Kawai heavy action

[Fred Sturm]

	I have a customer with a small Kawai grand from the early 80's which has a 
very heavy touch weight. In my experience, this is very common among Kawai 
grands of that era (especially the ones sold as Howards), and I expect 
downweights in the area of 65 gm, upweights around 40 gm. I have serviced 
several, but never has a customer wanted me to do anything about the 
weight. They've all either liked the heavy weight, or been too cheap to 
spend a dime. Until now.
	This particular customer has developed "wrist problems" (incipient carpel 
tunnel?), and is wondering whether to trade pianos or have this one worked 
on. So I need to be able to speak with authority and say
a) I can take care of this problem. It will cost $X. Or,
b) You are better advised to trade in and get a different piano.
	My sense is that $X needs to be in the "up to $500" range. IOW, action 
geometry changes are probably out of the picture.
	So I wonder if any of you have experience in addressing weight issues in 
small Kawai's of this vintage, and would be willing to share. Specifically, 
I'm wondering if a combination of wipp spring adjustment, adding a bit of 
lead to keys, and tapering hammers is likely to produce acceptable results. 
And whether just springs, just lead, or springs and lead would be enough.
Thanks,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico