<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" = xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C528DE.D29C8150">  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple = style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> I service a Bosendorfer = 6’4 that was rebuilt a couple of years ago.  I serviced this piano when it was new in the 70’s and the = theater which it is in has always had problems with humidity.  Then they had a = “toner” who serviced? it for several years because he was = very cheap in cost.  When I got = a call about 3 years ago to come and look at the piano I counted over 80 = tunings in 12 years recorded on the plate with felt tip pen.  Some of the pins were so loose = that they just went back to where they came from as soon as you took you hand off = the tuning hammer.  This = brought about the rebuilding by a very reputable Bosendorfer dealer.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Since rebuilding, the piano has not been any more = stable than it was before being rebuilt, but the tuning pins are tight.  It does have a 48” Dampp Chaser and a 24” Dampp chaser with a humidistat installed.  I tuned the piano in September and had to do a pitch raise.  I tuned it in early December = and it was flat again.  I tuned it = today (March 14th) and had to do another pitch raise.  It was over 25 cents flat. The = bass section was only about 5 cents flat while some notes in the treble were = as much as 40 cents flat.   Before I tuned it today I gently = nudged the strings behind the dampers and behind the bridge, I tightened all = plate screws and some would turn, then did the pitch raise and tuned it.  I will have to wait to see if = what I did today helps the stability any.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> My question is what else can I do to stabilize this = piano?  Do I insist on a full humidity = control system?  They have = previously rejected this idea.  It = would be sadly neglected during the summer and holidays as it is a private school theater. They have a dehumidifier running all the time in the room (not = near the piano) and the humidity today in the piano was 42% and the = temperature was 72.  The piano is not used a = lot.  Some weeks it would not get 3 = hours of use, near program times it will get used 2-3 hours a day.  To my knowledge they keep a = fairly consistent temperature in the room.  It has never been cold when I go in the room to tune in the = winter.  The opposite end of this = building has both the gym and a swimming pool, about 200 feet away.  The music area is about 50 feet = away and the pianos in the music room are more = stable.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Clarence Zeches <o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>