adjusting the pedal

[katefarquharson]

I practise on a Kawai KG-5C, I really don't know much about models and the build of a piano (the shame..!) but I have issues with the sustain pedal. The pedal on my teachers piano is super super senstitive, the one I practise on is the opposite. It takes about half way to start catching but its still not light enough and as soon as you push the pedal theres a weird airy clangy sound which only stops when the pedal is in full sustain.

It's not my piano, it's the piano in the studio next to my dad's studio room, which the guy let's me use because no one ever plays it anyway. It is super heavily weighted and makes playing soft very difficult and the sound is very very bright. But I suppose these are things you can't mess with...

Can you adjust the pedals? is it simple? or would it be too much trouble?

Oh and I saw someone post that they got a quote for a KG-5 for around $7500. The guy was looking to sell this Kawai but decided against it because they would have to take out a wall to get the piano out!!! but they were asking R285,000 (equivalent to $28900) isn't that a bit mad!??

[hfmadopter]

It should be adjustable yes. And it sounds as though the dampers are not coming off at exactly the same time, so you are getting a slightly different release time for the various notes. Or the dampers themselves could use some touching up or pad replacing. Damper felt can get wear grooves in them from the strings just the same as hammers do. I'm sure it could be corrected by a decent tech though.

[quantum]

If its not your piano, I'd ask the owner first before fiddling with it. 

If you are mechanically inclined, look under the piano at the pedal mechanism.  There may be a capstan attached to the rod leading up from the pedals.  Adjusting that capstan may allow you to adjust the point at which the dampers lift off the strings.  Again, don't tinker with an instrument without getting permission from the owner first. 

[silverwoodpianos]

The action requires full regulation and the pedal set is probably being interfered with by the sostenuto assembly.

Even with permission I would advise not to tamper with if you have no experience in piano mechanics

[katefarquharson]

If you are mechanically inclined

This made me laugh! I am in no way mechanically inclined so have no fear, I won't be meddling with the pedal!

I spoke to the owner and he's going to get their tuner to come and have a look so will hopefully get sorted!

The action can't be changed right? A heavy weighting is just the way the piano is made, there's no simple way of changing it? (I sound a bit dumb I know! you might be questioning wether I even know how to play the piano!!)

[hfmadopter]

This made me laugh! I am in no way mechanically inclined so have no fear, I won't be meddling with the pedal!

I spoke to the owner and he's going to get their tuner to come and have a look so will hopefully get sorted!

The action can't be changed right? A heavy weighting is just the way the piano is made, there's no simple way of changing it? (I sound a bit dumb I know! you might be questioning wether I even know how to play the piano!!)

Adjusting the action for regulation can go a long ways to changing feel but actual down weight is rather fixed, yes.

You don't sound dumb at all and the fact that you know what you want from the piano would more indicate to me that you probably play quite well or at least know how you want it to feel. Most beginners have no clue. on top of that , knowing you are not mechanically inclined and not touching the mechanics of the piano is smart not dumb. You just
 don't know the mechanics of it thats all.