M&H uprights/ Re: Jack Wyatt - G Scale M&H

[Farrell]

Hi Charles. I now have an M&H "G scale" (1914) and a "D scale" (haven't looked up the year yet, but the serial number is 1,000 more, so likely just a year or two newer). Both appear nearly identical except that the D scale is shrunk down about two inches. The G is 54 - 55" tall. It has the real massive pressure bar similar to Steinway uprights. It has a third low tenor bridge on which sits strings for five notes. Two or three of them are wound bicords and two or three of them are wound tricords. The action does not have stickers - it has dowel-type capstans - similar to a Yamaha U-3. The jacks have a little brass/copper/something-or-other spring on the side opposite the strings. When the key is depressed, when the jack goes about half way through let-off, the spring comes in contact with a firm felted surface and gets loaded. When you let go of the key, the jack returns very quickly by way of the standard jack spring, but also gets a solid-fuel-booster-rocket push back under the hammer butt by way of the little brass-looking jack spring. It has stamped on the plate "Repetition Action" - I guess that refers to this little jack spring feature. The D scale also had the Repetition Action, but someone has removed all the little brass-like extra jack springs (I can see the two little holes on each jack where the springs had been originally attached by two very little screws).

What else can I tell you about it? The framing on the back is as follows: Fourteen 10-inch by 10-inch posts within a frame of 16-inch by 16-inch ash or something. Well, maybe the frames are not quite that big, because I can see a little bit of the soundboard, but they are pretty hefty - kinda like little trees.

Ask away if you need more. My G scale is all original and is in good condition (for a 90 year old piano). You can tell the bass has something there that is just waiting to explode (like maybe with new strings!). I suspect it will make a very nice piano when re-done. This one will be getting the full treatment.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Charles Neuman" <piano@charlesneuman.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2002 10:46 PM
Subject: M&H uprights/ Re: Jack Wyatt - G Scale M&H


> Can someone briefly describe what the "G Scale" upright is, and how it
> differs from the Model 50 upright?
> 
> I'm a big M&H fan these days. After several years of piano shopping, I
> ended up getting a new M&H Model 50 upright. I found one that sounds
> better than I thought any vertical could sound. I don't know if it's the
> voicing, or other characteristics of this particular instrument, but it
> was far superior to other Model 50's I tried. I'd say this one even blows
> away most small grands I've played. And I'm not just talking about power.
> I've never found a vertical that can play pianissimo like this one.
> 
> I remember a while ago Terry Farrell had described a piano he serviced
> that "had a soul". I'd say this piano has one. Even when I don't feel like
> playing, I feel like playing it.
> 
> I think it's too bad people often opt for cheaper grands over a really
> nice vertical in the same price range.
> 
> Charles Neuman
> 
>