Kawai heavy action

[Richard Brekne]

Fred

You dont need to really get into changing geometry to address the issues 
you describe.  If you can take a few Stanwood like measurements of 
Strikeweights, whippen weights,  key ratios and the like several of us 
can offer you rather simple solutions to bringe touchweight way down 
without filling the keys full of lead

If you like you can contact me privately at either the above address or 
at rbrekne@broadpark.no and I will be glad to help you out.

Cheers
RicB

Fred Sturm wrote:

>     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
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