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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello List,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm back with another topic I would =
like to share
with you.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>During the process of selecting my =
Shigeru piano, I
played a lot of Kawai instruments, and I found a strange noise impacting =
very
few notes, but always the same notes : 23, 24 and 25. The noise looks =
like a
whistling appearing at the attack, and is very easy to ear when playing =
a non
legato trill at pianissimo. This noise is clearly audible on most of =
RX-2, SK2
(1.78 m), RX-3 and SK3 (1.86 m). Very difficult to ear it on larger =
instrument.
RX-6 or SK6 (2.12 m) do not have it. - sorry for the metric unit
-:)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I had extensive discussions on that =
with our french
MPA who is now an expert to determine whether an instrument is having =
the noise
or not. We have contacted Kawai in Japan. They replied that this is well =
known
as "kissing noise" and that mostly all prestigious brands are facing =
this
problem that originates from hammer conditions. Kawai also told us
that Steinway has extensively studied the topic without identifying =
the
root cause ; and when the problem is creating inconvenience at playing, =
Steinway
is replacing the hammers...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We made some experiments at the french =
Kawai show
room on some RX, without being capable to find a reliable fix. Some =
pianos were
not having this kissing noise, but most of them had it in the
showroom.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>When I play grand pianos in this size =
range, I
always discreetly check the stuff... but I've not seen this kissing =
noise as
present as on the Kawai. I can tell you I've been cautious when =
selecting my
Shigeru, so it took me 2 years to find an SK3 almost free from kissing =
noise
(but not completely free).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If some of you have an explanation =
and/or a fix, I
would be very excited to learn this (and lot of MPAs too, believe
me).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Cheers,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Stephane Hanriat, the french guy who =
loves the
Shigeru's.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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