Gary F. wrote; <<" What are the chances of replacing the stack with a current production one and getting rid of those awful Aeolian wippins?">> Gary; Renner parts will fit very well and perform excellently. Hammers are kinda pretty much a toss-up with Renner Blue tending softer and Abel Encore tending firmer. Both are an excellent fit, as I am sure other makes are. One of the cost saving measures that Aeolian instituted was to remove the glued/screwed/doweled pinblock and replace it with a 'floating' block. If you did nothing else but fit the block well, dowel and glue it to the rim and stretcher, the improvement would be worth the money spent. The sustain will improve rather dramatically and the power will improve as well. The sounding board/bridge system will be the main limiting factor here but I am not sure that anything would needfully be gained by changing it out....but then I am lazyy..doncha know! :-) With a fitted pinblock and new Renner parts, along with your choice of a premium hammer, the ole BB thingee will not sound the same......worth it? yep-in my opinion. Jim Bryant (FL)
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