kawai tuning stability

[Dave Swartz, RPT]

At 12:03 AM 1/24/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Hello everyone!
>     I wold like your input on a matter I find a bit confusing. I went
>to an area dealer tonight who just aquired the Kawai line and has
>recieved their first shipment. They have had a few of the instruments
>tuned and seem unhappy with some of the unisons having gone out within a
>few days. I did not do the tunings for them but they called me in to
>verify what they feel is the problem.
>      The dealers first move was to call Don Mannino direct (smart move)
>where it sounds as if they pinned him in to admitting that Kawai was
>having a problem (dealers words) with the string coils not being leveled
>during stringing. This seems to be their sole reason for believing that
>the pianos won't hold a tune. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but ... I
>haven't seen a manufacturer yet who didn't have some uneven coils on the
>tuning pins and they seem to hold just fine. Also I did tune these new
>Kawai's untill very recently when the previous dealer lost the line and
>this new dealer got it. I had very good and stable results with them. A
>Great instrument no? The tech brought in to floor tune these pianos is
>of high repute so ... what gives???? Any ideas out there? Is this a real
>problem or is someone just making waves?
>                                          Greg
>--

Greg & list,

        I believe the problem lies in three areas creating the instability.
First check the pinblock bedding.  I've taken sample readings on new Kawais
(about 20) over the past year or so and found gaps anywhere between .35 to
..110.  It wouldn't make sense one would think, being a new piano and all.

        Secondly, are the plate bolts tight?  This is the first place I
check when unstability is the issue.  The 3rd is of course, is the seating
of strings to bridges/hitch pins.  A possible fourth is the stretching of
strings (as habit when restringing we'll stretch them a bit/rubbing speaking
legnth).

Good Luck,


Dave Swartz, RPT
dms2000@pioneerplanet.infi.net
website:  http://www.majesticpiano.com