I examined a style 20 Kimball Parlor Grand today. Circa 1906-1909 beautiful refinished case work etc Although I could not detect and stains, evidence of doping, cracks in the block
a section of pinblock lamination is missing that is about 14 to 16 inches long in the base. It looks like the glue failed and that a a new piece could be made to insert a section in the space. The tuning pins have all been tapped in to the max so there is no coil/plate clearance but I believe newer bigger pins could be inserted along with replacement of all of the wound strings in the bass section. All of the plain steel strings look good and I thought I read an article that plain steel strings could be saved if one is cautious not to bend the string.
I am not sure what budget I will have overall but the top action and backaction need replacement.
My question is twofold- can a pinblock like this be repaired/saved if the lamination can be duplicated, fitted and glued ?
Is a total re-stringing with bigger pins a better way to go or is it better to use the existing plain wire and a procedure to slip off coils ?
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James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
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