M H A

[Delwin D Fandrich]

| -----Original Message-----
| From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org 
| [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Carl Meyer
| Sent: January 07, 2006 12:03 PM
| To: Pianotech
| Subject: Re: M H A
| 
| 
| Del, you mentioned using double loop terminations.  Would you 
| use those on vertical hitch pins?  My sense is that the 
| standard bass string loop would pivot on the pin better than 
| the double loop.  Having two loops contacting the roll pin 
| would make it harder to pivot.  The twist of the standard 
| loop adds stiffness but may not be detrimental.
| 
| I'm not sure if I could detect the subtle difference in sound 
| under these improvements.  Any hints as what to listen for 
| before and after?
| 
| Any ideas how best to remove the bridge and did you remove 
| the excess skirt. 

My preference is to use the standard bass string loop with vertical hitches. I
believe it to be a better string termination, especially at low frequencies. We
do use the standard hitch with the European style loop when either the original
aesthetics or the job budget is an over-riding concern.

The bridges usually come off fairly easily. It's been a while since I did a M&H
A but I think there are a couple of screws and buttons under the cantilever
foot. Take these out and work the bass bridge off of the board with chisels and
what have you. Usually they come off fairly easily. We cut the bridge body off
of the cantilever on a table saw. It is relocated as far forward as possible and
glued back on using a veneer spacer to compensate for the saw cut (and any extra
if needed for downbearing). When the bridge body is glued back on the excess
cantilever is cut off.

If you modify the bass bridge as shown in my picture and replace the bass
strings with a set that is properly scaled you will find the tone improvement is
quite obvious. 

Del