Mike: By 1985 Aeolean & Mason & Hamlin had some production problems. My suspicion would be too long speaking length - like they put the treble bridge on too low. Measure the speaking length of C8 and see what it is. If it's longer than 53mm or so you've discovered the problem. dp David M. Porritt, RPT dporritt at smu.edu<mailto:dporritt at smu.edu> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Michael Magness Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 5:26 PM To: Pianotech List Subject: [pianotech] Questions RE: Mason & Hamlin 50 Studio Piano #88621 I was initially called to tune this piano last summer, it seemed to be a fairly good quality piano that had been played and hadn't had much done to it except tuning, lost motion and perhaps some regulation as needed. The owners tell me they acquired it from Jordan Kitt music when the husband, the primary pianist, worked for them in sales about 1985, he now drives city bus. The primary problem the owners have noticed virtually since it was new, is the breaking of strings in the upper range, above F6 mostly #13 and 131/2 wire while he is playing. One tech went so far as to remove the pressure bar and deburr it with emery cloth. The strings continue to break, I have replaced 2, one last summer and one a few weeks ago when I tuned it. The strings break at the pressure or V-bar on the plate, not at the pin, requiring replacement. My hunch is the hammers, they are very hard and the tone is very bright, I believe the hard hammers played with a heavy touch in the upper treble is the cause. However I know it could be bad wire, poor scaling even a poor design. My question is does anyone know anything about these pianos or have any experience with them? This is the only one I have ever seen, I don't know for sure, who manufactured it, the new atlas is a little vague. Having only seen one I don't know if this is common to this model or if this particular piano has a problem, is it bad wire? Bad scaling? Bad hammers? Someting else??? A combination of a couple or all of those things? My notes from my initial appointment were that I would suggest replacing hammers, backchecks, recovering catchers as needed, repin hammer flanges and bolster hammer butts as needed, rebush keys fronts and centers, strengthen or replace hammer return springs and regulate. All suggestions welcome. Thanks, Mike -- I intend to live forever. So far, so good. Steven Wright Michael Magness Magness Piano Service 608-786-4404 www.IFixPianos.com<http://www.IFixPianos.com> email mike at ifixpianos.com<mailto:mike at ifixpianos.com> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100104/c5861833/attachment-0001.htm>
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