Mason and Hamlin soundboard

[keithg]

I am truely a newbie as I recently discovered your forum and thought I should get some opinions on my situation.  I have recently inherited a 1916 Mason & Hamlin AA grand from my mother.  I want to restore it to its former glory and am willing to spend the money to do so.  I have a question that maybe the forum members could give me some advice.  It concerns the soundboard......should I replace it or not?  Some of the restoration shops have recommended I should replace it,....others have said that if it is in reasonably good condition with only minor repairs, then I should keep the original soundboard.  Based on what I have read about the "robust" construction and the materials used in the M&H, especially with the tension resonator system, then the soundboard should have retained its crown, even after 90 years.   My goal is to restore the piano to it original condition, approximately the way it should have sounded 90 years ago.  Can this original soundboard give me that sound, or like anything else (especially wood) it will wear out and should be replaced?  Also, while I'm at it, should the pin block be replaced, even if it is in good shape?  Any advice would be welcome...........I want to do this right. 
Keith G.

[keith d kerman]

Hi Keith,

The answer to your question depends on the condition of the soundboard, but I can tell you it is rare that a soundboard of that age has not deteriorated.  Most Mason & Hamlins from that period spent their lives between Boston and Washington DC, and this is one of the harshest environments for pianos in the world.  If your piano spent its life in CA, or NM, or AZ, there is more hope for the soundboard.
More likely than not it still has ample crown.  Mason & Hamlin crowned the ribs and the inner rim during that period and they usually retain there crown, but that does not mean the soundboard will still work properly.
If you want to restore the piano to its original condition, that means new soundboard, pinblock, action and finish.  FWIW, I owned a 1917 AA while I was a music student, and that piano was really a wonderful instrument.
We recently restored a Bechstein from the 1890s and saved the board because it was so pristine, and it turned out great.  That is the exception IMO, and not the rule.  We also restored a similar Bechstein that was about 20 years newer, and replaced the board, and as good as the Bechstein with the original board turned out, the one with the new board ended up with more power, range and sustain.
More than 60% of the rebuild work we do is on pianos that have already been significantly worked on within the last 15 years, where the original board was not replaced.  These pianos come to us because the owners are dissatisfied with the performance of these pianos, and are ready to do them right.  This is quite expensive.  The rebuilders who can do your piano justice will charge 25k - 35k.   Your expectation should be that your totally rebuilt M&H should equal, or outperform its new equivalent, which is a tall order since the new AA is really wonderful.
Another reason to replace the soundboard in your piano is that the original belly design on the AA has a wonderful bass and midrange, but a weak treble.  If properly rebuilt, this can be corrected, but only with a new board, and the right rebuilder.

Please feel free to contact me if you have more questions.  I hope you do rebuild your wonderful piano at a level that it deserves.

[keithg]

Hi Keith,
I'm out in California, and the piano "lived" most of its life out here too, at least from the 1930s on, so maybe there is hope for the old soundboard.  Probably the best thing to do is have a technician take a long hard look at it.  That brings me to another dilemna, most of the restoration shops I've found are in the northeast and New England, and having it shipped clear across the country to have it worked on......well, I'd prefer to find a trustworthy firm out here in California so I could kinda see what's going on while the work is being done.  I have a lot of research to do, and to get a lot of input, fortunately I'm not in a big hurry to make a decision.  Thanks for your thoughts.
Keith G.

[Bigda]

Hi, Keith----I do have a custom rebuilding shop in Southern California, and a business partner and colleagure has a custom rebuilding shop in north/central California; please email me offline if you would like to have your instrument examined by one of us.

I love old boards, if they sing; if they don't, I love the new boards that my belly man makes and installs; they sing, no doubt.

You have a beautiful piano; please let someone truly qualified restore it ethically and properly.

David Andersen
david@davidandersenpianos.com

[malcolm6]

I am presently having a Mason & Hamlin Model AA Serial # 24777 (1916) re-built.  The work  has only barely started, but I am very pleased so far.  My piano spent most of its life in Chester CA on Lake Almanor in the high sierras.  When the plate was removed, the sound board was near perfect.  It did have two very small hairline cracks, but the re-builder believes they can be shimmed with no negative impact on the sound.  I am also having the keyboard restored in registered ivory stockpiled before the restrictions on import.  The piano had had no major work done on it in its 90 year life-- but it still sounded and played very well.  Although major work has only just started, I am very pleased with the knowledge and integrity of all involved.  The piano rebuilding is being done in Pasadena CA, web page giving all info is Pianosource.com   The keyboard restoration is being done in Grass Valley CA, e-mail reference, ashmore@gv.net.  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to e-mail me.  I would love to exchange info of how our respective restorations of nearly identical pianos are progressing.  I would also love to hear from anyone else involved in restoring a Mason & Hamlin from this era.  I just signed up on the piano forum, and don't know if my e-mail shows, but it is malcolm6@yahoo.com.

[malcolm6]

I am presently having a Mason & Hamlin Model AA Serial # 24777 (1916) re-built.  The work  has only barely started, but I am very pleased so far.  My piano spent most of its life in Chester CA on Lake Almanor in the high sierras.  When the plate was removed, the sound board was near perfect.  It did have two very small hairline cracks, but the re-builder believes they can be shimmed with no negative impact on the sound.  I am also having the keyboard restored in registered ivory stockpiled before the restrictions on import.  The piano had had no major work done on it in its 90 year life-- but it still sounded and played very well.  Although major work has only just started, I am very pleased with the knowledge and integrity of all involved.  The piano rebuilding is being done in Pasadena CA, web page giving all info is Pianosource.com   The keyboard restoration is being done in Grass Valley CA, e-mail reference, ashmore@gv.net.  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to e-mail me.  I would love to exchange info of how our respective restorations of nearly identical pianos are progressing.  I would also love to hear from anyone else involved in restoring a Mason & Hamlin from this era.  I just signed up on the piano forum, and don't know if my e-mail shows, but it is malcolm6@yahoo.com.