"Seasoned For Destination"

[John Ross]

There is some basis for Yamahas's claim.
Back in the mid 70's I was tuning a small Yamaha grand at a local 
university. I felt that the pins were looser than they should have been.
I wrote to Yamaha Canada, (in the days before e-mail), they replied to me 
asking me if I would repin the piano, and they would supply the pins,and pay 
me.
So they did have a problem with wood shrinkage at that time. The fact they 
suggested the repinning, without me suggesting it, meant that this was a 
common problem.
Shortly after, I found out that the pianos they made for the North American 
market, were constructed with a different moisture content in the wood, a 
change they found necessary.
The pianos can cross the ocean with no problem, as they are sealed in 
plastic, with silica gel packs.
I remember around that era seeing, I think a Chekoslovakian piano, with a 
label stating, made for the North American market.
I think the 'grey market' piano problem, is more to do with the piano, 
having stabilized in a different environment, then that environment having 
been changed.
John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Nossaman" <rnossaman at cox.net>
To: <bruce at bgpianotech.com>; "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 12:35 PM
Subject: Re: "Seasoned For Destination"


>
>> 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
>
>
> It depends on where in the country it goes. In areas with high year round 
> humidity, they do fine. Here in Wichita Kansas, they tend to deteriorate 
> quickly without good humidity control. People try to shrug off the "gray 
> market" boojum as a marketing thing, but it's a very real concern in areas 
> that have seasons.
> Ron N
>
John M.Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.