<HTML>In a message dated 8/9/01 1:01:32 PM Central Daylight Time, mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Hi folks - inspected a Yamaha 1983 G-5 gray market. Nice piano, but I am able to insert two business cards between the pinblock and the flange for 90% of its length. Is this common in this piano; are there any known problems associated with it; has anyone noticed tuning stability problems with this piano? Thanks - Terry Farrell </BLOCKQUOTE> About 10 years ago I tried tuning a GH1 Yamaha grand with a lot of tuning instability. It had a gap in the flange. Yamaha replaced the piano. I service a 1975 vintage M&H BB, with a gap and tuning problems. I reduced the tension, and inserted maple shims. Problem solved. But a gap doesn't always mean tuning instability. I rebuilt a '30 Wurlitzer grand once, where the pin block was bad, but the piano was not unstable. When I cut the new pin block to the old pattern, and placed it on the plate, I discovered a very wide gap. I thought I had messed up. But when I put the original block in place I discovered it was made that way. Ernie Juhn claims a block does not have to be tight to the flange. He claims there are enough screws in the block to hold it in place. I am not sure if I agree with him, but I do believe there can be a gap, and not have tuning instability. Before you condemn the piano, let it go though a couple of climate changes, and see where it goes. Then take it from there. Willem </HTML>