My friend who owns a 1982 GS-80, an 8ft 2in grand, is considering installing a composite action and shanks. What are all the advantages and/or disadvantages for these parts in replacing the original parts? It does have the LX player system installed. I suspect being a player piano, it would be advantageous to have composite parts as opposed to the originals, especially if it's played a lot.

What about tone, volume etc. Here is a Iphone vid of this piano that I took some months back. Thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLlSoi6al...mp;feature=plcp

I'm not really familiar with the GS-80, but if it is consistent with the rest of the GS lineup, it could probably benefit from more than just new action parts. I just tuned a GS-70 from about the same era last week that had received new WN&G shanks/flanges, capstans, premium Cadenza 165 hammers and was rescaled and restrung with Wapin bridge and Profundo bass strings. It was OK before but the owner really likes it now.
The strings were getting tired anyway, but it was one of the highest tension scales I had ever seen. Note c-88 had a speaking length of almost 60 mm! (S&S might be 52-55 mm) This puts the wire at 80% of breaking strength when the norm is 66% (which can be judiciously exceeded by a small margin). I know this is characteristic of the GS100, too.

OK, to answer the actual question that was asked about WN&G component benefits . . .
1) Indefinite component durability
2) Note-to-note consistency (this may be more important with machine playing since they don't make subtle adjustments based on what they hear).
3) More precise and consistent hammer/string contact
4) Negligible response to seasonal humidity fluctuations (referring to action components, you still need to be concerned about the soundboard).
5) Possibly somewhat reduced need for regulation.

These are what are on the top of my head.

Hi Keith,

Thanks for the info.....everything is original on the piano, except the hammers, which are the Able "Naturals" and are what you hearing on the videos I made. He knows my piano and what a positive result I had with Wapin, and the Isaac bass strings and hammers. I am pretty sure he will go with those and perhaps the composite parts as well given the positives, especially with the LX system.