This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Comments below: Terry Farrell *shrug* i run into it all the time, both the Kawai story (in regards = to their stability) and the Steinway one (i'm in GA - woohoo what a = climate! it's rare that at this time of the year i do anything other = than dropping pitch).=20 my question i would like to pose is this: does anyone have any = arguments *against* dampp chasers? as a pianist, i grew up playing a = little kawai upright that is now 25+ yrs old and still like new - upon = its first regulation ever (after about 22 or so years), it really didn't = need anything except an adjustment of the letoff. it holds its tune for = years on end, both a testament to kawai, as well as to dampp chaser, as = we have had a full system in the piano since it was purchased, and have = religiously kept it watered. i ask about arguments against dampp = chasers, because my current employer has actually been discouraging = people here from using them, due to the climate. on one hand i can = understand the point that if people get a full system installed, water = the piano fairly well for the first few months and then start = forgetting, it may cause more harm than good. however, i still don't = really get it. he's also raised points that you don't really need the = humidifier system here, If folks turn on the heat in the home during the winter - and I know = they do in Georgia - the reletive humidity in the home will be less than = optimal - so yes, a humidifier would be advised. but that the dehumidifier might overdo it.... uhm, it was my = impression that the whole "climate CONTROL system" aspect included a = thermostat that actually sensed when it needed to work? Kinda. It is controlled by a humidistat - kinda like a thermostat only = different - senses reletive humidity rather than temperature. i'm not all THAT familiar with dampp chasers, except for my own = positive experience as a pianist. are there any negatives of using this, = or what?=20 No. But I wonder....... if the piano owner forgets to put water in it, = does the little heater bar for the humidifier go on and stay on all = winter? thanks,=20 ilex -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On = Behalf Of Marcel Carey Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 12:05 AM To: Pianotech Subject: RE: Environmental tuning mysteries: solved, hopefully Dampp chaser with undercover. Marcel Carey -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org = [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Piannaman@aol.com Sent: September 16, 2004 11:38 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Environmental tuning mysteries: solved, hopefully Esteemed list scholars and such,=20 I don't know how many of you remember the case of the corroding = strings on a brand new Kawai Rx-3 I encountered in January of this year. = I followed up by strongly suggesting that they stop mopping the radiant = concrete floor with a vinegar-water solution(acid steam beath), which = they did. I thouroughly cleaned the strings, tuned the piano a couple = of times, and went back a week ago, and voila--no more corrosion! Not = only that, the bloody thing was so close to being in tune I almost felt = badly taking the money--well, not really...=20 #2. I've been tuning a Steinway M that has new strings, hammers, = pins, block, wips, but I'm not sure about the board. She's a very good = customer, gets her piano tuned every 6 months like clockwork. I first = tuned the piano 2 years ago, and today was my fourth trip out. First = time, it was 10-15 cents flat. Second time, it was 10 cents or so = sharp, third time, 10 cents flat; today 5-10 cents sharp. I do know how = to stabilize a piano, so this was a mystery to me. At least until I = heard the air conditioner go on. =20 It's been hot in these parts lately, and pianos are going flat in = droves(the houses in this part of CA are built for earthquakes, not = inclement weather), but in the case of this piano, it's in a very large = luxury home, with all the amenities. Unfortunately, the piano is = directly under a duct that dumps cold, moist air directly on it. I'm = convinced that is what's going on here. In the winter, the heat comes = out of the same duct, but to slightly less effect, since the heat rises. = The duct is now permanently closed. More details next time.=20 Any comments or thoughts on this one? Just thought it was kind of = interesting. =20 Dave Stahl=20 ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/63/22/33/88/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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