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<DIV><FONT size=2>Obviously pin block, remove strings by keeping tension on them
as you spin them out...ca & pin block restorer and metal sleeves, oversize
all the bass pins, re install and tune, remove original bend....you've got a pin
block to replace but this may give you a few years, maybe not if it's delamed or
split, good luck.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>tom mc</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=piannaman@aol.com href="mailto:piannaman@aol.com">piannaman@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, December 28, 2007 10:47
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Mason and Hamlin A, circa 1909:
What to do with loose tuning pins inbass...</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hi All,<BR><BR>I worked on a
1909 M and H today, and the piano was in almost pristine condition. It
is an absolutely wonderful piano. The action plays great, hammers are in
excellent shape, the strings have very few "false" beats. The only
problem is the pinblock. The wire sections are okay, but the bass has
probably 20 loose pins. Most of the low bass pins are loose.<BR><BR>I
would like to remedy this. Even though it should be able to hold tune
for the short term, they won't be stable for any length of time. Here
are the choices as I see them:<BR><BR>1). CA that section of
block. I really don't want to do this on this particular piano, even
though it would be the quickest fix. <BR><BR>2). Replace bass
tuning pins. This is a good option, imho, with the drawback being
brittle beckets breaking (say that ten times in a row....). Replacing
individual strings on a piano of this age will compromise the even and
beautiful tone that the piano has. Tying broken strings with thick cores
can be challenging, too.<BR><BR>3). Replace all strings and pins.
In the long run, I think this is the best option. They certainly could
afford it.<BR><BR>4). Insert your thoughts here, please.<BR><BR>I'm
going to leave things as they are for now, and check on it again in 6 months
or so to see how things are holding.<BR><BR>A side note to this: when I
told the family that their piano would be 100 in a couple of years, one of the
little girls started to get all excited about having a birthday party for
it!<BR><BR>Thanks for reading,<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="CLEAR: both">Dave Stahl<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"></FONT><BR>Dave Stahl Piano
Service<BR>dstahlpiano.net</DIV>
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