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Joined: Mar 2006
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Hi Jerryho,
I see in the latest photo’s what you are talking about. It does look a little rough around the edges of the screw holes and some parts of the casting on the plate.
I don’t know what to say other than to contact the dealer with these issues. I’m sure the paint can be touched-up around the screw holes; I doubt there is much they can do about the plate. I’m certainly no expert, but I think all the sand cast plates have rough places like the ones you have on you Kawai.
Based on my experiences here on the forum, it is my impression that the Kawai folks here like Bear 1 and Kawai Don are more than honorable individuals and will do what they can to help you with this issue. However, the first stop would be the dealer you purchased the piano from. They should be an authorized Kawai dealer.
I hope it all works out for the best for you.
Rickster
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel
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Originally posted by jethro: .....Actually, after your post it was the first time I looked really close under the lid of my RX-2 with a flashlight. My wife thought I was crazy. Hahaha, I did the same thing when I first read this post, it was around midnight and I turned on all the lights in the living room and checked out the plate with a flashlight.
Kawai RX-3, UST-9.
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Hi Jerryho,
Thanks for the clearer pictures, they really show the scratched paint. It is only a cosmetic appearance but this is rare in a high quality Japanese built Kawai grand. I notice that you have a smooth paint on the plate and my dealer told me that this is the new paint for the plate. The older paint on the plate was a rough looking one.
It is an easy fix and I hope your dealer will take care of it.
Kawai RX-3, UST-9.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Thanks for the better pics. jerryho, I echo your sentiments. I expect the paint on my Ikea bargain furniture to look better than those screws on the plate you received from Kawai. WTF?
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I wouldn't think anything of it. If the piano sounds and plays well, enjoy it.
Aloha!
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Can you imagine what he would do if he went over an S'Way?
Kenny Blankenship Selling anything anyone will buy as the "Walmartizisation of the industry continues. (Still making a fair living and still having clients like me)
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Some manufacturers utilize hex head plate bolts with washers that fit flat down on the plate. Others use philips head or slot head plate bolts that seat down into tapered countersink plate holes (this is your type). On the bolts with washers the washer stays fixes onto the paint and the bolt turns down onto it with little paint fracture. On your type it is impossible to turn the screw into the countersink without the small amount of piano fracture you are seeing. Check out numbers of Kawais or other brands that use this fastening technique and you will nearly always see what you have got. It is not a manufacturing defect and should not be a warranty item. No one will ever see or notice this aspect of your new grand piano.
Re. your plate rough areas. The undersides of piano plates are not ground, filed, and finished as nicely (if at all) as the tops. You can see or feel rough areas in all plates including Bosendorfers and Steinways, if your look hard enough. This again is not a defect, but what I see in your shots is pretty much industry standard for grands under $50k. Enjoy your new piano for what it is, a great musical instrument. The "flaws" you have identified are normal and found in most pianos.
Co-Author of The Complete Idiot's Guide To Buying A Piano. A "must read" before you shop. Work for west coast dealer for Yamaha, Schimmel, Bosendorfer, Wm. Knabe.
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Marty Flinn: It is not a manufacturing defect and should not be a warranty item. No one will ever see or notice this aspect of your new grand piano. Hi Marty. What you say makes perfect sense form the perspective of a piano dealer. And, you are right that the paint chips and rough casting is only cosmetic and does not affect the function of the instrument. On the other hand, I can see Jerryho’s point from the perspective of someone who has just paid $20,000 (+or-) for a brand new, name brand grand piano. To me, it is like buying a brand new $20,000 automobile with the paint scratched down to the primer in a few places. Should this be an acceptable thing to a buyer? Not to me. Your argument that no one will ever see the paint chips is flawed because Jerryho sees it and apparently it does bother him or he would not have mentioned it on this forum. It really does not matter whether anyone else sees the paint chips or not. I’m not wanting to argue here or fan the flames of discord between Jerryho and whoever regarding his brand new grand piano, but to say that all new grand pianos under $50,000 have paint chips around the plate screws that don’t have washers under them and rough castings just don’t make sense to me. In fact, I’ve seen new Chinese made grand pianos that had flawless looking, beautiful plates without paint chips around the plate screws. I just don’t see where Jerryho’s complaint about the paint chips and rough plate are unreasonable. This is a customer satisfaction issue, whether it is warranty or manufacturer issue or not. His joy and happiness in owning this reputable brand new grand piano has been tarnished to an extent. At the very least, I think the selling dealer should agree to touch-up the paint chips to Jerry’s satisfaction. I agree that nothing can be done about the roughness in the castings. Well, this is my .02. Best regards, Rickster
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel
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I woundn't compare it to scratched paint on the body of a car, but maybe scratched paint on the underside of the hood. The car still looks great and runs fine. I wouldn't call the dealer to fix it.
Aloha!
