>Joe: I have no inherent prejudice against birdcage pianos. Its just that >99.9% of the ones that I have seen are in absolutely unusable condition, and >need complete rebuilding, if such a thing is possible. When I start >discussing the extent and cost of the work that would make their piano >useable, the owners start getting that glazed-eye look that tells me that >there's no point in proceeding. The really sad part is that frequently they >bought the thing at an auction for a ridiculous amount of money. Your >experience must be different. I would be interested in hearing and seeing >one restored, but as yet I have not seen one or had a client who was >remotely interested in having theirs restored. >Patrick Poulson, RPT But all the keys work, and it's too pretty to be worn out! I resomethingorothered one of these about 25 years ago the year I worked for another rebuilder. Hammers, strings, dampers, re leathered and rehinged everything, epoxied bridge pins in place, and rebuilt the back - which was a loosely organized collection of wandering posts and spacer blocks. I'd do another one, hopefully a whole lot better than I did that poor thing, on a couple of conditions. That the customer accepts the full list of what I consider necessary work, that they agree to pay the likely high price I would ask to do the job, that they understand why I won't guarantee something I don't have experience with and am largely ignorant of, and that they never ever ever ask me to service it. But then I've never tuned one in playable condition, so I may be missing a real thrill. Ron N
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