Pianotech

  • 1.  New Hammer Felts- Mason & Hamlin MFP Console

    Member
    Posted 07-19-2021 10:36

      I tuned a Mason & Hamlin MFP console on Friday that I had last tuned in 2013 when it was in a home on the Intercoastal Waterway. Amazingly it was just 2 cents sharp, the bass end was solid as a rock . The serial number is from 1976. The hammer felts have separated from the moldings due to glue failure many on the underside of the hammers. Someone previous had glued the felt back and tied the repair down with string-in fact 21 hammers had been repaired this way. There are now about 20 more that I could see that are banana peeled and some starting to peel away. I think repair is a waste of time and money so I am looking for suggestions on what hammer felt would work as well as sources. The action parts are in good condition and I believe I can use the exisiting shanks by softening the glue and popping off the hammers. The owner is a piano teacher who wants to start teaching again so I think its wise to refelt/replace the hammers.

    I know that hammer felts get glued back down however I am not so sure a repair can return the tension that was once introduced by a hammer making press.


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    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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  • 2.  RE: New Hammer Felts- Mason & Hamlin MFP Console

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-19-2021 12:06
    Yes, replace the hammers. Are the shanks normal diameter, or the skinny ones for spinets? I expect Ronson would be a good choice, otherwise Abels.

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    Patrick Draine
    Billerica MA
    978-663-9690
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  • 3.  RE: New Hammer Felts- Mason & Hamlin MFP Console

    Posted 07-20-2021 05:18
    First of all, one should always consider whether a piano repair is worth the investment. In this case, one should consider whether this piano is worth putting a new set of hammers on it (and I presume a good $$ regulation $$ would be in order also). I have not seen many (read: ANY), M&H consoles of this vintage worth that level of investment. Secondly, one should also consider whether the piano will meet the needs of the player. Bottom line: Ideally, IMHO, a piano teacher would have a better quality piano for his/her work.

    If the conclusion is that the piano in question is worth putting hammer-replacement-kind of money into and that it will meet the professional needs of the teacher, then (I guess - gulp) go for it.

    If not, then either repair the hammers (oh man, just replace the piano!!! - these things are generally quite nasty!) or replace the piano. Good grief, one can pick up a nice, very clean, much newer Yamaha, Kawai, Samick or Young Chang console (much, much nicer pianos!!!) for under $1K in a private sale!

    If repair option is chosen, gluing hammer felt to their moldings on a piano like this is best done with thick CA glue - no need for string reinforcement. Secondly, IMHO, much of whatever original tension the intact hammers might still have on a 43-year-old Aeolian console will be present on the repaired hammers. Do the intact hammers sound any different than the hammers that are repaired now? My experience has been that a well CA-repaired hammer sounds the same as intact hammers (especially among those lovely Green Monsters!). I'm not saying the repaired hammers sound good, but they don't sound any different than the other hammers.....  :-(

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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  • 4.  RE: New Hammer Felts- Mason & Hamlin MFP Console

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-20-2021 06:35

    James

    Those green monster felts from Aeolian from that era had very little pressure to begin with. Just a lousy hammer, plain in simple. Glue them back on and you'll at least have the notes working. If she's ready to upgrade to new hammers, then it's a win-win for all.

     

    Tom Servinsky 

    Registered Piano Technician

    Concert Artist Piano Technician

    Director/Conductor- Academy Orchestra

    Assist. Conductor-Treasure Coast Youth Symphony

    Clarinetist-Atlantic Classical Orchestra

    tompiano@tomservinsky.com

    Website: tomservinsky.com

    772 221 1011 office

    772 260 7110 cell

     






  • 5.  RE: New Hammer Felts- Mason & Hamlin MFP Console

    Posted 07-20-2021 11:18
    Ronsen Bacons. They will be awesome. This piano model is totally worth new hammers. Make sure that the pinning throughout the action is good. It will make a big difference in tone. Use B-72 to bring the hammers up if needed. 12:1 ratio brings them up slowly.

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    Michael Evans
    Mansfield TX
    817-822-3591
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  • 6.  RE: New Hammer Felts- Mason & Hamlin MFP Console

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-20-2021 11:34
    Michael,

    You are getting some great sound out of Rosen Bacons and B72, 12:1.

    As you apply successive treatments of B72, do you soak the entire hammer? 

    Thanks,

    Alan

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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  • 7.  RE: New Hammer Felts- Mason & Hamlin MFP Console

    Posted 07-20-2021 12:23
    No. Just a few drops on the high shoulders and strike point in the tenor and treble. Right above the moulding point on both sides of the hammers in the bass. Put the action on its side for the bass hammer applications.

    Best regards,

    Michael Evans




  • 8.  RE: New Hammer Felts- Mason & Hamlin MFP Console

    Posted 07-20-2021 12:52
    Alan:

    I might add that on some pianos I haven’t needed much B-72. The 1948 5’3 1/2” Chickering Scale 135 (Model 305) did not need any B-72 except at the break and the top seven or so hammers.

    Best regards,

    Michael Evans




  • 9.  RE: New Hammer Felts- Mason & Hamlin MFP Console

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-20-2021 13:13
    Thanks, Michael!

    Alan

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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