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ShiroKuro Last fall the humidity levels close to the piano were averaging close to 60%. We had less heat than usual and did not need to run a/c. I kept the windows open a lot for air flow. When the weather was like that, the piano sounded better overall. Suddenly it got very dry in late October and stayed that way ever since. The RH dropped to averaging 35 to 38 near the piano. The piano got twangy and out of tunish sounding. Probably a combo of needing a new board, strings and hammers. The pin block seemed very stable, but I don’t really know. I bought it in 2023 with the intention of doing some work on it. It’s a 1911 Steinway A. It was in playable shape but was badly in need of new hammers and strings and the board was original. The bushings needed replacing so the action was a bit finicky and sluggish, but you could adjust your touch and get it to play. But not fast AND PPP at the same time! It has original ivory keys which are in great shape, as well as the key sticks themselves. Since the piano was going to be open, it made sense to me to replace the pin block and board at that time as well. So I sent it up to Dale Erwin’s shop in Modesto California after he had made a visit here to inspect the piano. He builds soundboards and worked with a small artisan company in New York to develop a hammer based on the early 20th century NY Steinway hammers. They’re called Ronsen Weickert Felt Hanmers and are weighted and made more appropriately for early 20th century models. The new pin block and soundboard is in and in January they were putting the refinished plate back in and stringing. I think it will be April before the action will be done and I can go test it out before final regulation and voicing. I decided to move forward with the Dampp Chaser after watching these swings in RH around the piano. I just wasn’t sure if it was going to help that much but from everything I’ve read and having gone through all of this work I want to protect it as best I can. Thanks again for sharing your experience with yours!
I have my Yamaha P515 in the meantime and I’m working on a Chopin Nocturne and the second movement of Schubert D664 to test out in the piano when I go up there