Disklavier

Hi everyone

Ive been lurking here for around a month in preparation for buying my 
first Disklavier and I thank everyone for their contributions to this 
wonderful group.  I recently was fortunate to have found a 
spectacular DS6MK4PRO for a bargain and she is on her way to my home 
in Louisiana.

The piano is coming from California where it was meticulously 
maintained in a 45% humidity environment.  My livingroom hygrometer 
has been reading 55-65% humidity the last month exect when Ike and 
Gustav bumped it to 75%.  When I mentioned using a Dampp Chaser to my 
piano tech, this was her response:

     "We do not recommend installing DamppChaser units on Disklavier 
Grands, there are complications with the Disklavier unit power supply 
that affect the performance. We do recommend controlling the humidity 
in the music room instead. You can purchase a room unit from your 
local HVAC contractor."

When I did a search of this topic, there were differing opinions.  
Also, if I remember correctly, I believe in my phone conversation 
with Bill Brandom last month he said there was no problem as long as 
the humidifier part of the system with water was not used. 

By the way, the room I am putting this piano in is 20 x 40 ft. I dont 
want to have to put an ugly dehumidifier unit in there if I dont have 
to.

Anyone care to comment?

Paul

The Mark 4 has a lot more electronics hidden underneath than previous models, so you need to do be more careful where you site any water related parts. You need to make sure that any possible leaks are nowhere near any electrical parts unless you want to hear your piano go bang at some unexpected moment.

athomik

On Oct 2 2008, Arthur J. O'Leary wrote:

>Paul,
>
>For what it¹s worth, I have had a Dampp-Chaser on my Disklavier for over 3
>years and have not had a single problem with it or the piano.
>
>Art
>
>
>
>From: prsmith777
>Reply-To:
>Date: Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:25:01 -0000
>To:
>Subject: [disklavier] DS6MK4PRO on the way
>
>
>
>
>Hi everyone
>
>Ive been lurking here for around a month in preparation for buying my
>first Disklavier and I thank everyone for their contributions to this
>wonderful group. I recently was fortunate to have found a
>spectacular DS6MK4PRO for a bargain and she is on her way to my home
>in Louisiana.
>
>The piano is coming from California where it was meticulously
>maintained in a 45% humidity environment. My livingroom hygrometer
>has been reading 55-65% humidity the last month exect when Ike and
>Gustav bumped it to 75%. When I mentioned using a Dampp Chaser to my
>piano tech, this was her response:
>
>"We do not recommend installing DamppChaser units on Disklavier
>Grands, there are complications with the Disklavier unit power supply
>that affect the performance. We do recommend controlling the humidity
>in the music room instead. You can purchase a room unit from your
>local HVAC contractor."
>
>When I did a search of this topic, there were differing opinions.
>Also, if I remember correctly, I believe in my phone conversation
>with Bill Brandom last month he said there was no problem as long as
>the humidifier part of the system with water was not used.
>
>By the way, the room I am putting this piano in is 20 x 40 ft. I dont
>want to have to put an ugly dehumidifier unit in there if I dont have
>to.
>
>Anyone care to comment?
>
>Paul
>
>
>
>
>

For what it's worth, I've had a Dampp-Chaser on my DC3A Mark III for
four years now.  I did not have the humidifier part installed, instead
I opted for a whole-house humidifier on my furnace.  This was a great
overall investment - I don't need to keep the thermostat set as high
in the winter (since humid air "feels" warmer) and I don't have the
dry skin and sinus problems that I had in the wintertime before
installing the humidifier.

My humidity problem is that in Missouri it's often too warm for the
furnace and too cool for the AC to run often enough to keep the
humidity down.  Today the high is expected to be in the mid-60's and
the humidity is over 80%.  There was a period where I had the AC set
to 58 degrees to keep the humidity in check - causing much pain on my
electric bill.

I also have a whole-house fan installed in my house, and I could only
use it 10-15 days of the year.  (Another investment I wholly recommend!!)

I had the Dampp-Chaser installed and just don't worry about it any
more.  I do have a humidistat sitting near the sound board of the
piano and the Dampp-Chased does it's job extremely well.

Of course, your mileage may vary.

-B

-=-

> The Mark 4 has a lot more electronics hidden underneath than previous 
> models, so you need to do be more careful where you site any water
related 
> parts. You need to make sure that any possible leaks are nowhere near 
> any electrical parts unless you want to hear your piano go bang at some 
> unexpected moment.


> athomik

On Oct 2 2008, Arthur J. O'Leary wrote:

> >Paul,
> >
> >For what it¹s worth, I have had a Dampp-Chaser on my Disklavier for
over 3

> >years and have not had a single problem with it or the piano.
> >
> >Art

Greetings rwberry99,

The drying part of the Damp Chase system is just a heater. Difficult
to imagine that it would cause any problems with the electronics if
installed properly. Make sure that whoever installs it knows to not
stick it someplace stupid where it could cause problems.

Another possibility is to provide local heating near the piano with
some other creative out of the piano system. I am considering doing
this to my piano because I leave for months during the winter and
leave the heat in the house at just above freezing. This allows it to
get very damp at the piano. I am thinking of putting a liquid filled
baseboard heater of a good quality (not the cheap walmart type under
the piano to create a cloud of warmth near the piano. I could tent the
piano but think that is risky.

