<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1251"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16705" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <P> <DIV>Hi Wim,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The Ancott Directory confirms the piano was built by Samick in South Korea.  I find these parts from Yamaha and Young Chang to be fairly interchangeable.  I had to replace one in a Young Chang last week.  The wooden dowel is a neat idea, but the plastic or nylon part has two diameters.  One fits snuggly into the rod, the other on top larger so it will not go in further.  I can see doing these modifications in a pinch, but getting the parts from any of these companies would be easier.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>One Chinese built studio I have serviced did get a wooden rod from top to bottom.  After the replacement plastic or nylon broke, I decided to make it so I knew it would not break again.  It was getting some rough use at a country club, and I don't like to repair anything three times.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Bruce Dornfeld, RPT</DIV> <DIV><A href="mailto:bdornfeld@earthlink.net">bdornfeld@earthlink.net</A></DIV> <DIV>North Shore Chapter</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <P></P></BODY></HTML>