<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue style='word-wrap: break-word;-webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space'> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Finding replacements can be a problem.  First check with Schaff to see if they don’t have some of that size in stock (I don’t remember the thread count or diameter but it’s something odd).  Since they are not likely to have a whole set, I would then go to Pianotek as they have a system for retrofitting the plate to receive new agraffes of standard size.  It’s a very handy and relatively simple system involving drilling out the plate and tapping for a new insert which will receive the standard sized agraffe.  </span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p> <div> <p><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt; color:navy'>David Love</span></font><font size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'><br> davidlovepianos@comcast.net<br> www.davidlovepianos.com</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'> </span></font></p> </div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Donald McKechnie<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Sunday, January 06, 2008 7:42 PM<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> caut@ptg.org<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [CAUT] Mason & Hamlin agraffes</span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Happy New Year List!</span></font></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>A relatively new private customer of mine has a M&H A from the 1920's and it exhibits some unpleasant buzzing sounds in the tenor section. Some notes are worse than others. I have tried several times to lessen the problem but it is never to the complete satisfaction of the owner. (BTW, I'm the second technician she has employed to deal with this piano. The first gladly turned this over to me :-) Things I have tried included various hammer voicing techniques that deal with buzzing strings (I would like to see this particular set of hammers replaced but I do not think they are the problem), manipulating the strings in the front and back of the agraffe and installing string couplers on the strings at the front side of the agraffe. The only thing that has lessened the buzzing is the couplers but the problem tends to come back some time after installation. I've tried adding more couples and placing them in different positions but this is never enough for the customer at some point after my visit.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>From my experience with Steinways that have similar problems, this buzzing will be solved with replacing the agraffes. Yes, I understand one can recondition agraffes to be like new in some cases but I mostly prefer to replace with new. I believe the agraffes on this M&H need to be replaced to solve this problem. I have a S&S B in the shop now that exhibits pretty much the same problem. Michelle and I replaced one of the worst agraffes and restrung with new wire. Problem solved. I plan to show this piano to my customer.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I have never replaced agraffes on a M&H. So, any help from experienced M&H folks is greatly appreciated. I have heard from some local technicians that this can be very problematic. Is it true that these agraffes may have odd sized threaded stems and are not available? Will I experience any problems trying to unscrew them? Given that they do not look too bad, can I expect these to recondition like new? I have some reamers that Chris Robinson was recommending some years back. These look like good tools to do the reconditioning job. Any other reamers you recommend? I have not looked for the Journal that dealt with all things agraffe but plan to do so tomorrow. Anyone know off hand what month and year that was?</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Thanks much for any comments and suggestions.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left: .5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Don</span></font></p> <div><span style='border-spacing: 0px 0px;text-align:auto;-khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto;orphans: 2;widows: 2;word-spacing:0px'> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span class=apple-style-span><font size=1 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family: Helvetica;color:black'> </span></font></span></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=1 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Don McKechnie</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=1 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Piano Technician</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=1 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Ithaca College</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=1 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><a href="mailto:dmckech@ithaca.edu">dmckech@ithaca.edu</a></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=1 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>607.274.3908</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=1 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=1 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=1 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> </span></font></p> </div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=1 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><br> <br> </span></font></p> </div> </span> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> </div> </body> </html>