[pianotech] Kawai electric piano breaking bass strings.

[Don Mannino]

Mike,

No, they are not known for breaking strings.  They are known for being 
impossible to tune cleanly, especially in the bass.

It could be that someone tried to "improve" the scale and got the tensions 
too high.

You might call Mapes, as they are Kawai's string makers in the US.  They 
have the original scale, and can send replacements without samples.

Don Mannino

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Spalding" <mike.spalding1 at verizon.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:27 PM
Subject: [pianotech] Kawai electric piano breaking bass strings.


> Client just bought a used Kawai EP308.  88-note "grand", conventional 
> action and dampers, no soundboard, piezo-electric pickup under the bridge. 
> Got a good price because there were some broken bass strings.  Prior 
> owner's tech tried replacing them with universals, and they broke again. 
> Then the prior owner bought scale data over the internet, had strings 
> custom wound, and they broke.  The foregoing history is all hearsay:  no 
> written documentation, first-hand accounts, nor physical evidence 
> available.  All 3 sets of broken strings (originals, universals, and 
> custom scale) have been lost/discarded.
> Do these electric pianos have a history of breaking bass strings?  Is it 
> safe to specify new strings with characteristics similar to their 
> neighbors, or should I be designing to a lower percent of break strength? 
> The missing strings are E2, F2, A2, C3, and D3.  Neighboring notes are at 
> about 60% of breaking strength.
>
> thanks
>
> Mike
>
>
>