<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2873" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV>  <FONT size=3><STRONG>Chris </STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>  This a pretty uncommon occurrance.  Kind of like plane wrecks..Ok maybe more frequent but you get the idea</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>something unrelated (such delivery time issues, etc.). In any case, even <BR>if the problem was inherent in the plate from the time of manufacture, I <BR>am aware that no brand of piano is immune to such problems. It is just a <BR>sad fact of life when dealing with cast iron.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>  I would ask the Fandrich folks what the string scale tension is in this area.  It can be a factor.  Good folks.</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>  Dale</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><BR><BR>But when it happens to one's only piano -- one that the owner can't <BR>afford to replace -- suddenly harpsichords, fortepianos and other <BR>keyboard instruments that don't go "Bang!" in the middle of night start <BR>to look a lot more appealing!<BR><BR>Chris Witmer<BR>Tokyo</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Book Antiqua" size=2 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="10"></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Book Antiqua" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="12"><I>Dale Erwin--Piano Restorations<BR>4721 Parker Rd.<BR>Modesto, Calif. 95357<BR>Shop 209-577-8397<BR>cell 209-985-0990<BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Abadi MT Condensed" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12">Web site <A href="http://www.erwinspiano.com/">http://www.Erwinspiano.com</A> </FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Book Antiqua" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="12"><BR><B>Specializing in the Restoration, Service & Sales of</B><BR><B>Steinway & Sons, Mason & Hamlin, & other fine pianos</B></I></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>