Pinblock

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi John:

My first choice would be to try the restorer with the glycerine base.
Mix with rubbing alcohol, and add a little water. This will eventually
swell the wood between the holes. Then if necessary, treat with CA to
fill any gaps. If you do CA first, then the glycerine might not soak in.
They got a good deal on the piano, now you can be the hero and make it
work.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Mon, 20 Oct 1997 jpiesik@arinc.com wrote:

>      Dear Friends,
>      
>      A church I tune for purchased a Schafer and Sons, 1985, G-3A Grand, 
>      #811097 back in 1994. They paid a LA dealer $3000 for it. They bought 
>      it in a hurry, and did not have it evaluated before purchasing it.
>      
>      Among many minor problems, the piano has a bad pinblock (major prob). 
>      The piano is now at the point where it won't hold a tune. Several 
>      tuning pins will not hold tension. The pinblock is not cracked, 
>      visibly. (I've warned them that this would eventually become a 
>      problem, and now it has.)
>      
>      It's in a relatively dry climate - would a D-C system solve this prob?
>      
>      They would obviously like to get some more use out of this piano. 
>      There is only 2-3mm of clearance between the bottom of the string 
>      coils and the top of the plate - not much room to drive.
>      
>      Should I dope this pinblock? How about CA thin? Replacing all tuning 
>      pins/restringing is too expensive for them. They've contacted the 
>      dealer, but I don't know what the dealer would (or should) be willing 
>      to do about this.
>      
>      It's got a fairly decent, mellow tone, though, it's just too bad about 
>      the pinblock.
>      
>      Any comments are much appreciated!
>      
>      John Piesik, RPT
>