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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From Phoenix, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> OK, I've only seen a =
hand full
of these, as I'm affiliated with the real Yamaha dealer here, but, =
occasionally
I get called to help with a Yamaha that was purchased in the area, but =
not from
us. Typical complaints here are;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> 1) Tuning pins =
not
holding. Can't be tuned, or if it can, you don't want to.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> 2) Every =
single
screw on the piano needing to be tightened, (Big Deal, you only have to =
do it
once.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> 3) The =
occasional
bridge separation from parts of the soundboard.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> 4) =
Loose
bridge pins, cracked bridge.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
5) Loose flange pinning.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> 6) =
Overall
sloppy action parts. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> These are some of =
the things you
can expect to see when you get one of these gray-market pianos into an
environment with 7% to 25% R.H. Funny that I haven't seen =
any with
any big cracks in the soundboard, yet. That's the first thing I would =
expect to
see. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Hope this helps.
Kevin</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT><FONT =
face=Arial
size=2></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=davistunes@yahoo.com =
href="mailto:davistunes@yahoo.com">Dave
Davis</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, March 02, 2003 =
3:41
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Gray Market Pianos/the =
tally</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>List,<BR>So far the Yamaha gray market survey results
are:<BR>Western Washington,no problems reported<BR>Southeastern U.S., =
no
problems reported<BR>Las Vegas area, lots of problems (not
specified)<BR>Phoenix area, lots of problems (not =
specified)<BR>Unspecific
areas, various pinblock problems in the<BR>1960's <BR><BR>Hoping more =
evidence
comes forward soon.<BR><BR>You are welcome to e-mail me privately =
should you
not<BR>want to publicly reveal evidence you have observed. =
<BR><BR>I,
too, want to have an educated answer so as to<BR>provide honest =
answers to my
clients.<BR><BR>Dave Davis<BR>Renton, =
WA<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>