<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1458" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV> List.  <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> I’m experiencing a problem with the strike line for the last 10 notes in a = grand, from E7 to C8.  I have = replaced all wippens, shanks and hammers in this piano.  This problem strike line existed before I started this partial rebuild.  <o:p></o:p> Starting at C7 I can play chromatically up the = scale to Eb7 and there is no problem.  = Play E7 and continue on up to C8, and I can hear the pitch of each note, = however there is more of a thud and no sustain.  Just like the original problem with the old hammers.<o:p></o:p> I pulled the action out, in the high treble, just a very little bit, and = again played E7, same thud, and none of the notes above E7 sounded with any improvement.<o:p></o:p> I took a new shank, pushed on a left-over new hammer, same size as the C8, = removed the E7 shank and hammer, mounted the “test” shank with movable = hammer, placed the hammer out farther very slightly from the capo bar, pushed the = backcheck back so as not to interfere with the end of the test shank, pushed the = action back in to the dags, and played the E7 key.  = <o:p></o:p> NO improvement.  I continued = to move the “test hammer” out on the shank and play the note, each time with = no improvement.<o:p></o:p> I repeated this step on all notes above = E7.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> I have checked the bridge and it is still solid on the soundboard with no = cracks in the glue<o:p></o:p> joint.   The strings are perfectly in place around the bridge pins, hitch = pins, and position under the capo bar to the tuning pins.  = <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>             This Farrand 5’ Grand was built  around 1923, has never had the strings, hammers or any major = re-work performed on it, and I’ve had the piano since 1953.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>             Another local piano technician (a friend) and I have discussed = this problem and attempted to reach a resolve, but to no avail.  Does anybody have some = additional suggestions or tests that I can perform on this piano?.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>             If you have any questions that I can respond to, please fire away.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>             Many thanks in advance<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>             Gordon Holley<o:p></o:p>             Goshen, IN<o:p></o:p>             Associate Member, Indiana Chap = 467<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p></DIV></BODY></HT= ML>