At 10:40 PM 12/4/97 -0700, you wrote: >Roger & List, >Thanks Al, Value your input as usual. I must admit I'm nervous about the whole thing, and I don't think I will be repeating the experience. It's not the money that concerns me so much as my image. Guess I'm a born egotist, Thanks again. Roger. >I know your concern Roger, and it might be in your interest to consider the >length of time those pianos have been there. > > We all learn form experience, and I did from one particular piano that >ended up in my shop for a rebuild job. It had come to this country via a >furniture dealer, who was importing used pianos, many of which were from >areas where the pianos were subjected to high humidity, whereas this midwest >region of Canada is relatively dry. The piano had been here for one year >when the owner, who had purchased this particular piano, contacted me. I >provided an estimate, taking into consideration the additional repairs >required, as caused by the former high humidity. The client had another >piano for use, so the piano was stored in my shop for approximately a year, >after which time I did the restoration work. To my great misfortune I was >faced with a good amount of extra work, as caused by the additional year >drying out time, the result of which was greater than that of the first >year. I had no recourse, but was faced with the additional (gratis) >$1000.00 work. > >The lesson I learned - never do any restoration work to a piano from a humid >area for at least two years after it arrives in a dry area! > >Al Jeschke RPT >Calgary, Alberta >--------------------------------------------------------------- > >>Greetings to all, >> I am not sure if this is the place to air this kind of >>warning,or if I am abusing the list by posting the following comments, but >>I have thought long and hard on the subject, and will voice my concerns. >> >> The market is being flooded in some locations with used Japanese >>pianos that were manufactured for the Japanese market. Typically these >>units have been used in universities and schools for periods of 25 to 40 >>years. >> >> Many retailers are passing these units off as being representative of the >>leading Japanese manufacturers products. >> >> However there is several major problems. >> >> These pianos were manufactured specifically for high humidity climates. >>Therefore the seasoning of the lumber is not controlled to the same >>rigorous drying down process. In fact I am in reciept of a letter from Mr >>Hajime Hayashida the general manager of the Yamaha Corps. Engineering >>Group, that states in no uncertain terms that production for North America >>has and tightest engineering and climatic control specifications, as well >>as superior construction materials. >> >> He goes on to warn potential buyers that the following, is a list of >>potential problems that may be encountered. >> >>Verbatum quote. >> 1.Action problems-warping.misalignment of parts,glue joint failures, >>sluggish response, "sticking" keys and adjustment of the action. >> 2. Loosening of screws and tuning pins, possible failure of tuning pin >>block. >> 3. Warping and sometimes cracking of case parts and major parts such as >>sound boards and bridges: "rippling" of finishes. >> 4. Seperation of the glue joints holding major assemblies >>together-examples,backpost,soundboards,ribs,bridges etc. >> >> To add to this I would like to cite my own experience. >> >> We purchased 3 Yamaha grands several months ago at a price that was >>attractive, for so say B+ to A graded quality units? Whatever that means. >> We now intend to rebuild all three, as unleashing this product on the >>unsuspecting public would be a travisty. >> As the humidity has been low for a few months the pins now torque in the >>25-30lb range. The only reason that a scale is playable at all is due to >>the extreme rust on the strings, hence no singing quality, The rust on the >>strings and all brass components show clear evidence of not only high >>humidity,but also signs of a highly polluted industial enviroment. Brass is >>absolutly green. Copper Sulphate. The copper component of the brass in >>contact with the sulphuric acid in industrial pollution. >> Hammers have been reshaped so often, down to the wood in the treble, nice >>reshaping jobs, must have good techs over yonder. >> Key bushings' as you would expect with 25yrs plus of hard playing. >> Action centres GREEN! >> Down bearing was in the 0.025" range, with dial gauge 2 months ago, it is >>now 0.017 avg. We will start rebuilding in feb to make sure we are not >>wasting our time. >> These units may fair quite well on our coastal regions but in the centre >>of the continent there is going to be a lot of mad customers, and lots of >>work. >> I have heard of a couple of cases where these units are slipped into >>university sale events, so please warn your clients that if the piano has >>only two pedals to be very careful, and have the unit checked by a >>professional technicial. >> Normally I'm positive and upbeat about our industry but this type of >>trade practice sickens me. >>I appologise in advance if I have offended anyone with this post as it is a >>little off subject. >>Regards to all >>Roger >>Roger Jolly >>University of Saskatchewan >>Dept. of Music. >> >> > > Roger Jolly University of Saskatchewan Dept. of Music.
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