<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=Windows-1252"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV>List, </DIV= > <DIV>     Thanks to all who have = replied with ideas.  The piano has lived in this same space for the whole time, = so changes in environment is not an issue.  However, the RH does = get down to the high teens in the winter - as low as 17%.  I suspect this = may be part of the problem with bridge pins and false beats.  I have = tapped both strings to bridge and the bridge pins themselves to no avail.  The = piano has a lot of extraneous noise - both in the action (teflon bushings that = were pinned with size 24 pins *before* I got the job 12 years ago) and noise = related to front duplex/capo/agraffe buzzing and zinging.  Other than a few = notes around the B4-Eb5 area that have been chronically hard to = tune/stabilize, the instability seems to move around.   </FON= T></DIV> <DIV>      I = hesitate to do the "quick and easy" things - e.g. super glue in the bridge pins - = thinking I would hold out for the money to do a more complete job.  = In the mean time, it's starting to make me look bad.  I was ready and able = to walk away from the contract, but instead have proposed a half-time = position.  The Dept. chair is all for it, but the reality of funding the position = doesn't look too hopeful.  The condition of this piano is indicative of the = general state of affairs.     </DIV= > <DIV>    In the short term, I will need to make some decisions about doing some of the = quick fixes, maybe even restring just the mid-range to the top.  If the restringing solves some of the problems that are generating complaints, = they may begin to understand the necessity of piano maintenance - and that I am = not making excuses for myself but rather trying to deal = with inadequately maintained pianos.   </DIV> <DIV>      Whe= n you mention using protek on the bearing points of felt, are you referring to = CPL, or Prolube?  I think CPL is what would be preferred, but I thought I = would double check.  Thanks again for your ideas and questions. </DIV= > <DIV> </DIV= > <DIV>Jeff = Stickney, RPT University of Montana = jpstickney@montanadsl.net </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV>----Original Message----- From: David Skolnik [mailto:davidskolnik@optonline.net] Sent: Friday, March 26, = 2004 8:17 AM To: jpstickney@montanadsl.net; College and = University Technicians Subject: Re: Tuning = stability </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">Jeff - If you suspect loose bridge pins, are there any that are = visually suspect, such as hairline or larger bridge cracks, or gapping in the = wood surrounding the bridge pin?  Have you taken careful downbearing = measurements to determine the presence or absence of negative front = bearing? Such a condition can induce distortions in string termination, = causing both false beats and tuning instability?  Have you tried tapping = (lightly) strings to bridge?  Also, tapping bridge pins themselves can = sometimes clear up tonal problems. A bit more specific information, such as = area of scale affected, or circumstances in which instability is observed, = might aid in remote diagnoses. With regard to Chicken Little syndrome, = you probably need to make some choices.   You may want to = survey, on your own time, the condition of the pianos, facilities, and the = demands, and present a proposal to the responsible person or persons.   = Based upon the response you  receive, you need to determine what = works for you.  If you continue to receive inadequate resources to do the = kind of work you feel is needed, you probably need to either do it anyway, = chalking it up to gained experience, or, if you can afford to, walk away from = it.  Of course, I'm speaking in generalities, not knowing = anything of your particular situation, but, as such, the biggest challenge in = these circumstances is figuring the politically adroit way to direct the = general communal distress towards those who have the power to affect a change.   Good luck. David Skolnik, RPT, CU = (currently unaffiliated) At 09:46 AM 3/25/2004 -0700, you wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite">All,         Our = main performance piano is a 1974 Steinway D, which to my knowledge has = never been restrung.  It has gotten increasingly hard to tune over = the last few years - a lot of false beats and very hard to get clean = unisons, much less get them stable.  I have been able to get it there in = the past, but recently the unisons just don't seem to hold.  Is this a = symptom of "worn out" strings?  Am I losing my touch?  The piano = was not used very much until the #1 piano got worn out - but since this = one became the #1 piano about 5 years ago it has gotten extensive use.  = I would appreciate knowing why the aging/extensive use of the strings = would cause instability - if in fact it does - so I can back up that claim and = it doesn't sound like an excuse.  I suspect loose bridge pins = are part of the equation as well.          The action is, of course, on the same slippery slope.  I'm = starting to feel like Chicken Little around the department - the contract = currently covers tuning and not much more, so it's no surprise.  I'm = pushing for a half time position - for better or worse - but in the = meantime money for maintenance is minimal.  Short of restringing, is there = anything I can do to help this situation?  Thanks for your input. Jeff Stickney, RPT = University of Montana jpstickney@montanadsl.net </BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>