<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "> Well, I might be a hero. With my trusty assistant by my side we were like Batman and Robin about to take on the evil agraffe. (Ok, perhaps more like Laurel and Hardy :-) Anyway, on with the show. <div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>The M&H in question does not have the steep incline from agraffe to tuning pin but I still did not feel that was the problem. In any case, I did not try to change the incline while the strings were off. It was nice to have the type of scale with the single hitch and one loop at the hitch pins. Just the one note in question could be addressed without having to do the neighbor as well. The agraffe came out easily and as expected it had the unavailable odd threads.</div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>What was worth noting is the small size of the string holes. Much smaller than Steinway and I could not use my reamer even if I wanted. I'm not sure that the reamer Alan and Ron suggested would have worked either. A smaller diameter would be needed. So, it was time for the Q-tips and some patient buffing. I used Dremel polishing compound first and finished up with Flitz. It did a fairly good job of cleaning out the holes and putting a bit of a radius in the holes. There was not much of a radius to start. Also, the agraffes had been spray painted along with the plate some years ago when it was reconditioned. There is the strong possibility that the paint played a role in this IMHO. There was a good bit of it in the holes.</div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>After cleaning and reaming with the Q-tips we put new strings on and all sounded pretty good. The customer was satisfied and all we can hope for is that she will continue to be happy. Time will tell. Thanks again for all the helpful tips and insights into this matter.</div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>Regards,</div><div>Don<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div>Don McKechnie</div><div>Piano Technician</div><div>Ithaca College</div><div><a href="mailto:dmckech@ithaca.edu">dmckech@ithaca.edu</a></div><div>607.274.3908</div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span> </div><br></div></body></html>