I had a situation similar to this with an old Beckstein. Those of you who have seen these know what I mean- open faced, sloped block, shaped front, mitered into the case, the works. This piano was ebony so whatever you did to the case would disappear under the finish anyway. Hears the way it was explained to me: "It is lumber, not brain surgery on the president", (as quoted by the tech who helped me on the project). Hear was our solution: Measure and make a pattern pattern of EVERYTHING. A slotted portion of the sides where the block meets the case were sawn out. The old stretcher was removed and tossed. After mating the new block to the plate flange the block was fitted, glued and doweled into the piano. A new stretcher was made, and the portion of the sides that were cut were replaced with new pin block material, glued and doweled into the case. When finished it was like new- perhaps even a little better than new with the higher quality block. The fit was absolutely perfect. Since this was an ebony piano a couple coats of sanding sealer filled in the areas between the new material and the old. By the time it was refinished you would have never known that it was replaced except for the new open faced block. Again I'll repeat- it is only lumber. Take it slow, do it right, and it will last another hundred years. If you screw up you can start over. This might get expensive but it will be right. Rob Goodale, RPT
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