Humidity Swings

[David Porritt]

John:

It figures.  Since you're in Canada and I'm in Texas we have just the
opposite of you.  Our "Summer" (most of the year) is the consistent time.
The temperature varies from 70 (if we're lucky) to 110.  The constant is,
the air conditioner is on all the time.  Humidity is pretty consistent.  In
the Winter our temperature can go from 10 to 80 - a much larger change, and
heat is on some days and not on others.  Pianos tuned during the Spring
stay put until Fall, but the Winter is always a crap shoot.

I'm still a believer in letting the pianos "float" somewhat.  I always
bring them up to 440 in the Winter, but if they're a few cents high in the
Summer I just leave them high.  They seem to be more stable if I'm not
pitch changing at each tuning.

dave

John Ross wrote:

> Hi Clyde,
> I just can't justify telling a customer to tune a piano in the Summer,
> when I know it will be in and out all Summer. In most cases they don't
> use them during the Summer, because lessons are over, and the are out
> enjoying the weather, etc.
> In some cases a tuning in summer is warrented, for special occassions
> and when it is being played constantly.
> But for the once a year, or every two year people, it is definately to
> there advantage to get into the Winter cycle.
> I enjoy taking it easy in the summer anyway.
> Yes, it does get fairly busy in the Fall, but I personally feel, if
> asked, to say what I believe to be true, about the best time to tune.
> For the Summer, I have some pianos in my shop to recondition, some
> player piano work. Also that is when I schedule, restringings, keytops,
> hammers etc.
> I guess I am lucky, the work ccomes in at about a rate I like.
> Regards,
> John M. Ross
> P.S. Your climate may be different than mine, so to each his own.



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David M. Porritt, RPT
Meadows School of the Arts
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75275
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