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Bear in mind that the PLS does not keep it right at 42%. It fluctuates roughly 8% overall as long as ambient humidity remains roughly between 35% and 65%.

I am guessing that the notes showing movement are just on one side or the other of one of the struts. Y/N?

Overall I think you're doing very well.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

Thank you. Yes, exactly; between the A# and the B.

Also, what I'd not been able to discern is the precise range kept by the PLS. Knowing it's roughly 8% is very helpful. I surely am thankful for it, though.

So your piano is holding its tune well enough to fall into the typical range. You may just have to accept that your sensitive ear requires more frequent tunings than does the average forum member. My previous tech tuned for Yamaha artists and jazz player. The pianos start to lose tune the minute the tuning is finished. One customer loved the tuning 2 weeks after it was tuned.

If you're ear is sensitive to out of tune notes I'd learn to tune unisons that go out to touch it up between your regular tunings. Upper treble is hard to keep stable. I just played a grand in a casino that was in tune. At the end of the night some upper treble notes were out. I imagine the temp/humidity were pretty constant there.

Are you using an undercover in your application? Do you keep the piano open or closed between uses?

When I tune most pianos that are in sound mechanical condition, the lowest plain wire notes and/or the tenor side of the bass/tenor break tends to be the most out of tune with seasonal humidity changes. What you’re describing sounds similar.

Don't some jazz pianists like the unisons slightly out?

I've done one unison a few months ago, when the piano really was still settling in, but fearful I'll damage the pins by not having good technique!

Thankfully between the last two tunings there no unisons that went out. The issue after a few months of weather changes was a little discrepancy between octaves 2 and 3. What this forum has helped me learn is how the bass strings respond differently to humidity fluctuations than the tenor and treble strings. I figured there was a physical explanation, but appreciate the new-found clarity!

No undercover, but I do have a string cover.

The undercover made a significant difference when I had two institutional pianos in an extremely difficult humidity environment. Was able to do an A/B comparison.

Interesting. I've been led to believe the string cover can also help in that regard to. To a lesser extent, probably?

Hi Rob,

The system is installed under your piano. The area under your piano is wide open, currently. This allows room air to flow, undisturbed, into the heated microclimate the system is trying to create. In terms of the undercover fitting well and not being visually distracting, it works better with the slightly shorter, lower wattage dehumidifier rods than the full-length 50w ones…and I think most recent grand DC systems are sold with the shorter rods now.

I’m not a fan of string covers, as I think they look just weird when the piano is open, and they change the perceived tone of the instrument (which one ostensibly liked when they bought the piano and pay technicians for voicing to their taste). Full disclosure—I keep a padded cover on my piano when not in use, and do not have a humidity control system installed on my current grand piano.

Helpful info, thanks. I'll consider it, especially given the highly changeable conditions of my house/piano room.

I don't mind the string cover, FWIW, and at least in my space, it doesn't dampen the sound much at all. It's also not difficult to remove. I like the idea of it keeping everything clean, so it's working for me.

Yes, exactly the point. This Jazz musician know exactly what he was looking for in the tuning. I’ve always envied that ability. Changing the tuning on a guitar is a natural part of being able to play guitar. Having that sensitive an ear and hiring someone to come out to tune the piano can be a challenge. I’m glad to hear the piano is behaving properly. Being a piano enthusiast, I’m actually a little bit glad my ears aren’t as sensitive as before. Best Wishes!

I like a complete outer cover.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor