Pianotech

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

David,

I concur with Wim, but I would like to add. I believe it is necessary to pay close attention to the expiration date. I don't purchase any CA that does not have an expiration date. Usually one-year is the shelf life on good industrial CA.  

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

David,

I concur with Wim, but I would like to add. I believe it is necessary to pay close attention to the expiration date. I don't purchase any CA that does not have an expiration date. Usually one-year is the shelf life on good industrial CA.  

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

David,

I concur with Wim, but I would like to add. I believe it is necessary to pay close attention to the expiration date. I don't purchase any CA that does not have an expiration date. Usually one-year is the shelf life on good industrial CA.  

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

Hello David,

 You mentioned, "might be to treat from underneath."

I flipped a grand on its lid side ( the lid was removed) and treated it from underneath; the results were underwhelming.  I filled the tuning pin holes with glue and let it rest, flipped it back onto its feet a few days later, and the results were not impressive.  I found better luck with treating from above.

David,

I concur with Wim, but I would like to add. I believe it is necessary to pay close attention to the expiration date. I don't purchase any CA that does not have an expiration date. Usually one-year is the shelf life on good industrial CA.  

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

Yes, generally speaking the "problem area" is on the top side of the pinblock which widens with age (one needn't even tine the thing, it's the tension 24/7 that does it). "Less is more" in these instances (generally speaking) where only enough to restore enough torque to tune us needed. Soaking is unnecessary (unless it's a total basket case). I would never flip the piano to do this job...way too much risk for too little benefit. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Hello David,

 You mentioned, "might be to treat from underneath."

I flipped a grand on its lid side ( the lid was removed) and treated it from underneath; the results were underwhelming.  I filled the tuning pin holes with glue and let it rest, flipped it back onto its feet a few days later, and the results were not impressive.  I found better luck with treating from above.

David,

I concur with Wim, but I would like to add. I believe it is necessary to pay close attention to the expiration date. I don't purchase any CA that does not have an expiration date. Usually one-year is the shelf life on good industrial CA.  

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

Yes, generally speaking the "problem area" is on the top side of the pinblock which widens with age (one needn't even tine the thing, it's the tension 24/7 that does it). "Less is more" in these instances (generally speaking) where only enough to restore enough torque to tune us needed. Soaking is unnecessary (unless it's a total basket case). I would never flip the piano to do this job...way too much risk for too little benefit. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Hello David,

 You mentioned, "might be to treat from underneath."

I flipped a grand on its lid side ( the lid was removed) and treated it from underneath; the results were underwhelming.  I filled the tuning pin holes with glue and let it rest, flipped it back onto its feet a few days later, and the results were not impressive.  I found better luck with treating from above.

David,

I concur with Wim, but I would like to add. I believe it is necessary to pay close attention to the expiration date. I don't purchase any CA that does not have an expiration date. Usually one-year is the shelf life on good industrial CA.  

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

Yes, generally speaking the "problem area" is on the top side of the pinblock which widens with age (one needn't even tine the thing, it's the tension 24/7 that does it). "Less is more" in these instances (generally speaking) where only enough to restore enough torque to tune us needed. Soaking is unnecessary (unless it's a total basket case). I would never flip the piano to do this job...way too much risk for too little benefit. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Hello David,

 You mentioned, "might be to treat from underneath."

I flipped a grand on its lid side ( the lid was removed) and treated it from underneath; the results were underwhelming.  I filled the tuning pin holes with glue and let it rest, flipped it back onto its feet a few days later, and the results were not impressive.  I found better luck with treating from above.

David,

I concur with Wim, but I would like to add. I believe it is necessary to pay close attention to the expiration date. I don't purchase any CA that does not have an expiration date. Usually one-year is the shelf life on good industrial CA.  

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

Yes, generally speaking the "problem area" is on the top side of the pinblock which widens with age (one needn't even tine the thing, it's the tension 24/7 that does it). "Less is more" in these instances (generally speaking) where only enough to restore enough torque to tune us needed. Soaking is unnecessary (unless it's a total basket case). I would never flip the piano to do this job...way too much risk for too little benefit. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Hello David,

 You mentioned, "might be to treat from underneath."

I flipped a grand on its lid side ( the lid was removed) and treated it from underneath; the results were underwhelming.  I filled the tuning pin holes with glue and let it rest, flipped it back onto its feet a few days later, and the results were not impressive.  I found better luck with treating from above.

David,

I concur with Wim, but I would like to add. I believe it is necessary to pay close attention to the expiration date. I don't purchase any CA that does not have an expiration date. Usually one-year is the shelf life on good industrial CA.  

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

I use these pipettes

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P

I use these pipettes

Having travelled across Europe today to deal with a clutch of conservatoire and concert hall instruments I'm warned of a troublesome one tomorrow.

A Steinway used for outside concerts has been abused with wide variations of temperature and humidity.

A former conservatoire tech has "cured" loose pins by hammering them in about which the Director of the conservatoire was concerned, and I'm told that other ins are likely to be loose.

My gut feeling is that nothing short of a rebuild with new wrest plank is the real answer but we all know of the magic that ÇA treatment can bring. Is there any reason not to do it?

Best wishes

David P