Dear Friends and Collegues, A couple of weeks ago I serviced and tuned a Kawai UST-8 Studio in a customers home. When I opened up the case, I noticed grey spots on the bass strings. I then realized that they sounded very tubby. In the lower corner of the tenor section, there was a litte rust, so I came to the obvious conclusion that the piano had been in a very humid enviroment. The customer purchased it new from a local dealer in 1992. She claims it has always been next to a outside wall. She never put a plant on it or anything that was humid. What puzzles me is about the grey spots got on the strings. I tend to think it is a humidity problem, but I have never see humidity to this to the strings. Rust, yes. Grey spots no. I asked her if she ever painted the house with latex or shampooed the carpet lately. She said she did shampoo the carpet, and I told her that it could be a major contributor to the condition of the piano. I have been corresponding to Don Mannino at Kawai about the situation. If we can determine that the strings are defective from the factory, they will provide the strings and pay me the labor to replace them. If we cannot prove it is a factory situation, they will provide the free stings, but the customer is responsible for the labor. My client is not being unreasonable and is willing to pay for the replacement if we cannot determine the strings are defective. I told her I would ask the pianotech list for some ideas. My question is have you ever encountered a situation with spotty strings? What do you think? Your help will be much appreciated. Sincerely, Dave Peake, RPT (glad to be back on the list) Portland Chapter Oregon City, OR www.davespianoworks.locality.com
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