<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2627" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV> <DIV>We sell Nordiska pianos at our store.  The quality overall is very good, but there are occasional problems with some of them.  I attribute this to old stock.  If you have tuning problems, check the pinblock-to-flange fit.  Some were not mated at all.  Installing shims worked well.  I've seen some corrosion on strings, discoloration of bass strings.  Overall I'm quite happy with the new ones coming in.  I'm not sure of which brands are made in this same factory, there are several.  The Nordiska factory is a "factory within a factory", in which all the workers, the building, and all the materials (except the case parts and plate) are made there.  The other buildings are used for making the other pianos (different names).  The Nordiska plant is spotless.  The workers are more experienced, and are paid more.  They are envied by the other workers, naturally.  Bridges are well made, most of the cabinetry is good, the quality of hammers is excellent.  Some action prep is needed in many cases.  Overall they are a good value.  We also have Falconi (I'm not sure which factory makes them.  Quality is fair on these.  I don't much care for the Bergmann pianos (Young Chang Chinese) as they had/have many problems for which our store is still trying to sort out.  We've had to do repairs on most of the ones we've sold, but no compensation is forthcoming from Young Chang (gee, I wonder why).  I don't have experience much with pearl River or derivatives, so I can't say about that factory.</DIV> <DIV>    FWIW,</DIV> <DIV>    Paul McCloud</DIV> <DIV>    San Diego</DIV> <DIV>    "The Piano Exchange"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=wayne.w@musicstop.com href="mailto:wayne.w@musicstop.com">Wayne Walker</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A></DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 04/21/2005 6:21:01 AM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Chinese pianos</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2> <DIV><SPAN class=980431013-21042005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Hello folks,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=980431013-21042005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=980431013-21042005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">The store that I work for has been carrying pianos from the Beijing Piano factory for about 7 years.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=980431013-21042005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">I like to see some feedback from other techs about how they feel about these pianos. We are pleased with the improving quality of these instrument. Yamaha or Steinway they are not but they are good value for entry level consumer. We tried some pianos from Dongbei factory. These piano needed more prepping and had tuning problems.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=980431013-21042005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=980431013-21042005> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Wayne Walker</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Piano Tuner & Technician</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">MUSICSTOP LTD</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">1005 Dow Rd, New Minas, NS</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">B4N 3R4</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Cell 902-221-1540</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Fax 902-681-1463</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><A href="mailto:wayne.w@musicstop.com">wayne.w@musicstop.com</A></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><A href="http://www.musicstop.com/">www.musicstop.com</A></FONT></DIV></SPAN></DIV><BR> <HR> I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users.<BR>It has removed 1084 spam emails to date.<BR>Paying users do not have this message in their emails.<BR>Try <A href="http://www.spamfighter.com/Product_Info.asp?">SPAMfighter</A> for free now!<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>