<html> <head> <style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma } </style> </head> <body class='hmmessage'> I've been reading this thread with interest. One thing that has not been mentioned is the steel hardness of different tuning pins brands. I agree with Dave N. that Diamonds are the best specially for uniformity. And they are also the hardest on the Rockwell tests.   I find this is something that bothers me a lot when tuning new pianos with tight pins. The pins will twist before they turn in the block. I've measured over 40¢ dofference with just pin twisting before I could feel them turn in the block. Of course, the fact that some manufacturers use #0 tuning pins doesn't help.   So, for me actual performance is more important than looks. This is the point I wanted to add to this discussion.   Marcel Carey, Sherbrooke, QC <hr />Envoie un sourire, fais rire, amuse-toi! <a href='http://www.emoticonesgratuites.ca/?icid=EMFRCA120' target='_new'>Employez-le maintenant!</a></body> </html>