I am looking to propose a wippen replacement on a no-name, tiny baby grand. Currently, the rep spring cord loops are breaking, the flanges are Billings style. Does anyone have experience to share about converting the wippen rail to standard flanges? I am thinking to adapt WNG wippens to this action. Aside from ensuring the spread and differential will work, and get me close to the magic line and a decent action ratio, what pitfalls may be lurking for me? I intend to propose new shanks and hammers that will give a strike weight appropriate to make the action nice and playable, which it currently is not. The board, block and strings were replaced (decently,) though all original parts remain, other than poorly chosen new hammer weights and terrible tail shaping.
I could just replace the spring cord loops and wippen cushions, though I would much rather update the action with new wippens.
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Joe Wiencek
New York NY
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