> I have a few questions about rebuilding a Knabe Piano: > > 1) I notice the soundboard has very tight grains, never has been > replaced, but has at least 9 substantial cracks. If I decide to replace > the soundboard instead of asking the re-builder to shim the cracks, will > I be able to find a soundboard that is as good as this one is from the > 1920's? Maybe, depending on who builds the board. Depending on the construction method, tight grain isn't necessarily desirable. > 2) Or should I demand that it be shimmed to retain grains/inch? No. A dead soundboard with high grain density is still a dead soundboard, and the description sounds very like a dead soundboard. > 3) Could I sell the old soundboard to offset the cost of replacement, > since it would be a good soundboard to build shims? You can try. If you find someone to buy it, send me their contact information. I can fix them up with more. > 4) The piano has a mahogany finish, but is in very bad shape due to the > age of the piano. I want it to look very nice and last many years. What > is a reasonable price to pay for this? Is between $10,000 and $12,000 > too much. Yes, I think it's substantially too much, at least in this area. Ron N
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC