Hi Will, A DC system will be effective with the lid up only if a string cover and bottom cover are used. Geoff needs to "talk turkey" to this musician and offer her alternatives--warning her that the DC system may not fully satisfy her ear--but that more work may be required. Geoff, what has been done to try to stabilize the piano? (For example, have the coils on the tuning pins been tapped? Plate screws snugged?) At 06:09 AM 12/28/2008 -0500, you wrote: >Hi Geoff: > >I would like to add my little tidbit to Ron's offering. If the piano is >played extensively - as in many hours a day, 5 days or more a week; the damp >chaser may be ineffective. The reason I say this comes from my own >experience as a tech here in the Northeast (New Hampshire) where we have >long and cold winters and humid summers - generally a good set of conditions >for recommending a d. c. unit. But a good teacher customer of mine comes to >mind. She teaches 8 hours or more a day, so her Yamaha G-3 is open (at >least the small lid) for probably close to half the day. There is simply too >much free air moving through the piano for too long for the d. c. unit to >keep it stable, and the control unit was not a good investment in her >setting. > >Ron is right in that, if this is the case with her, she might end up >thinking you sold her a bill of goods for good money that did nothing. It >could worsen your relationship with her as a result. > >You may end up recommending restringing with the attendant bearing surfaces >work. It would be my guess that this condition will only continue to worsen >over time, along with an increase in your misery level and her frustration >level. Sometimes we have to let the customer know that we can't give them >what they want, but we can give them what they need. That's your selling >job with her - to establish your credibility and clearly define the solution >path. It is the customer's choice at that point to accept your diagnosis and >path to correction, or look elsewhere. > >No apologies should be necessary or given - the piano is what it is. > >Good luck, > >Will Truitt > >-----Original Message----- >From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf >Of Ron Nossaman >Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 1:05 AM >To: pianotech at ptg.org >Subject: Re: [pianotech] Satisfied but persistent customer question > >Geoff Sykes wrote: >> Greetings all -- >> >> I have a customer with a 1982 Kawai KG-C6 grand. > >I think it's past time to introduce her to reality. The string >rendering problem means that you can't get enough information >from the piano during tuning to leave it in a stable enough >condition to be reliable. That's neither your fault, nor your >problem. You're already giving it your best shot and picking >up the pieces at your expense. Selling her a Dampp-Chaser >system isn't going to help the rendering problem and won't be >well received if it produces no improvement of the situation. >Addressing the problem directly is, oddly enough, usually the >best way to correct or at least improve it.The piano >realistically needs work, likely extensive, to improve string >rendering, with humidity control next on the list if it proves >necessary. > >My call, >Ron N > > > > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com >Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.0/1866 - Release Date: 12/27/2008 8:49 PM > Regards, Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T. Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat mailto:pianotuna at yahoo.com http://us.geocities.com/drpt1948/ 3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK, S4S 5G7 306-539-0716
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