Black Market Pianos now HC's

[John Ross]

The changing of the moisture content in the wood during the 
manufacturing process, for a different geographical area, may seem 
silly. But in Yamahas case, it has worked, as the pianos coming to 
Canada, after they made the change, hold their tune better, no more 
loose tuning pins.
When I first started tuning, at a university, in the late 70's, there 
was a small Yamaha grand, and the pins were looser than I thought they 
should be. I wrote a letter to Yamaha. (the days before e-mail), they 
replied to me, saying if they supplied oversize pins, would I repin it, 
and bill them for the labour.
So they recognised the problem, and it was solved, by them changing the 
moisture content of the wood during the manufacture, for pianos, 
destined for the North American market.
This was before the days of Dampp-Chaser systems.
So I disagree with your comment, about it being silly, in changing the 
MC of the wood.
Regards,
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 10:29 AM
Subject: Re: Black Market Pianos now HC's


> By HC, I assume you meant MC = moisture content?
>
> I agree with you completely Paul. Seems silly to me. My understanding 
> is
> that Yamaha first experienced problems with some of their pianos when 
> the
> first started exporting them to North America. The pianos were 
> "seasoned"
> for the Japanese climate - which, as I understand it, is on the humid 
> side
> and is completely/nearly devoid of any really dry climates. When these
> pianos starting living in places like Arizona and Minnesota (in the 
> winter -
> next to the wood stove), some of them started imploding. So I think 
> the
> manufacturing process was adjusted to have the pianos survive some of 
> these
> more extreme climates.
>
> Personally, I think climate control in one form or another should be
> paramount with pianos - this business of changing manufacturing MCs 
> for a
> target climate seems a bit silly to me.
>
> Terry Farrell
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
>
>> Subject: Re: Black Market Pianos
>>
>> Does the Kawai thing include different MCs for wood during 
>> manufacturing?
>>
>> Terry Farrell
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> Both Yamaha and Kawai have a separate market for US pianos.  When a 
>>> piano
>>> destined for another market crosses over to a different one for a 
>>> second
>>> sale, it undercuts the market in that existing country.  I believe 
>>> the
>>> same
>>> problems occur in Europe as well.
>>>
>>> The American branch of Yamaha has taken a particularly hard stand by 
>>> not
>>> being willing to supply parts and service to these instruments.
>>>
>>> jeannie
>>>
>>>
>>> Jeannie Grassi, RPT
>>
>> I've never been able to understand how a manufacturer can adjust HC's 
>> for
>> the variety of global climates, then, select an HC for North America 
>> when
>> North America experiences almost all the climates on earth.  If you 
>> want
>> to
>> find out just how that can be, come live in Minnesota for awhile, or
>> simply
>> check the climatologically records.  My guess is the manufacturers 
>> select
>> material HC's best suited for manufacturing, not global climates.
>>
>> Paul C
>
>
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