"Seasoned For Destination"

[Bruce Gibson Piano Technician]

Thanks Paul.

Bruce

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Paul McCloud
Sent: September 11, 2008 9:35 AM
To: bruce at bgpianotech.com, Pianotech List
Subject: RE: "Seasoned For Destination"

 

I believe that this topic came up some time ago.  You could search the
archives about it.  Our store has sold these "grey market" pianos for years,
and I've not heard of any failures.  A few of these pianos had fairly loose
pins, which is not unusual for 30+ year-old pianos.  Of course, the local
climate here in San Diego isn't overly dry either.  Personally, I don't
understand why Yamaha doesn't supply parts for these pianos, because sales
of parts would increase.  We get around it anyway (just keep a handy serial
number handy), so why not carry them?  They can't stop imports, so why not
go along and sell the parts?  

As far as drying them out for Western climates AFTER they're built, I'm not
an engineer but it doesn't make sense to me.  I guess that if there aren't
failures in the factory, there won't be in the field.

 

Paul McCloud

Service Technician for PianoSD.com

www.pianoservsd.com 

Created with free BlueVoda software:

http://www.vodahost.com/partner/idevaffiliate.php?id=9223_1_3_9

 

 

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Bruce Gibson Piano Technician <mailto:bruce at bgpianotech.com>  

To: hpp at highpointpiano.com;Pianotech List <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org> 

Sent: 09/11/2008 8:19:39 AM 

Subject: RE: "Seasoned For Destination"

 

Thanks Garret.

 

I read, recently, that the pianos (after they are built) destined for North
America are placed in huge drying rooms and dried down to a low humidity
content. Years ago I was under the impression ALL parts were dried down
BEFORE the pianos were built. Regardless, surely the pianos destined for
North America will absorb moisture (wood cells expand) on their trek across
the ocean and then, when they get into our dry interiors, the wood cells
will shrink again. Wouldn't those cells shrink even beyond the lower
humidity limit set by Yamaha in the factory if the piano(s) ends up in a
place that is below Yamaha's lowest limit?

 

My basic question is this: Will a piano built for the Japanese market be any
worse off in North America. If so, why? If not, Why?

 

Bruce Gibson

Saskatoon, Canada

 

From: Garret Traylor [mailto:hpp at highpointpiano.com] 
Sent: September 11, 2008 6:00 AM
To: bruce at bgpianotech.com; 'Pianotech List'
Subject: RE: "Seasoned For Destination"

 

Bruce,

This concept of "Seasoned for Destination" is marketing hooey designed to
protect Yamaha USA from imports.  The marketing tactic smacks in the face of
science, experience, and common sense. 

 

Reference Hadley Cell http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadley_cell 

Essentially, the earth has rings or bands of weather (polar, mid latitude
and inter tropical).  Were instruments "seasoned for destination" to reflect
actual global weather conditions then instruments would be labeled not by
country but by desert, temperate, or tropic categories.  North America
shares similar weather conditions as the rest of the globe.  Instruments
could be made for a specific geography but the cost would bee to high for
manufacturers, parts do all come from the same bin at factories.  In
addition, I have taken tours of piano factories in Inchon, Hamamatsu, and
Thomaston and have seen that humidity controls are far from strict as some
might guess and parts are not segregated.  The action parts for Japan are
the same as parts destined for other parts of the world.  

 

Dampp-Chaser Climate Control Systems should be an essential consideration
for pianos in environments that warrant control over high and/or low
humidity.

 

Also, I have lived in Japan and the United States and have serviced a wide
variety of American, Japanese and European instruments; the occasional "bad
instrument" was not due to the quality of the instrument but do to the poor
maintenance practices for that given instrument; we run into this every day.

 

Kindest Regards,

Garret 

---

Garret Traylor - President

High Point Piano & Music Inc.

88-PIANO (336) 887-4266

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Bruce Gibson Piano Technician
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 2:26 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: "Seasoned For Destination"

 

Hello Everyone,

 

Is there anyone out there that can explain the "seasoned for destination"
process that Yamaha advertises. I'm really quite interested in "science" and
not propaganda, so please back up your statements with some quality research
that has been done.

 

Thanks a million.

 

Bruce Gibson

Saskatoon, Canada

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