<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><BR><DIV><DIV>On Jul 12, 2006, at 1:28 AM, Horace Greeley wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Yes...and...fwiw, having done this both ways a number of times, I think that using a new stack from S&S may not always be the right choice.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>There have been many changes in the scales over time, and the factory is not interested in doing anything that does not comport with whatever the current specifications are.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>I've been burned on this with both Bs and Ds, and wound up redoweling or drilling new blank rails for myself so as to get an accurate scale.</FONT></P> <BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><DIV>OTOH, Kent Webb seems to be committed to making the Steinway parts department work for you. I've heard him say more than once that if something doesn't work or doesn't fit, send it back. The parts department is very user friendly these days and you can maintain contact with folks there who know what is going on and what you need and what problems you might encounter. They supply the parts for the Restoration Center rebuilds and I understand that deviations that are required there from current parts are rare. According to Kent's parts presentation, the spacing isn't supposed to have changed since 1887 or some date like that (he makes that point selling the complete back action). I realize that reality is often not what is "supposed to be", but they can advise you of any changes that might affect what you're doing. It certainly can't hurt to give them a try. They seem to be trying really hard, and for me it is difficult to hear a lot of the Steinway bashing that goes on for that reason.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>The cost for a new rail is now around $300 plus shipping (my last price list is 2005, and I see $283 for SMLOAB and $311 for C/D (though, I can't for the life of me understand why there is a difference). If it works, you've saved $800. If it doesn't, send it back. I appreciate high quality workmanship as well as the next fellow, and if redoweling is the only answer, then by all means go that route. But to me it doesn't make a lot of sense to go that route when a new rail might very well work for nearly 1/4 the cost. I have also seen old rails cracked and split, so it would seem more wise to me to replace the whole thing, even if it cost more than redoweling, if it fits.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Just thinking out loud.</DIV><DIV>Jeff</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>Jeff Tanner, RPT</DIV><DIV>Piano Technician</DIV><DIV>School of Music</DIV><DIV>University of South Carolina</DIV><DIV>Columbia, SC 29208</DIV><DIV>(803) 777-4392</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>