Nakamichi Piano

[Don Mannino]

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Well, since you asked . . . . .

Things change over time, and my last visit to the Young Chang factory =
was in Spring, 1995. At that time Nakamichi pianos were being completely =
built in the Young Chang factory, including final tuning and regulation. =
 The Abel hammers were being installed at the Y.C. factory, but I think =
little if any voicing was done in Korea.  I personally played many of =
these pianos in the factory before shipment to Japan.

>From there I have no personal experience, except to say that the pianos =
do seem to sound better after they arrive here, so it seems that the =
facility in Japan regulates and voices the pianos quite well. I have =
heard stories that the bass strings have been changed in Japan on some =
pianos, and I know that Nakamichi did specify Mapes strings be used at =
one point.

Keep in mind that this process may have been changed in the last year, =
but the story from the importer was the same then as now.

Don Mannino RPT=20



----------
From: 	PianoBook@aol.com[SMTP:PianoBook@aol.com]
Sent: 	Wednesday, October 30, 1996 3:19 PM
To: 	pianotech@byu.edu
Subject: 	Re: Nakamichi Piano

In a message dated 96-10-29 13:40:39 EST, you write:

<< I had someone ask me about Nakamichi pianos today.  I can't find any =
info.
 Anyone seen one, played one, tuned one, etc.
=20
 Thanks.
=20
 ----
 Rick Florence, Piano Technician
  Arizona State University School of Music
  Rick.Florence@ASU.Edu
=20
  >>

Nakamichi pianos are now called Nakamura due to a trademark conflict =
with the
Nakamichi company that makes audio equipment.  The importer (Wilton =
Syckes in
Phoenix, AZ) says that the case, plate, and action are made in the Young
Chang factory and then the pianos are sent to a rebuilding shop in =
Hamamatsu,
Japan, where the pianos are strung and the hammers (Abel, I think) are
installed.  Other observers have told me that the entire piano is made =
by
Young Chang except for the hammers, which are installed in Japan.  =
Regardless
of where the truth lies, it's possible that the main benefit is the
additional prep and attention that the pianos can get from a rebuilding =
shop
vs. from the factory.  Although I haven't heard a lot about these =
pianos, the
few comments I have heard from technicians have been reasonably =
positive,
about what one would expect from a combination Young Chang/Japanese =
piano.
 The price is only slightly higher than the Young Chang and much less =
than a
Yamaha or Kawai.

Don Mannino: Do you have any additional information from your =
perspective as
a former Young Chang service rep?

Larry Fine


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