Hi Phil, I wonder if Kawai sells a set of hammers on shanks for this instrument? At 07:16 PM 3/20/02 -0500, you wrote: >I have, as I'm sure most of us have, encountered this and have been faced >with cost vs. the point of diminishing return. > >3 years ago I was asked to tune a very nice Kawai Console for a very nice >elderly couple. She also told me that a few of the keys were sticking when >she pressed the damper pedal. > >When I arrived, and upon a breif inspection, I saw that approx. 2 dozen >hammer heads were coming unglued from the moldings. The ones that were >coming loose from the bottom molding were the ones hanging up on the >dampers, causing the notes to 'stick'. > >There was also evidence that the previous tech had attempted to secure loose >hammer heads with glue and thread. I showed her what was happening, and >explained that attempting to glue and clamp these hammers was possibly a >waste of my time and her money. I told her how much it would cost to replace >the full set of hammers, and of course that was too much money, so she asked >me to do my best in trying to glue and clamp. > >This summer I will be replacing the hammers. All of a sudden it's not too >much money to replace the hammers..and I'm pretty sure their income is >pretty fixed. I also pointed out to her that this piano was very worthy of >replacing the hammers and that she would be very pleased with the results. > >This is an instance where I felt pretty sure that these people weren't going >to go for the complete job. The instrument is worth the investment. > >..then there's the other unmentionable instruments that are family heirlooms >and it hasn't been tuned since Aunt Sophie was a little girl, but now little >Bobby is banging around on it and the family heirloom needs to be tuned. In >a case like this where I see hammer heads coming unglued, I point it out to >them, tell them that whatever I do to try and remedy the situation has no >guarantee, do my best with CA and spring clamps, and call it a day. If >little Bobby starts to take off and show a real interest in the piano, the >family will come up with the money for a real instrument, otherwise it's >destined to continue to be a picture holder. > >..so Richard, I agree. > >Phil > > > > > > > > Regards, Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T. mailto:pianotuna@accesscomm.ca http://us.geocities.com/drpt1948/ 3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK S4S 5G7 306-352-3620 or 1-888-29t-uner
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