<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1491" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I must certainly agree with everyone = that partial approaches have value but for the customer to realize the most enjoyment = from the piano I stand by my statement that rebuilding is best. And the more extensive the better. Of course inspect carefully and save what is salvagable but despite what Tim Coates ( and you know I'm on your side brother) says and what John Koster's stories may indicate I can = tell you stories of complete restorations that are very successful. So really it = comes down to your customer's needs and you have given very little info about = the customer. As I'm sure  we all try and tune our customers we also = should restore or rebuild our customers. So Stephen what kind of customer is = this anyway? A museum that will attract the out-of-towners looking for = novelty? The stay at home only gona play hymns on Sundays? A wise investor = looking to maintain resale value? Then we can talk.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> And just so I can get my story = in: I service a "transitional" design Steinway nearby and it was pruchased from = Steinway around 1915. Prior to that it was used for the concert "bank" and was = brought in for design updates at least 3 times between construction and sale to the = public. This is not anecdotal  but common practice. Clearly Steinway = thinks a "good playing" instrument is an updated one.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I may as well take this = opportunity to come out of the closet and reveal my bias, actually a pet peave, just to = be fair. In case anyone wasn't catching the drift, I have almost no = use for historical instruments. I can't imagine any musician of the day, say = Franz Liszt, looking for "the good old piano." Most often professional = pianists, unless they are looking for novelty, or are overcome with this absurd = nostalgia for "original instruments," look for the best new piano they can find. = 'Cause the design is up to date and the parts are new and it plays like = they expect. Everything else is ANOMALY. And unless your customer is of = that ilk I'd stick to I-95. (I do make one notable exception and that is = reproductions. They make for wonderful "Historical" concerts although I do think the whole concept is a bit hysterical). Of course Stephen, be = attentive to what Bill Shull and others are warning of cause this = isn't I-95, but get as close as you can and a "NORMAL" customer will be happy. = And BTW, sorry Bill, we're full at MARC and printed for this = year, but I have forwarded your shameless self invitation to Steve and Paul and = will put in a good word for you.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best to All,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Chris = Solliday  </FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=shsnyder@sover.net = href="mailto:shsnyder@sover.net">Stephen Snyder</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=caut@ptg.org href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">'College and University Technicians'</A> = </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, February 06, 2005 = 7:08 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [CAUT] Steinway Style = II Grand</DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial = size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear Friends,</FONT><FONT = face=Arial size=2></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have a customer with a Steinway = Style II grand.  This was in production for a couple of years between 1872 = and 1873 before the introduction of the Steinway B.  I hope some of = you are familiar with this piano.   This piano appears to be in = original condition , but is in need of restoration/ preservation.  I'm = looking for feedback on whether it would be best to restore the piano -new = soundboard, pinblock,bridge caps action parts.etc. or preserve the  the = piano using as many of the original components as possible?  I realize = there will be no clear cut answer, but given the historic/antique nature of = the instrument your thoughts will be appreciated.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Steve</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Stephen Snyder<BR>Registered Piano Technician<BR>342 Scotts Lake Road<BR>Salem, NY 12865<BR>518-854-3888</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>e-mail: <A href="mailto:shsnyder@sover.net">shsnyder@sover.net</A></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial = size=2><BR></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>