[pianotech] Grey Market Yamaha/Kawai

[Jim Ialeggio]

Ron said:

< A 20+ year old instrument from any source will be a crap shoot as far 
as it's physical integrity, and predictable reaction to local climate 
conditions. I'd expect any decent quality new piano to fare better than 
a pre-abused one structurally.

This raises a fair question, regarding wholesale judgments.  A 20+ yr 
instrument is a 20+ year instrument, new US made or import.  I take care 
of a number of 20 yr old S&S rebuilds that have structural issues, and 
they were built in this climate.

Does the fact that an instrument is a grey market instrument 
automatically cause one to place the blame for the usual CC belly 
destruction, and pinblock wear we see on the grey market, rather than on 
normal wear,the usual deferred maintenance, or combination of all of the 
above?

Sounds like a case by case inspection could be a way to proceed, if one 
chose to... but I'm just thinking out loud, as I'm still working the 
question and reading the "in-the-trenches" reports from this list.

A couple of parameters perhaps:

-how long has the instrument been here?
-what are the current structural conditions?
-can the instrument serve as a "mostly there" core rather than a 
finished product?

This last one is a biggy for me. As I consider this question, my 
clients, at my suggestion, are not looking for a finished instrument, 
but rather looking for one that I can tweak, selectively change things 
on, and above all prep really well for another 2 or 3 grand.

...Trying to make some sense of this screwy economy...

Jim Ialeggio
-




-- 
Jim Ialeggio	
jim at grandpianosolutions.com
978 425-9026
Shirley Center, MA