<html> <body> Denis - With all due respect, what, exactly, are you expecting in response to this question?  Yes, it seems reasonable  to ask whether Restoration handles belly work the same way as the factory does.  You could/should pose that question directly to Steinway.  Ask what the differences are?  Press?  Belly man?  Then, assuming you believe what you are told (I'm not saying there's any reason to believe otherwise), you have your answer.  You still might want to explain your thinking, or that of your institutional client, more fully.  What is it you assume/believe about having this work done by anyone OTHER than Restoration?  Results?  Market value?  Institutional politics?  You close with saying that you value peoples opinions.  The methodology employed by Restoration would not be a matter of opinion.  What would be, however, would be peoples preferences or perception of results, and I doubt you would gain much useful perspective along those lines in this open forum.   The ability to provide a positive endorsement is a far simpler matter than the alternative. David Skolnik Hastings on Hudson, NY At 06:34 PM 12/16/2011, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">List, I have been given the green light to have on of our Steinway D's rebuilt.  We are not going to refinish the piano at this time.  Steinway's methodology in doing the belly is important to me, so I would like to know if any of you CAUT technicians have sent your belly work to the Steinway Restoration Center, and if so, would you care to comment on the job done. Do they do the EXACT same methods in the factory as they do the Restoration Center?  I know that New York charges the highest price that I know of, but in my situation the money is there if that is the decision I make. I value all of your opinions greatly.  Any comments would be helpful. Sincerely, Denis Ikeler </blockquote></body> </html>