Tack piano (mandolin) rail attachment

[Geoff Sykes]

I have a customer, the same one that asked about the Beatles tuning, (Mrs. Mill's piano), that also wants to add a mandolin rail to this piano. Schaff has one but there is no picture of it in the catalog and a verbal description from sales didn't really help. I have found two independent tuner/parts people that are selling variations on this theme...

http://www.balaams-ass.com/feltpart.htm#PRACTICE

And just below that a do-it-yourself kit

and...

http://www.mypianoshop.com/store/Rinky-Tink.html?page=1

So, anyone here ever added a mandolin rail to an upright? Where did you get your parts or kit? 

Thanks --

-- Geoff Sykes, RPT

-- Eagle Rock  CA

[Ron Nossaman]

On 5/14/2013 12:36 PM, Geoff Sykes wrote:

> So, anyone here ever added a mandolin rail to an upright?

Many.

> Where did you
> get your parts or kit?

Hardware store for the aluminum, automotive supply (or wherever) for a
cheap choke cable, and an office supply for #2 Monarch paper fasteners.
Felt and leather (stays straight better than light bellows cloth) from a
piano supply house, and a Tandy scrap bin. Maybe $15 total, and time
running the parts down. With the exception of the choke cable, I could
make one from what's in the shop right now.
Ron N

[Duaine Hechler]

Or Schaff:

Number: 1841 - $85.00

MANDOLIN ATTACHMENT

This attachment will give any spinet or upright piano that Harp or Mandolin tone. This kit consists of 72 tabs to cover
the full tenor and treble notes of any piano. Other parts of the kit are a 54" aluminum drop-bar with a special
channeled tab locking device, a bass felt strip, cable control which mounts directly beneath the keyboard and all
necessary hardware.

Duaine

--
Duaine Hechler
Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ - Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding
(314) 838-5587 / dahe...@att.net / www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
Home & Business user of Linux - 13 years

[Geoff Sykes]

Just so you know, this is what a "carefully de-tuned" piano sounds like:

http://ivories52.com/download/DeTuning_130520.wav

Mandolin rail is on the way for the next step.