PianoDisc Problems

[Dennis Benson]

jpiesik@arinc.com wrote:
> 
>      Dear List,
> 
>      I serviced a 1990 Schimmel CO 256 C (8ft4in) grand last night. (I did
>      not find out it had a PianoDisc system until I got there.) I do not
>      install, and I have not taken any PianoDisc classes - and I informed
>      my client of this before I serviced the piano. But, he had not been
>      pleased with previous services, so he told me to go ahead and tune it
>      anyway.
> 
>      The PianoDisc system will not play properly at low-mid volume
>      settings. Many notes are not playing, even though the keys are going
>      down at the low volume settings. The sustain pedal is not being
>      activated by the PianoDisc system - everything sounds "Scott Joplin
>      staccato." The pedals have excessive lost motion, yet I didn't want to
>      adjust them for fear of upsetting any player mechanism tolerances.
>      And, the una corda pedal periodically hangs-up with the action stuck
>      in the shift position and jamming the upper notes.
> 
>      This client is *very* accomplished, very critical, does a *lot* of
>      entertaining, and prefers the lower volume settings. He has spent $60k
>      on a beautiful piano, and $10k on a player system, and he is not
>      happy. He says he's gone back to the dealer and the tech who installed
>      the PianoDisc, but has still not received satisfaction, and is, as he
>      says, "tired of messing with them."
> 
>      The PianoDisc technician has told the customer that the piano is "too
>      much" for the PianoDisc system to handle. Can this be true? If it is
>      true, why was the system suggested/sold in the first place? (He did
>      not ask for the system, it was suggested by the sales people.)
>      Somehow, I can't believe this. I would think that this Schimmel would
>      be a wonderful application for the PianoDisc system to shine, yet, I
>      admit, I don't fully understand the full capabilities/limitations of
>      the PianoDisc system.
> 
>      I don't want to step on any toes, or insinuate that someone is not
>      doing their job correctly, but the fact is, my client is not yet
>      satisfied. (And, I'm sure I don't yet know the whole story.) Help!
> 
>      Anyone from PianoDisc out there? Any suggestions from PianoDisc techs
>      would be greatly appreciated. Obviously, I will have to defer this
>      client to a good PianoDisc tech here in the San Diego area.
> 
>      Thank you and best regards,
> 
>      John Piesik, RPT
>      Oceanside, CA
>      (760) 726-4665

John, contact PianoDisc at 916-567-9999. They're very helpful. I'm an 
installer in Minnesota. A Shimmel with PianoDisc should be awesome. 
Sounds like the system wasn't set up properly, including the pedals.
	Is the action in good regulation? If yes then it should work 
beautifully.
	Dennis