First sighting of Kawai Upright with adjustable keyweight - to ABS parts

Isaac sur Noos oleg-i@noos.fr
Fri, 13 Feb 2004 09:44:29 +0100


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slight correction carbon graphite for the jack, a very good design I'd say
and the only part that have some benefit of the modern material, but ABS for
the flange and the whippen body, and a noisy lever (screech) for an expected
self lubricating material (Shigeru Kawai) , plus defects due to the molding
process leaving sharp edges at the roller window (can be easily fine sanded,
but it is not ok for a piano of this price)

Not to say that the inertia of the ABS is FELT when playing (felt as tone
and felt as touch, a little more emptied than modern pianos are yet usually)
and you get the picture why I don't accept the ABS parts so easily, even if
they should be proved (rest to be proved) better lasting in time, and this
is not my experience for the flange bushings under heavy uses.

This side comment apart, where is this design showed ?  it can be very
interesting.

Sorry Don, I stand my point that Kawai never understood piano touch enough
they have always been a tad unresponsive that is frustrating for players and
techs as the instruments could be more musical if so.

I wonder if they have followed some old German designs where the front
punching have to be soft to allow drop (Bluthner), the lack of basement, is
not noticed by the pianists generally, but it is as soon as you install
better front punching and they compare note to note, they all say it was un
error to put those soft punching (I talk of professional classical
musicians, not jazzmen).

No pun intended, just my cts , and certainly nothing personal, Don, I
appreciate your posting and lights anytime.! .

Isaac OLEG.

Please feel free not to answer that we being yet under development don't
understand nothing to ABS parts, that makes me smile, and take time to you !

Best Regards.
  -----Message d'origine-----
  De : pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]De la
part de Piannaman@aol.com
  Envoye : vendredi 13 fevrier 2004 05:58
  A : pianotech@ptg.org
  Objet : First sighting of Kawai Upright with adjustable keyweight


  List,

  I saw one of these Kawai uprights today(though I forget the proprietary
name), and it's interesting.  I didn't get as long as I'd have liked to look
it over, it seems pretty simple, as in "why didn't I think of that?"  There
is a rail parallel to the keyboard that slides fore and aft, moving the
flange, sticker, felt assembly to put it in the preferred position.  The
whole thing is operated by a lever on the right cheek block.

  One curiosity is that the flanges and stickers are made of wood.  Given
that Kawai has long used ABS parts, and has now graduated to carbon graphite
for the more expensive grand wippens, why the retro parts?  Mr. Mannino?

  I think it's a great idea, and it looks very easy to service.

  Dave Stahl

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