Pianos are creatures of humidity. I’m constantly talking to my customers about humidity, and it’s one of the biggest factors in tuning, regulation, and piano lifespan. It’s difficult to overstate the importance. Because the piano is largely wood, changes in relative humidity change wood moisture content, which changes dimensions and therefore regulation/tuning stability. Here in … Read more
Yamaha Disklavier floppy disk drives are a notorious point of failure. Yamaha Disklaviers used floppy disk drives that were quite excellent for their time: They had all-metal frames, precision stepper mechanisms, and reasonably tolerant analog read electronics. Thirty-odd years later, however, these mechanical drives are far past their life expectancies. If you have an older … Read more
A Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver System is one of the best investments a piano owner can make—but it’s also one of the easiest systems to forget about. When neglected or misunderstood, it can actually do more harm than good. I’ve received many panicked calls over the years! Here are the top ten mistakes I see … Read more
Customers regularly ask me which is the best humidifier for their piano and music room. Pianos are creatures of humidity: Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it naturally absorbs and releases moisture from the air depending on the humidity level. Controlling that relative humidity in and around your piano is the one of the most important aspects … Read more
Pianos have wood and metal inside of them, and both react to relative humidity in different ways. Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture from the surrounding air. This causes the wood to expand in humid air and shrink in dry air. Metal can rust and corrode if the humidity gets too high, … Read more
During the winter months, many clients leave the state of Maine. Their piano is left in Maine, which means there’s nobody to fill the Dampp-Chaser! This is a solution. My best estimate is that this system can supply a Dampp-Chaser with sufficient water for three months during the winter, or perhaps longer. Normally, they have … Read more
What is a Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver System? Pianos are creatures of humidity. Small changes in relative humidity can dramatically alter both the tuning and the lifespan of the instrument. If you’d like more information on climate control in the piano room, see my guide to piano humidity here. However, many customers struggle to keep … Read more