Gray Market Pianos/the tally

[Farrell]

And what is the role of a specified environement for the piano? I can't imagine any piano being in its prime in 7% RH AND at 80% RH. It just ain't gonna happen. Museums that house rare antique objects (Old Glory, various paintings, etc.) know the role of proper RH. I'm just gettin' to the point of "if you want a high end piano, you need to provide a high end environment!

Terry  Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kevin E. Ramsey" <kevin.e.ramsey@cox.net>
To: <dave@davispiano.com>; "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2003 6:35 PM
Subject: Re: Gray Market Pianos/the tally


>From Phoenix, 

    OK, I've only seen a hand full of these, as I'm affiliated with the real Yamaha dealer here, but, occasionally I get called to help with a Yamaha that was purchased in the area, but not from us. Typical complaints here are;
    1)  Tuning pins not holding. Can't be tuned, or if it can, you don't want to.
    2)   Every single screw on the piano needing to be tightened, (Big Deal, you only have to do it once.)
    3)   The occasional bridge separation from parts of the soundboard.
    4)    Loose bridge pins, cracked bridge.
    5)    Loose flange pinning.
    6)    Overall sloppy action parts. 

    These are some of the things you can expect to see when you get one of these gray-market pianos into an environment with 7% to  25% R.H.  Funny that I haven't seen any with any big cracks in the soundboard, yet. That's the first thing I would expect to see. 

    Hope this helps. Kevin
    
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dave Davis 
  To: pianotech@ptg.org 
  Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2003 3:41 PM
  Subject: Gray Market Pianos/the tally


  List,
  So far the Yamaha gray market survey results are:
  Western Washington,no problems reported
  Southeastern U.S., no problems reported
  Las Vegas area, lots of problems (not specified)
  Phoenix area, lots of problems (not specified)
  Unspecific areas, various pinblock problems in the
  1960's 

  Hoping more evidence comes forward soon.

  You are welcome to e-mail me privately should you not
  want to publicly reveal evidence you have observed.  

  I, too, want to have an educated answer so as to
  provide honest answers to my clients.

  Dave Davis
  Renton, WA