<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2523" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV> Hello List – = TUNING PIN AND PIN BLOCK PROBLEM<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = /><o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> I have a church = as a customer, with a Yamaha C3 Grand, SN710484, approximately 25 years old, = which I have tuned frequently since Mar 2002, 5 times in 2004.  This grand sits in a sanctuary = that will seat 500, a choir of 80, with a large organ, space for a 16 piece = orchestra and a large pulpit stage area.<o:p></o:p>             This piano has been in the relative same space for 25 years.  The church does not have any moisture/humidity control provisions, does have a forced air heating = system and air conditioning.<o:p></o:p>             The piano has a Dampp Chaser, installed some 12 to 15 years ago. = However, on my first<o:p></o:p> tuning = appointment I checked the water level and evaporator pads, the water level was very = low and the pads were dry and crusty.  = After talking with the maintenance people, they changed the pads and have been = very good about keeping the water level up.<o:p></o:p>             Facts:<o:p></o:p> 1.          &nbsp= ;       Even with the Dampp = Chaser, the water evaporates in a day or two. <o:p></o:p> 2.          &nbsp= ;       The relative humidity = cannot be raised above the 32-33% mark.<o:p></o:p> 3.          &nbsp= ;       I suggested they purchase = a vaporizer to supplement the Dampp Chaser.<o:p></o:p> They purchased = a vaporizer, kept the water level up, the unit ran 24 = hours<o:p></o:p> a day, and = within a 2 week period the relative humidity taken directly under = <o:p></o:p> the piano never = raised above 35%, and the fan motor burned out.<o:p></o:p> Now we have a = large plastic tub under the piano with water and the RH will = not<o:p></o:p> raise above 33-34%.<o:p></o:p> 4.          &nbsp= ;       I tuned the piano on = December 4th, 2004 and was called back to tune the piano <o:p></o:p> again last = night, one month later, and the piano averaged 7 cents flat with wild unisons.<o:p></o:p> 5.          &nbsp= ;       MAIN CONCERN AND PROBLEM.<o:p></o:p> I’ve noticed = since March 2002, a problem with moving the tuning pins and the problem has worsened = since then.  The pins will not = easily move, first movement down with the pitch and then bringing the pitch = back up, the sound from the pin in the pin block is like a finger snap or like a = spike being pulled out of a piece of southern yellow pine.  <o:p></o:p> And even after = getting the pin to release, and pulled above pitch, I can still get the snap sound = and a jerk movement in attempting to pull the wire above pitch. Not an easy = smooth movement.<o:p></o:p> This problem is = now at the point that at least 1/3 of the pins are affected this way.<o:p></o:p> 6.          &nbsp= ;       I’ve discussed a bottom = cover, a skirt, keeping the piano closed during all non use = <o:p></o:p> periods.<o:p></o:p>             Questions:<o:p></o:p> 1.          &nbsp= ;       What has happened to the = pin block?<o:p></o:p> 2.          &nbsp= ;       Will this condition, in = the pin block, continue to worsen?<o:p></o:p> 3.          &nbsp= ;       Is there anything that can = be suggested to correct this problem with the pin block?<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Many thanks,<o:p></o:p> Gordon Holley, = Associate Member, Indiana Chap = 467<o:p></o:p></DIV></BODY></HTML>