Loose tuning pins on a Samick

[daniel carlton]

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment

I tuned this particular Samick grand for the first time the other day (5 foot 7 inch, model SG-172). Before I started, the customer said the last technician mentioned that some of the tuning pins were loose in one section, and that it wasn't holding a tuning well. One of the first things I noticed was how warm and dry the room felt. I asked the customer about this and she said this room was always the warmest in the house. The piano, by the way, is situated between two central air ceiling vents (about 2 or three feet from either end of the piano).

So I went ahead and tuned the piano, figuring I would check the tightness of the pins as I went. Most of the pins were on the looser side but still held except three pins in the bass. I would pull them up to pitch, and they would fall flat as soon as I let go of the tuning hammer. 

I bought a hygrometer and placed it on the beam underneath the soundboard, intending to go back every day or two and measure temp and humidity, as well as checking to see how well the tuning holds in each section.

Is this a common problem in Samicks, or could it just be lack of humidity?

Will solving the humidity problem (by installing a Dampp-Chaser or putting a humidifier in the room) help tighten up the pins enough to cause the loose bass pins to hold?

I'd prefer to install a Dampp-Chaser (my first installation), but I don't know if she wants to spend that much. How well would a humidifier work?

I heard that replacing the strings might be the thing to do if repinning the block (if so, bass strings only or bass and treble?). Stan Kroeger (former Samick service manager) seemed to think using larger pins alone would solve the problem, but others say use epoxy. ???



How much should I charge if I repin the block and replace the strings? (And I'm assuming flat fee.) 

Should the customer bother asking the local dealer where she bought it about whether Samick or the dealer itself would take care of the problem? The serial # is 8707327. According to the Pierce Piano Atlas, the piano is 16 or 17 years old (I think I did the math right). I failed to ask her about a warranty.

I've been reading through postings on this same subject, and I hear so many different opinions on what to do about this type of problem. I'm not sure what to do.

Any suggestions and help are greatly appreciated. 

Thanks

Daniel Carlton


---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/c3/e0/f5/17/attachment.htm

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--