I was always told cold storage would damage a piano. My own experiences over the last 5 or 10 years have caused me to have some doubt about that. I service pianos annually that spend about 5 months a year in below freezing conditions, with temps as low as -60 F. Of course at these temps there is NO humidity. I recently was hired by a customer to look over a slightly used Kawai grand that a local dealer admitted to me had spent the winter in cold storage. In none of the cases mentioned above have I found any damage at all. And I really looked for it. Sevaral of the pianos are old uprights that have been going through this cycle for 20+ years. Any gradual damage (failing glue joints, delaminations, etc) should have shown itself by now. I have no proof of it but believe that the gradual cool down and warm up of normal seasonal changes protects cold stored pianos. I have seen rust on strings of pianos warmed up too quickly when moisture condenses on metal parts. I always tell customers to warm up pianos gradually if they need to store them cold. Just my opinion, of course. Kit Cleworth Fairbanks, Alaska >Greetings PTG List, > Let me first say that I have been privileged to be able to >read through this list for a few weeks, now. I have learned so >very much. I am a tuning student, who has had some training at >the Piano Hospital and Training Center in Vancouver Washington, >so, like all the rest of you, I am always seeking for answers. > I am in an unacontrollable situation with regards to my >Yamaha console. I am going to have to leave my piano in an >unheated trailer for about one month. The piano is ten years' >old, and I have kept it in the best shape with regard to tuning >and regulation as I can. > What do you think might happen structurally? The >temperatures will be around freezing in a dry building, where >there is fairly low humidity? > Any knowledgeable comments would be greatly appreciated. > Again, I want to say how thankful to all of you I am to be >able to listen in to all of your discussions. > Happy tuning. > Sincerely, > Vinny Samarco > > >
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