Any ideas on this would be appreciated. I hope to have a solution for
this winter as last caused a lot of damage to the piano regulation
although that was due to an extended power outage. If nothing else,
I'll use a damp chaser to protect the piano action as that is what was
messed up the most. A complete regulation is not cheap and is best
avoided.

Thursday, October 2, 2008, 9:50:39 AM, you wrote:
> For what it's worth, I've had a Dampp-Chaser on my DC3A Mark III for
> four years now. I did not have the humidifier part installed, instead
> I opted for a whole-house humidifier on my furnace. This was a great
> overall investment - I don't need to keep the thermostat set as high
> in the winter (since humid air "feels" warmer) and I don't have the
> dry skin and sinus problems that I had in the wintertime before
> installing the humidifier.

> My humidity problem is that in Missouri it's often too warm for the
> furnace and too cool for the AC to run often enough to keep the
> humidity down. Today the high is expected to be in the mid-60's and
> the humidity is over 80%. There was a period where I had the AC set
> to 58 degrees to keep the humidity in check - causing much pain on my
> electric bill.

> I also have a whole-house fan installed in my house, and I could only
> use it 10-15 days of the year. (Another investment I wholly recommend!!)

> I had the Dampp-Chaser installed and just don't worry about it any
> more. I do have a humidistat sitting near the sound board of the
> piano and the Dampp-Chased does it's job extremely well.

> Of course, your mileage may vary.

> -B

> -=-

>> The Mark 4 has a lot more electronics hidden underneath than previous 
>> models, so you need to do be more careful where you site any water
> related 
>> parts. You need to make sure that any possible leaks are nowhere near 
>> any electrical parts unless you want to hear your piano go bang at some 
>> unexpected moment.

>> athomik

> On Oct 2 2008, Arthur J. O'Leary wrote:

>> >Paul,
>> >
>> >For what it¹s worth, I have had a Dampp-Chaser on my Disklavier for
> over 3
>> >years and have not had a single problem with it or the piano.
>> >
>> >Art

>  

-- 
Best regards,
Spencer_Lists Chase        mailto:lists@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville,  CA 95542    Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454    UPS only.
Lists@spencerserolls(dot)com
http://www(dot)spencerserolls.com 
replace (dot) with a .
(707) 984-8356

Absolutely, because it is Louisiana, have the dehumidifier bars and 
humidistat installed underneath the piano.  It will probably take 2 or 3 
smaller rods placed around the electronics to protect the soundboard.

Also, the tech was correct, if the humidity was 75%, that you may also need 
additional room dehumidification.  The idea is to maintain a CONSTANT 
moisture content as close to 55%RH as possible.  You need both a Dampp 
Chaser and a room machine.

Carol Beigel
Diskalvier tech


----- Original Message ----- 

From: "prsmith777" <prsmith777@...>
To: <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 7:25 AM
Subject: [disklavier] DS6MK4PRO on the way


> Hi everyone
>
> Ive been lurking here for around a month in preparation for buying my
> first Disklavier and I thank everyone for their contributions to this
> wonderful group.  I recently was fortunate to have found a
> spectacular DS6MK4PRO for a bargain and she is on her way to my home
> in Louisiana.
>
> The piano is coming from California where it was meticulously
> maintained in a 45% humidity environment.  My livingroom hygrometer
> has been reading 55-65% humidity the last month exect when Ike and
> Gustav bumped it to 75%.  When I mentioned using a Dampp Chaser to my
> piano tech, this was her response:
>
>     "We do not recommend installing DamppChaser units on Disklavier
> Grands, there are complications with the Disklavier unit power supply
> that affect the performance. We do recommend controlling the humidity
> in the music room instead. You can purchase a room unit from your
> local HVAC contractor."
>
> When I did a search of this topic, there were differing opinions.
> Also, if I remember correctly, I believe in my phone conversation
> with Bill Brandom last month he said there was no problem as long as
> the humidifier part of the system with water was not used.
>
> By the way, the room I am putting this piano in is 20 x 40 ft. I dont
> want to have to put an ugly dehumidifier unit in there if I dont have
> to.
>
> Anyone care to comment?
>
> Paul
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> To Post a message to the group, send it to:   disklavier@...
>
> To Post a private message to Todd Muncy, the group's founder and 
> moderator, send it to:
> disklavier-owner@...
>
> To reach our group's web site go to:
> http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier
>
> THINKING OF LEAVING THE GROUP?
> If you are thinking of unsubcribing because you are getting too much mail, 
> go the the web site and change your email delivery option instead.  That 
> will fix the problem, while maintaining your access to the group.  If you 
> insist on leaving us completely send a blank email to:
> disklavier-unsubscribe@...
>
> Know someone who wants to join?  Have them send a blank email to:
> disklavier-subscribe@... or give them this link:
> http://Yahoogroups.com/group/disklavier/join
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.7.3/1694 - Release Date: 9/26/2008 
> 6:55 PM
>
>
>