Mason Hamlin, string breaker/ heart breaker

[Richard Brekne]

Would just like to put my two bits in for Matthew.. Good work calling in Ed, keep
it up. Now that you have good contact with one of the fine RPT's on this list
perhaps you may even talk him into getting you started on the road to the PTG..
that is if you arent already on it. Good work, and best of luck working with the
church to get the neccessary repair work done. It should be a fine instrument for
their use when done.

Richard Brekne
I.C.P.T.G  N.P.T.F.
Bergen, Norway

ETomlinCF3@AOL.COM wrote:

> Well, all, I went out to look at the M & H grand that Matthew Todd has asked
> the list about.  If you remember he is breaking strings on this piano and the
> list has given him lots of hints on what to do.  Here is what I found.
>
> The church first had an unsighted technician tune and service the piano for
> fifteen years.  I believe all he did was tune.  Then, to his credit, he
> recommended that the piano have some major work done on it by another tech.
> At that time, (here comes the big error) they switched techs and had "Joe
> discount tuner" come on the scene.  Let's just say he made a three year mess
> of the piano.
>
> His strings that broke were fixed with wrong size wire and barely one winding
> around a pin.  No tight coils anywhere, pins too high and all chewed up.  The
> dampers around the areas that were restrung look like teeth in need of
> braces.  The damper felt was chewed up from not lifting the dampers while
> replacing strings.  He used a wrong repetition and the key sits three mm
> lower than adjacent keys.  No let off and no drop.  The jack tender never
> contacts the let off button.  The piano is in horrid regulation and the
> bushings are almost nonexistent.  I feel for this young music minister.
> Matthew feels somewhat responsible for the strings breaking and the piano
> being in such disrepair.
>
> My recommendations were to replace hammers, shanks and flanges with premium
> hammers.  (the current hammers are Aeolian rock hard crusties) Restring
> nearly the upper half of the piano after polishing the capo bar to remove
> ridges.  Rebush and regulate the action fully.  We should be back in
> business.  The piano is only 20 years old or so.  We will keep you informed
> on the progress.  The bid is on it's way to the board at the church.
>
> Thanks Matthew for having me out.  You will see the Mason Hamlin in good
> condition soon if you decide to do the work.  =)
>
> Ed Tomlinson
> Vancouver WA