Help!  I am having my 1928 Mason and Hamlin 5'8" (RA) Ampico A grand
piano restored and have come to the point of having the action
completely rebuilt, including new hammers.  I need some advice.

- First of all, what brand of hammers?  Some say Abel, some say Renner.
I want the piano to be somewhat on the bright side with a full tone,
but want to keep it soft enough so that I can get the rebuilt Ampico A
to play softly as it should.

- Next, should I keep the old hammer shanks and replace the knuckles or
get new shanks (with new knuckles)?  The hammer shank pivot pins are
reasonably tight and the holes could be eased and the next larger size
pin put in to be sure there was no looseness, if necessary.  Is there
value in keeping the old shanks because they are the original ones with
all the dimensions from knuckle to hammer, etc., just the way they were
originally?

- What should I expect to pay in the Midwest to have the action
completely rebuilt:  Re-bushing the keys, new backchecks, hammers,
knuckles, refurbish the whippens, and do necessary hammer voicing.
I will do the key leveling, with new balance rail and front rail felt
washers, do the tracking of the hammers to the strings, and do the
regulation.

- What is the correct key dip for my piano?

Any and all advice will be gratefully received.

Thanks,
Pat DeWitt
Fort Wayne, Indiana