[pianotech] Yamaha Question

[Mark Wisner]

Although I didn't work for Yamaha then, the story I heard was that the first pianos Yamaha exported to the USA (1963?) reacted to low humidity somewhat more energetically than anticipated.  As a result of the service issues, Yamaha reduced the moisture content that some components were cured to for those pianos that were sold in the Super-Dry (Yamaha's term) market.
Although some folks may disagree, I believe the practice continues today. 

Mark Wisner

-----Original Message-----
>From: John Ross <jrpiano at eastlink.ca>
>Sent: Jan 26, 2011 2:52 PM
>To: Mark Wisner <mjwisner at mindspring.com>, pianotech at ptg.org
>Subject: Re: [pianotech] Yamaha Question
>
>Thanks Mark.
>You say according to legend. I would think that it would have a definite date.
>Wasn't there a story about the factory 'climate' being changed, and the pianos, kind of sealed in plastic.
>It was the late 70's when Yamaha Canada, supplied me with pins, and asked me to repin a grand, at a university.
>I had sent them a letter saying, I was surprised that the pins were on the loose side.
>Unfortunately, I can't remember the serial number of the piano.
>John Ross
>Windsor, Nova Scotia
>On 2011-01-26, at 6:04 PM, Mark Wisner wrote:
>
>> According to legend, it was in the 1960's, after the first pianos exported by Yamaha to the USA performed "less well than expected".
>> 
>> Mark Wisner
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: John Ross <jrpiano at eastlink.ca>
>>> Sent: Jan 26, 2011 12:34 PM
>>> To: pianotech at ptg.org
>>> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Yamaha Question
>>> 
>>> Trust me to forget a question mark.
>>> I think it was sometime in the mid 70's?
>>> John Ross
>>> Windsor, Nova Scotia
>>> On 2011-01-26, at 4:32 PM, John Ross wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I was wondering what year Yamaha started using wood with a different moisture content, for the North American market.
>>>> I did query Yamaha Canada about it, but so far, have not had an answer.
>>>> Funny, because they used to always reply to questions in a timely manner.
>>>> John Ross
>>>> Windsor, Nova Scotia
>>> 
>> 
>