<!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 6.00.6000.16705" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=MailContainerBody style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 15px" bgColor=#ffffff leftMargin=0 topMargin=0 CanvasTabStop="true" name="Compose message area"> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>I am refurbishing a Mason Hamlin B which I will be selling. Soundboard, pinblock, action, case are all in excellent condition. I have shaped the hammers, regulated the action, cleaned it in and out, polished the case etc. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>The problem I have is almost dead bass strings. The down bearing is good. I first tried to give the bass strings a twist, which improved the tone temporarily, but they are gone. I have no choice but to replace the bass strings. My question is, should I retain the old tuning pins to keep it visually consistent with the other tuning pins, or should I replace them with new pins. Tuning pin tightness across the piano is now equal, so there is no reason to change them from that standpoint. My concern is visual and value.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Al Guecia</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>