Imported used pianos

[Roger Jolly]

At 10:40 PM 12/4/97 -0700, you wrote:
>Roger & List, 
>Thanks Al,
            Value your input as usual. I must admit I'm nervous about the
whole thing, and I don't think I will be repeating the experience. It's not
the money that concerns me so much as my image. Guess I'm a born egotist,
Thanks again.
Roger. 
>I know your concern Roger, and it might be in your interest to consider the
>length of time those pianos have been there.
>
>  We all learn form experience, and I did from one particular piano that
>ended up in my shop for a rebuild job.  It had come to this country via a
>furniture dealer, who was importing used pianos, many of which were from
>areas where the pianos were subjected to high humidity, whereas this midwest
>region of Canada is relatively dry.  The piano had been here for one year
>when the owner, who had purchased this particular piano, contacted me.  I
>provided an estimate, taking into consideration the additional repairs
>required, as caused by the former high humidity.  The client had another
>piano for use, so the piano was stored in my shop for approximately a year,
>after which time I did the restoration work.  To my great misfortune I was
>faced with a good amount of extra work, as caused by the additional year
>drying out time, the result of which was greater than that of the first
>year.  I had no recourse, but was faced with the additional (gratis)
>$1000.00 work.
>
>The lesson I learned - never do any restoration work to a piano from a humid
>area for at least two years after it arrives in a dry area!
>
>Al Jeschke RPT
>Calgary, Alberta
>---------------------------------------------------------------
>     
>>Greetings to all,
>>                 I am not sure if this is the place to air this kind of
>>warning,or if I am abusing the list by posting the following comments, but
>>I have thought long and hard on the subject, and will voice my concerns.
>>
>>     The market is being flooded in some locations with used Japanese
>>pianos that were manufactured for the Japanese market. Typically these
>>units have been used in universities and schools for periods of 25 to 40
>>years.
>>
>>  Many retailers are passing these units off as being representative of the
>>leading Japanese manufacturers products.
>>
>>  However there is several major problems.
>>
>>    These pianos were manufactured specifically for high humidity climates.
>>Therefore the seasoning of the lumber is not controlled to the same
>>rigorous drying down process. In fact I am in reciept of a letter from Mr
>>Hajime Hayashida the general manager of the Yamaha Corps. Engineering
>>Group, that states in no uncertain terms that production for North America
>>has and tightest engineering and climatic control specifications, as well
>>as superior construction materials.
>>
>>    He goes on to warn potential buyers that the following, is a list of
>>potential problems that may be encountered.
>>
>>Verbatum quote.
>>  1.Action problems-warping.misalignment of parts,glue joint failures,
>>sluggish response, "sticking" keys and adjustment of the action.
>>  2. Loosening of screws and tuning pins, possible failure of tuning pin
>>block.
>>  3. Warping and sometimes cracking of case parts and major parts such as
>>sound boards and bridges: "rippling" of finishes.
>>  4. Seperation of the glue joints holding major assemblies
>>together-examples,backpost,soundboards,ribs,bridges etc.
>>
>>  To add to this I would like to cite my own experience.
>>
>>  We purchased 3 Yamaha grands several months ago at a price that was
>>attractive, for so say B+ to A graded quality units? Whatever that means.
>>  We now intend to rebuild all three, as unleashing this product on the
>>unsuspecting public would be a travisty.
>>  As the humidity has been low for a few months the pins now torque in the
>>25-30lb range. The only reason that a scale is playable at all is due to
>>the extreme rust on the strings, hence no singing quality, The rust on the
>>strings and all brass components show clear evidence of not only high
>>humidity,but also signs of a highly polluted industial enviroment. Brass is
>>absolutly green. Copper Sulphate. The copper component of the brass in
>>contact with the sulphuric acid in industrial pollution.
>>  Hammers have been reshaped so often, down to the wood in the treble, nice
>>reshaping jobs, must have good techs over yonder.
>>  Key bushings' as you would expect with 25yrs plus of hard playing.
>>  Action centres GREEN!
>>  Down bearing was in the 0.025" range, with dial gauge 2 months ago, it is
>>now 0.017 avg. We will start rebuilding in feb to make sure we are not
>>wasting our time.
>>  These units may fair quite well on our coastal regions but in the centre
>>of the continent there is going to be a lot of mad customers, and lots of
>>work.
>>  I have heard of a couple of cases where these units are slipped into
>>university sale events, so please warn your clients that if the piano has
>>only two pedals to be very careful, and have the unit checked by a
>>professional technicial.
>>  Normally I'm positive and upbeat about our industry but this type of
>>trade practice sickens me.
>>I appologise in advance if I have offended anyone with this post as it is a
>>little off subject.
>>Regards to all
>>Roger 
>>Roger Jolly
>>University of Saskatchewan
>>Dept. of Music.
>>
>>
>
>
Roger Jolly
University of Saskatchewan
Dept. of Music.