Maestro 612p Dead Reed

[MDolan2005]

Hello Hive Mind,

I recently picked up a Maestro 612p that, while being in decent condition overall, has one dead reed. A4. No matter what I try and adjust, it just clangs when struck. What fundamental pitch it does have, right closer to a G4.

I've removed the reed and cleaned off what little corrosion there was. I've tried various degrees of tightness in the bolt that holds it. I've tried varying the bolts on either side (the Maestro has a plate that covers about 10 semi-tones in this octave and, in my experimentation I have discovered, adjoining bolt tightness can play a role in voicing the reed). The damper is not the issue, no or the hammer - as far as I can judge. The is maybe a mm of play north and south, that I've tried adjusting, all to no avail. It still just clangs. To my eyes, it is not making contact with either side of the pickup. 

I've searched around this forum and others trying to find tips on if dead reeds can be rescued, but have come up empty handed. 

Is there a way this can be fixed? Is this something that would require re-soldering/filing the pyramid? Can this reed be brought back?

Thanks for any assistance

[theseacowexists]

Have you tried striking the reed with something like a plastic pen, instead of the hammer? Does that make a difference?

[MDolan2005]

Really good idea.  I just tried it and sadly, just got the same result. 

Here is a video of the issue.  https://youtu.be/eZ52iHuqOYQ.

[theseacowexists]

Try rebuilding the solder pyramid. If that doesn't work, order a new Wurlitzer 200 reed. As far as I know, they're identical, but just to be sure, measure the reed and check with them before you order.

[theseacowexists]

This popped into my mind again for some reason. Did you figure anything out? Are you sure that the reed isn't touching the pickup, even just slightly? That could choke the reed. It does look awfully close in your video.

[pianotuner steveo]

To me, that sounds almost exactly like when a Wurli reed is crooked and shorting against the pickup.