STOP DAMAGE TO YOUR PIANO


The Piano Life Saver System offers a reliable way to protect your piano against the many adverse effects of fluctuations in climate.

WHY PIANOS NEED CLIMATE PROTECTION

The soundboard of the piano is manufactured at a carefully controlled humidity level. When it is built into the piano, it has a substantial “arch” which is called the “crown”. The crown of the soundboard imparts a lot of the tonal character to a piano, affecting sustain, projection and dynamic range.

As pianos age the crown tends to subside to a degree and the tone of the piano deteriorates. The Piano Life Saver System protects the soundboard, reducing this subsidence and the other adverse effects of humidity fluctuations. It keeps the soundboard at a steady 50% relative humidity which is ideal for the health and tone character of the soundboard. Pianos react particularly to humidity and are extremely sensitive to changes in the humidity of their environment, far moer so than humans!

The Life Saver also protects pianos from structural damage, particularly to the soundboard, caused by flexing due to changes in humidity, which occur all the time in any climate, as well as excessive dryness and wetness at various points of the seasonal cycle.

                                                                                                                                                            THE PIANO LIFE SAVER CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM

HOW THE PIANO LIFE SAVER WORKS

The Life Saver creates a stable environment below the soundboard, humidifying and dehumidifying as required, regulated by a sensor at the soundboard surface. The whole system is attached to the beams under a grand piano or in the space under the keyboard on an upright. There is a small light panel that reminds you when to “water” your piano, using the customised watering can, and a cut out to protect the whole system if you forget. In dry climates the water needs topping up approximately every 2 weeks, less often in more temperate or humid conditions.

TRIED AND TESTED

We have fitted these to pianos all over South Africa and our experience supports the high reputation that the Piano Life Saver has enjoyed in the USA since the 1950’s, and in Europe since the 1990s. We have seen dramatic improvement in the tone and tuning stability of everything from small home uprights to 9 foot, brand new Model D concert grand Steinways. Customers who have installed the Piano Life Saver System in their pianos include; the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, the Linder Auditorium in Johannesburg, the Steinway agents, Pianoforte, including on their Concert Model D, Francois du Toit and Franklin Larey on their home Kawai grands and numerous private owners.

SAVE MONEY, SAVE YOUR PIANO

Apart from the benefits relating to tonal and tuning stability the Piano Life Saver reduces the medium and long term costs of maintenance, reliably paying for itself. Research indicates that the Piano Life Saver system doubles the life span of pianos.

INTERNAL STRING COVERS

The Life Saver should ideally be used in conjunction with an internal string cover. This is cut to pattern from an acoustic felt, designed in the USA for this specific purpose. The string cover is very easy to remove and refit, it simply rests over the cast iron frame which holds it up above the strings, so you can also leave it in place while playing. The felt doesn’t distort the tone, other than to make it slightly warmer. It’s a very high quality black felt, so it doesn't detract from the appearance of the piano. It protects the strings from corrosion and tarnishing, extending their life expectancy and assisting with tuning stability by insulating the upper surface of the soundboard.

The internal string cover can be used without the Piano Life Saver to provide some climate protection and to preserve the string condition.With both of these items in place one can be very confident that a piano has the best possible level of protection against the full range of climatic factors.