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Just call the dang dealer already. Get it fixed and be done with it.
Jerry Groot RPT Piano Technicians Guild Grand Rapids, Michigan www.grootpiano.comWe love to play BF2.
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What if these "cosmetic flaws" were found on a Shigeru SK3 that you just purchased?
Does it matter if they are on a $40k SK3 vs. a $20k RX-3? Either way, its a lot of money.
True, it does not affect the use and performance of the piano. But guess what? I'm not a player, nor is anyone else in the house.
I spend more time looking at the piano than to tap on the keys. It's a piece of furniture to me. I admire the styling, the grace, the finish of both the cabinet and the internals of the piano. The chipped paint marks around every bolt bugs the heck out of me.
Perhaps my expectations are too high for Kawai. I looked at a few other RX3s as well as a few other RX grands and they don't have these chips, not at all. As I stated before, my Yamaha, which went for 1/3 of the price did not have these issues, or any other issues for that matter. Granted that I opted for a piano unseen, in the box, but does that mean I have to accept any less of a piano? I guess its my fault. Next time I'll have to buy something off the showroom floor, and leave the "bad ones" for someone else.
We're just beating a dead horse. My piano is what it is. This is now in Kawai's hands. My dealer has forwarded my concerns to a "Kawai Service Center." I'll just have to wait to see what Kawai is willing to do. I'll keep you guys posted.
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We had a RX 2 delivered just yesterday and it is perfect. Granted, we bought our piano to play and not to just look at...but if someone comes over and inspects bolt holes, then we're set!
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1} Have the dealer take a look at it ... 2} Also, did you go back to the dealer's store to compare your piano to other Kawai RX grand pianos that the dealer has on his floor? 3} Contact Don Mannino, Kawai America's head tech, via E-Mail; dmannino@kawaius.com E-Mail your photos to him along with your piano's model number and serial number, and description of the blemishes.
Best,
Bear
Barry J "Bear" Arnaut ♫ 46 Years in the Piano Industry Retired Kawai/Shigeru Kawai Regional Manager (My posts and threads are my opinions only)
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IMO these are not manufacturing defects. These are cosmetic issues found in nearly all pianos. I have seen this in new Yamahas, Kawais, and many others. I know this is frustrating for a consumer that has just spent $20k. Kawai or Yamaha could bring out ten replacement instruments and they would all show similar "issues".
Kawai can pay for a tech to touch up the paint, but when the screws are ever checked for torque the paint will crack around the screws.
The Kawai RX-3 is an amazing musical instrument and Kawai fits and finishes are amoung the best of pianos from this price catagory. My comment about the $50k price catagory only spoke to the attention to detail that can come from a handcrafting, low volume manufacturing process as in the more expensive European instruments.
Piano Technician, member Piano Technicians Guild.
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Originally posted by jerryho: What if these "cosmetic flaws" were found on a Shigeru SK3 that you just purchased?
Does it matter if they are on a $40k SK3 vs. a $20k RX-3? Either way, its a lot of money.
True, it does not affect the use and performance of the piano. But guess what? I'm not a player, nor is anyone else in the house.
I spend more time looking at the piano than to tap on the keys. It's a piece of furniture to me. I admire the styling, the grace, the finish of both the cabinet and the internals of the piano. The chipped paint marks around every bolt bugs the heck out of me.
Jerry, I live in San Jose and have a 2 month new Yamaha GC1 that is cosmetically perfect that I will trade with your RX3 if you like. I'll pay for shipment both ways kidding asides, let us know how it turns out with the dealer/Kawai
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Marty Flinn: This again is not a defect, but what I see in your shots is pretty much industry standard for grands under $50k. Craigen: My comment about the $50k price catagory only spoke to the attention to detail that can come from a handcrafting, low volume manufacturing process as in the more expensive European instruments. Hi Marty, or is it Craigen? Craigen, (or is it Marty?) I thought Marty was the one who made the comment about the pianos over $50,000 and not you. I don’t see in this thread where you ever made a comment about the $50,000 pianos not having paint chips, but you seem to be quoting yourself and taking credit for it. So, are you Marty or are you Craigen? Hey Turandot, I think I’ve finally learned to read. Best regards, Rickster
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel
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"Am I over reacting?".... Yes, I think you are.
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Wow! Could have pulled the plate,reguilded the plate,restrung it,chipped it,pitchraised it,new damper felt,tuned it numerous times by now.Let's drag this out another 4 pages. Let me complicate this even more.Do you think it is safe to untorque the plate bolts and pinblock screws so the touch up guy can properly touch up the plate with the exact Kawai gold that was used in the factory. If one is anal on the scratches one will be just as picky as for the perfection of the touchup that will never be perfect. Just being the devil's advocate
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Well, the way I see it, being a nit-picking perfectionist can cause you a lot of grief and unhappiness. Ask me how I know this . Best regards, Rickster
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
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