Terry, You're lucky to be avoiding squares. Try to stick to that plan - life will be easier! Old instruments do spice up things though, and keep the mind active. Yes, pins should and likely started out centered in the hole. There are so many shortcomings in the 'conventional' square, among them is the pblock design, and usually its materials. There's just not enough resistance to tension - no load applied to the plate from the block at the tuning pin end of the plate to the plate, except through the pins and the few plate screws. Pins shift and lean. Just a bad scene altogether. Just do what seems logical and you've done your best with this instrument. Your plugs will be a big improvement on the original block material. Next square I do to this extent I'll sure try new plugs; it makes so much sense. Done it in uprights and some grands (like 1860's S&S, and early Broadwoods) but not in a square. Ralph Thorn
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