Unglued Hammerheads (Clamping)

[Don]

Hi Phil,

I wonder if Kawai sells a set of hammers on shanks for this instrument?

At 07:16 PM 3/20/02 -0500, you wrote:
>I have, as I'm sure most of us have, encountered this and have been faced
>with cost vs. the point of diminishing return.
>
>3 years ago I was asked to tune a very nice Kawai Console for a very nice
>elderly couple. She also told me that a few of the keys were sticking when
>she pressed the damper pedal.
>
>When I arrived, and upon a breif inspection, I saw that approx. 2 dozen
>hammer heads were coming unglued from the moldings. The ones that were
>coming loose from the bottom molding were the ones hanging up on the
>dampers, causing the notes to 'stick'.
>
>There was also evidence that the previous tech had attempted to secure loose
>hammer heads with glue and thread. I showed her what was happening, and
>explained that attempting to glue and clamp these hammers was possibly a
>waste of my time and her money. I told her how much it would cost to replace
>the full set of hammers, and of course that was too much money, so she asked
>me to do my best in trying to glue and clamp.
>
>This summer I will be replacing the hammers. All of a sudden it's not too
>much money to replace the hammers..and I'm pretty sure their income is
>pretty fixed. I also pointed out to her that this piano was very worthy of
>replacing the hammers and that she would be very pleased with the results.
>
>This is an instance where I felt pretty sure that these people weren't going
>to go for the complete job. The instrument is worth the investment.
>
>..then there's the other unmentionable instruments that are family heirlooms
>and it hasn't been tuned since Aunt Sophie was a little girl, but now little
>Bobby is banging around on it and the family heirloom needs to be tuned. In
>a case like this where I see hammer heads coming unglued, I point it out to
>them, tell them that whatever I do to try and remedy the situation has no
>guarantee, do my best with CA and spring clamps, and call it a day. If
>little Bobby starts to take off and show a real interest in the piano, the
>family will come up with the money for a real instrument, otherwise it's
>destined to continue to be a picture holder.
>
>..so Richard, I agree.
>
>Phil
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Regards,
Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T.

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