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<DIV>Wim:</DIV>
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<DIV>Unless the budget really is unlimited, I'm more for rebuilding. You
can rebuild a "D" for about 25% of what it will cost to replace it and if you
send it to the right places, you'll know what you will get. As has been
suggested before, I'd send it to someone who will do some redesign and a
value-added rebuild. I'd probably better not say much more.</DIV>
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<DIV>dave<BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>*********** REPLY SEPARATOR
***********<BR><BR>On 12/4/01 at 11:31 AM Wimblees@aol.com wrote:</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"><FONT
face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=2>The department chair at UA has started
looking into upgrading the pianos in the department, perhaps even becoming a
Steinway School. We have two options. Buy all new Steinways, or rebuild the
ones we have and buy new what is needed. <BR><BR>I need some advice from you
guys with more experience in this area. We currently have 3 D's One is 15
years old, one is 30 years old and the other is 40 years old. The last one has
been partially rebuilt, but not a good job. The 30 year old also needs to be
rebuilt. The 15 year old is OK. What is the consensus of opinion on the two
older ones? Would you recommend sending them to New York to be rebuilt, or
would you trade them in for new ones. Obviously money is an object, but lets
pretend it isn't. Just for practicality's sake, what are your thoughts.
<BR><BR>We also have 8 B's, of which one is brand new, 2 are 15 years old, and
5 are 30 years old. The 5 older ones are useable, but need work. Are the '70's
pianos worth rebuilding, or should they be replaced? <BR><BR>Wim <BR>Willem
Blees <BR>University of Alabama</FONT><FONT size=2
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<PRE>
_____________________________
David M. Porritt
dporritt@mail.smu.edu
Meadows School of the Arts
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75275
_____________________________</PRE>