Grey Market Yamaha and Dampp Chaser

[PSFInc]

Doug,

Although I have been a big believer of Dampp Chaser systems in the past I
have learned that they are not for every piano or a cure all. Most of the
gray market pianos are designed for high humid areas and by drastically
decreasing the humidity to 42%, more than the piano was intended, you could
run into problems with certain pianos. I have also found that soundboards
that were shimmed without the proper drying of the soundboard will also
separate after installing the DC system. We have gone from recommending that
all pianos have the systems to installing only when there is an obvious need
such as sticking keys,pianos by the beach,etc... There is no way for the
technician to be positive of what will occur to the board after the DC
installation in the above mentioned cases. All in all, we still believe the
DC system does more good than harm and will continue to install them but we
ask alot more questions about the piano before installation than we used to.

Regards,

Ed Mashburn,RPT
Piano Services of Florida, Inc.
----- Original Message -----
From: <Douglasmahard@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 10:37 AM
Subject: Grey Market Yamaha and Dampp Chaser


> Hi all,
>
> I have a customer with a grey market Yamaha U2 which I installed a
> Dampp-Chaser system in about a year ago.
> I recently went for the 6 month tuning and found the soundboard cracked in
> several spots with some buzzing occurring.
>
> The customer said he was home when the board cracked because he heard it
> happen. The D-C is working properly and the piano is not backed-up to any
> heater, outside wall,...
>
> Just wondering if this has happened to anybody else or if anybody has some
> general comments on this.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Doug Mahard
>