<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=UTF-8 http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charse= t=utf-8"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2730.1700" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff= f"> <DIV> <DIV>           <FONT= size=3><STRONG>  Hi Ron</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>      You know this is = the usual weak area in many older uprights as well so I'm wondering about th= e bearing & crown. Also I beleive that any loose part on a piano can als= o suck the tonal life away from a note or section of notes. Secure the suppo= rts & see if this helps & check the crown & bearing if possible.= </STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>   Dale</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue = 2px solid"><FONT face=Arial>Ok all, put on your diagnostic caps and help m= e out, please.<BR><BR>Patient: Yamaha P22 upright u164615 (1983?) Grade scho= ol music room piano<BR><BR>Complaint:  octave from about B4-B5 goes out= of tune quickly, and also has a <BR>weaker, duller tone.<BR><BR>I'm in the = midwest, so the humidity shifts around here.  When I tuned it the <BR>f= irst time last year, I was aware that the teacher was unhappy with the <BR>i= nstrument and suspected a cracked soundboard.  At that time, 54% humidi= ty, <BR>I couldn't find anything strange going on.. It tuned normally, and e= xcept <BR>for one dead bass string, it seemed like, well.... a P22.  I = had a chance to <BR>stop in on the piano for just a few minutes yesterday af= ter hearing that <BR>there were problems.  His note said that the octav= e goes out within 10 days <BR>or so. (Why didn't he tell me sooner?  Pr= obably been living with the problem <BR>for awhile.)  A visual inspecti= on showed no problem with cracks in either <BR>the soundboard or bridge.&nbs= p; Everything seemed solid, but this time, I did <BR>notice a dullness, and = lack of sustain in that area.  Current humidity is in <BR>the low 30's.=   The area in question bridges the strut, or the cut-out <BR>section of= the tenor bridge.  I also noticed when removing the knee board, <BR>th= at both horizontal supports for the front legs are loose and wobbly.<BR><BR>= <BR>So.......  What do I look for next, when I have the time?  Ham= mers are worn, <BR>but not terrible.  Above and below this section, all= is seemingly normal.<BR><BR>Ron Koval<BR>Chicagoland</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></D= IV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040></FONT></DIV></BODY></HT= ML>