[pianotech] when to tune...

[Paul McCloud]

Hi, Alan:
    I don't know what your weather is, but once I had to tune a piano on the beach at Del Coronado.  I carefully tuned it in the morning, but by the afternoon it was way out again.  If I were to do it again, I would have waited till the last minute.  If there is going to  be sunlight directly on the strings, all bets are off for a stable tuning.  I'd advise you to keep it sealed with a plastic tarp if possible overnight.  
    Once I was tuner for the County Fair in Del Mar.  Three times a week I tuned the pianos in the morning.  Then they got wise and wrapped the pianos at night.  The fairgrounds are right at the ocean, so there's a lot of fog and morning dew.  Once they figured out they should cover the pianos, that was the end of my gig.  
    FWIW.  YMMV.  Good luck.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: 10/07/2010 10:06:26 AM 
Subject: [pianotech] when to tune...


This Saturday a piano in my care will be used in an outdoor performance.  I have been allotted time from 7-9 AM to service it, and again at 1 PM prior to the 2 PM down beat.  I will also be able to spend time with it Friday afternoon, INdoors.  Friday night, everything goes "outside."  The piano will be covered (floor-length skirt), but, aside from that, will spend the night exposed to the elements.   


My question is this:  Do y'all think  it would be productive or counterproductive to tune the piano from 7-9 AM, or am I better off letting it warm up (and dry out!) during the morning hours, then do what I can in the time just before the performance (assuming, of course, that I do not get bumped from that slot!).


Thoughts?


Thanks,


Alan Eder
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