses on metal parts.  I
always tell customers to warm up pianos gradually if they need to store
them cold.

Just my opinion, of course.

Kit Cleworth
Fairbanks, Alaska


>Greetings PTG List,
>     Let me first say that I have been privileged to  be able to
>read through this list for a few weeks, now.  I have learned so
>very much.  I am a tuning student, who has had some training at
>the Piano Hospital and Training Center in Vancouver Washington,
>so, like all the rest of you, I am always seeking for answers.
>     I am in an  unacontrollable situation with regards to my
>Yamaha console.  I am going to have to leave my piano in an
>unheated trailer for about one month.  The piano is ten years'
>old, and I have kept it in the best shape with regard to tuning
>and regulation  as I can.
>     What do you think might happen structurally?  The
>temperatures will be around freezing in a dry building, where
>there is fairly low humidity?
>     Any knowledgeable comments would be greatly appreciated.
>     Again, I want to say how thankful to all of you I am to be
>able to listen in to all of your discussions.
>     Happy tuning. 
>                              Sincerely,
>                              Vinny Samarco
>
>
>