RE> Kawai US-6X vertical key slip. Finding it impossible to remove the keyslip from one of our US-6X ver= ticals, I=20 called Ray Chandler, Kawai service manager. When I told him there we= re no=20 screws visible anywhere, he decided to call headquarters for clarific= ation. =20 =80 Guess what! In order to remove these keyslips, you must first remove= the=20 MUSIC SHELF, FALLBOARD, KEY STOP RAIL, KEY BLOCKS, ALL KEYS, AND THE = KEYFRAME!! ! There is a strip of wood attached to the back of the keyslip. Thi= s strip=20 is first screwed to the keybed, and then the keyframe is placed on to= p of it,=20 making the screws inaccessible. =20 To remedy this situation I suggest putting the keyslip back on with T= WO 1 1/2"=20 screws through the underside of the keybed. This entire operation ta= kes about=20 an hour. CAUTION: Carefully mark the position of the cardboard shim= s under=20 the keyframe (or tape them in place). Changing these will change key= height,=20 key dip and other related functions. However, if you are removing th= e keyslip, you are probably regulating, and may need to change this anyhow. Have Kawai's design engineers ever worked on a piano, or watched some= one work=20 on a piano? Doubtless some design guru said, "Well, why would the ke= yslip=20 ever have to be removed?" Why, indeed! This would be perfectly acce= ptable=20 for pianos which never need to be regulated. Neither Kawai, nor any = other=20 brand, falls into this category. I suppose one could regulate a piano without removing the keyslip. I= suppose=20 one could also tune a piano without removing the music rack and front= panel. =20 It would be interesting to meet such a person. =20 Therefore, I hereby award the 1994 Dumb Design Award to Kawai America= n=20 Corporation. Congratulations for this dubious distinction! Danny L. Boone, RPT Baylor University
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