<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE>
<META content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" =
http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META content="MSHTML 5.00.3502.5390" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV><FONT color=#800000 face=Garamond><SPAN =
class=496202816-19032003>There is a
BB at a small college here that was rebuilt recently. Guy used Isaac =
hammers -
the tone is really lovely, not a 70s vintage tho. If the action geometry =
can
support it, I think that these pianos benefit from a heavier hammer. You =
can get
more color, dynamic range and power that way.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800000 face=Garamond><SPAN
class=496202816-19032003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800000 face=Garamond><SPAN
class=496202816-19032003>Alan</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<P><FONT size=2>____________________________________________<BR>Alan =
McCoy,
RPT<BR>Eastern Washington
University<BR>509-359-7017<BR>amccoy@mail.ewu.edu<BR></FONT></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #800000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: =
5px">
<DIV align=left class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr><FONT =
face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> =
caut-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Tim =
Coates<BR><B>Sent:</B>
Tuesday, March 18, 2003 6:46 PM<BR><B>To:</B> College and University
Technicians<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: 1974 M & H =
B<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>Hi
Ed,<BR><BR>I did some checking to make sure I have my facts straight.
Tim Geinert (Certified Wapin Installer) did a 70's MHBB like you =
are
talking about. He didn't do anything to the plate as you are =
talking.
He says the tuning control is all right, but not wonderful in =
that area.
He used Wally Brooks' thinned shanks, would recommend Ronson =
hammers
(not what he put on), and installed Wapin. The piano is at a =
music
school and now is considered the best piano they have. I am =
going to see
the piano tomorrow. If you want to talk with Tim I can get =
you his
email address. <BR><BR>He gave me a good bit of advice about =
some of the
1970's Mason & Hamlins: watch out for the pinblock. =
Not ALL
are glued and doweled. This MHBB had a free floating =
pinblock.
It turned out the last MHA I did from the 1930's had the same =
thing.
You can wedge and glue the pinblock to the stretcher to hold it =
in
place as the plate comes out. <BR><BR>Contact me if you want his email =
address. His home number is in the directory.<BR><BR>Tim =
Coates<BR>Wapin
Company LLP <BR><BR>Ed Sutton wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite="mid008e01c2edb4$5bc94b10$fdacf7a5@yourpa86z1i3g7"
type="cite">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear List-</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Has anyone on =
the list had
experience rebuilding big M & H's of 1970's =
vintage.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> A piano teacher =
has a 1974 B
in need of serious rebuilding or replacement. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The action will =
need
redesigning (there is nothing left of the old M & H action =
design) , it
needs a new pinblock and probably wapin bridge pinning. =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The front =
bearing is
ridiculously steep. Hell to tune and ugly, too. I'm wondering =
if I can
grind away some of the plate or bearing bars to reduce =
it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The agraffes =
stop at
G#3. I don't think this was the original B plate design, was
it?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Despite what =
amounts to a
rape of a once wonderful design, there is still something magic in =
the sound
of this instrument.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> If I do every =
good thing we
can do for a piano, will it be a stable, dependable instrument, or =
will the
problems start just to the other side of where I stop?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I'd appreciate =
any words of
wisdom and experience.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> =
Ed
Sutton</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>