Graeme: The worst nightmare I've seen from Eavestaff was a reverse birdcage with tuning pins below the keybed threaded into the metal plate with strings attached on the pointy end (so you have to tune in reverse directions). To damp the all-bichord wire strings during tuning required removal of the mesh grill's 16 or so screws, then inserting mutes in the same manner as a frontal birdcage. Did I mention that the pins were loose AND that one string broke! A technician from England I met a convention said there were oversized pins available for this monster. The proper English lady whose mother's piano this was thought my reaction was rather ungentlemanly. Bruce Greig, RPT, NYC
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