<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2314.1000" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>Thank you all who answered. I will = reply in one post to all in a cut down version.  Even so, it will be a little = longer than I would like.  Here goes...</DIV> <DIV> Was the furnace fan (or other fan) running?  Don Rose, B.Mus., = A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T. If both pianos have the same problem in the same area of the scale, = you might look elsewhere. Would there be a ceiling fan running?  Jim = Krentzel * In answer to both, there was no ceiling fan.  The studio was a = small nicely remodeled room off of her garage.  The only source of heat = or other climate control was an electric plug-in baseboard radiator about 6 foot = long. Humidity was 61% and the temperature was 63* F.  I stressed the = importance of climate regulation to her and recommended  dampp chaser system = for both. The bass strings are quite often shot due to industrial pollution, = probably some dealer did a bit of a clean up job on the strings before selling = them. The majority of grey market instruments in our area, need re pinning and = stringing after a year or so. If you live in a dry climate start checking glue = joints on the bridge, cap, and ribs. Roger Jolly * I am very familiar with grey market Yamahas being that I used to = work for a Yamaha dealer.  The climate here in Portland has rain forecasted = normally about 9 months out of the year.  We usually don't have humidity = problems here that you would have in most of the rest of the US affecting the = grey market pianos. But you are right, Rodger.  I did check the piano out = before I tuned it.  The bridges are solid as well as the glue joints and = they don't have any cracks at all.  Even hairline. I think you will find that there is as much as 20c difference in the = pair on another partial that is causing the racket. This makes the piano untuneable IMHO = and replacing the set is the only way to go. Re scale too. One thing that I will try just before = taking the strings off is to let the string down a fifth to an octave and use the = notes hammer to try to move the winding by pounding the note 10 to 20 times = very vigorously. This works on dead strings to bring some life back into the string.   Joe Goss * I could well believe the 20c = difference.  Perhaps these two are even worse.  What is IMHO?  I know what = you mean by pounding the life into strings, Joe.  It's great, but it didn't work.  Sorry, I forgot to put that in my original post. I need to = get an ETD over there and measure.  Things are pointing at a rescaling and = string replacement. When I run into this sort of thing, it's probably because I haven't = stretched the previous octave enough. Going back, stretching and blending, I can = usually clean up after myself and find a minimum garbage situation that I can live with. If not, and in the unlikely event that the customer can = tell the difference, it's time for that rescaling discussion. Following others' = tunings, I often find the low bass too sharp (at least, by my = reckoning).   Ron N * These were so far out in the partials stretching wouldn't work, and = yes, she can tell the difference...unfortunately. :o)  I find the same = thing in the low bass too. Mostly likely these are scaling problems. If you send me the speaking = length, core and wrap diameter of one or two notes we can do the calculations = and know for sure. Bridge, board and rib design do effect tone but I doubt as = much as these basses. A redesigned set of bass strings could do wonders for = these pianos. Send me the numbers and we can have more real data to talk with.   Newton * If she will let me in again, I will take the measurements and send = them to you.  :o)   I let her know at the first appointment that = there was a good possibility that the only remedy may be to replace the set of = bass strings and perhaps a rescaling.  If she is that interested in = getting a good sound, she's had time to let the idea sink in.  I already have = my foot in the door. Thank you all for the wonderful = answers.  I'll keep you posted. Dave Streit, Portland, OR</DIV></BODY></HTML>