I have spent much time experimenting and analyzing front segment conditions, as to what assists compliant rendering. Although much has been said on these lists regarding length of understring felt being the primary culprit with rendering issues, I just have not found that to be solely the fix, and sometimes not the issue at all. Look at the entire system, including capo shape, termination angle, termination angle coming off the counterbearing, width of counterbearing contact, materials of counter-bearing, and length of the front segment, which I call the "Stabilizing length".
This part of stringing a piano is often considered to be a throw-away, "get it done so we can get on to stringing". But the time spent here will give you a big smile everytime you see this piano for years. Its worth the time. Also Masons then and now are tough in the capo section. This includes current Masons. So your efforts very well could be less than rewarding, unless you look at the whole system and work your will on it, without taking any prisoners.
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Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-30-2019 14:07
From: Floyd Gadd
Subject: Mason & Hamlin Treble Counterbearing Inserts
The most obvious is the 2 inch expanse of 5 mm firm understring cloth, original, unchanged at the last restringing, topped with strings with a degree of corrosion, exacerbated by coils pounded in too close to the plate. Applying Protech CLP to the cloth has provided some measure of improvement, but has not proved to be a long-term solution. I definitely plan to address the shape of the capo as well.
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Floyd Gadd
Regina SK
306-502-9103
Original Message:
Sent: 06-30-2019 13:37
From: Jim Ialeggio
Subject: Mason & Hamlin Treble Counterbearing Inserts
what other sources of rendering friction have you identified?
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Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026
Original Message:
Sent: 06-30-2019 12:36
From: Floyd Gadd
Subject: Mason & Hamlin Treble Counterbearing Inserts
Thank you all for your replies.
Only Jim has come close to answering my question. Between the tuning pins and the capo, this piano does not counter bearing ridges cast into the plate, rather it has six counter bearing pieces sitting on the plate, perhaps fastened with adhesive. If you have run into what I'm talking about, you know what I mean. They appear to be cast pieces, not something like half round. They are shiny, perhaps nickel plated. If they are indeed nickel plated brass, I cannot shape them with a file without cosmetic consequences. If indeed they are solid castings of whatever metal I see on the surface, shaping will not have the same cosmetic consequences. The issue I am dealing with is poor string rendering, and I have identified other sources of the issue, but I am considering that there might be ground to be gained by reducing the string indentations in these couterbearing bars. I am not concerned about string deflection issues from a tone perspective. We have been pleased with the cleanness of the treble tone.
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Floyd Gadd
Regina SK
306-502-9103
Original Message:
Sent: 06-29-2019 11:22
From: David Love
Subject: Mason & Hamlin Treble Counterbearing Inserts
Yes, replace them with a continuous piece of brass.
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David Love RPT
www.davidlovepianos.com
davidlovepianos@comcast.net
415 407 8320
Original Message:
Sent: 06-27-2019 10:58
From: Floyd Gadd
Subject: Mason & Hamlin Treble Counterbearing Inserts
I have our 1977 Mason & Hamlin CC2 torn down for restringing. I major objective of this project is to improve string rendering in the high tenor and the treble. The treble counterbearings on this piano are not cast into the plate, but are shiny metal things that are somehow attached to the plate. There is some string indentation (grooving) there that I think might represent an impediment to string movement, but I am unsure as to whether these are of some solid metal, or whether they are, perhaps, nickel plated brass. I might take emery cloth to them either way, but it would be nice to know what I might expect when I do that.
Thoughts?
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Floyd Gadd
Regina SK
306-502-9103
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