"Seasoned For Destination"

[John Ross]

Where was my spell checker when it was needed. :-(
Should have been Czechoslovakia.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Ross" <jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 12:55 PM
Subject: Re: "Seasoned For Destination"


> 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.
John M.Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.