<DIV><B><I>Sounds a lot like a piano a client bought from a "rebuilding" outfit out of Kentucky. The folks spent about $18,000 on an old S&S model "O". What a mess! Damper wire screws stripped out, bad shim work, action played like a truck, and this one had a really mediocre finish job to boot! These people also bought the piano off of ebay! </I></B></DIV>
<DIV><B><I></I></B> </DIV>
<DIV><B><I>We just have to keep getting the word out to the public about the hazards of bargain rebuilds.</I></B></DIV>
<DIV><B><I></I></B> </DIV>
<DIV><B><I><A href="mailto:Erwinspiano@aol.com">Erwinspiano@aol.com</A></I></B> wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">
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<DIV> <FONT size=3> To All my esteemed colleagues</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Probably all of you are aware of a rebuilding outfit across the border in Juarez, Mexico.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> I've seen two recently "rebuilt" Stwys that were a disaster with one exception.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The first was a 1908 A-2 in ebony. Standard case Round style front. The best part of the job was the finish work. I've seen plenty & this & 'twas quite nice & the satin rubout excellent. The plate finish was fair. New block of some sort but the string job was poor. Poor coils & not pulled up.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The sound board was a literal venetian blind of shims that were installed to look cosmetically nice from the top but it was literally the worst I've ever seen. Horrible board discoloration & of course the shims all those shims sticking thru. Crown? Bearing? yeah,uh huh</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Bridges toasted of course.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The action once again had the ever ineffective Renner 15.5 mm knuckle shank placement & the ever heavy </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3>un-prepared & bored wrong hammers (not Renners fault). It Needs new keys. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3>The Regulation poor, tone poor</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> etc etc etc.........</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The very nice gentelman that purchased it for 33k was looking for his last & dream piano. Bad dream</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> I value it maybe 12 to 15K. The restoration estimate 24K</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The other was a 1906 O. Once again nice satin Mahogany finish. The top treble rib was broken & hanging down. The rest of the scenario is, second verse same as the first. Value 8 k She paid 15,000 & not stung as bad. But now she's stuck with a loss or spending the cash to get the real deal.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> All the action cleats were loose & the action was rattling around. Hammers bored too short by over 1/8. One cleat was replaced it was so split it was unusable & the sos spring screw holes were so stripped the sos was floating around & causing notes to stay open. The block so split I replaced it. The "new " pinblock was sitting 1/8th inch off the treble shelf. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> I was just giving her a band aid with the 17K estimate.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The moral of the story is don't shop on e-bay & no there really aren't any totally rebuilt stwys for sale in that price range.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> This gal ignored good advice (mine) before she purchased it & then expected a stamp of approval when she called. I was nice but bad news is just that.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> This is just another business scam in different clothes. Dress it up and sell it is the name of this dealer game & if I sound annoyed well.... I hope this helps someone out there. Pass this E-mail to the client who is looking at one of these rip offs.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> So to ya'all buyer beware & you heard it here first.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Regards & Blessings</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Dale Erwin</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Ryan Sowers, RPT Puget Sound Chapter<br>Pianova Piano Service<br>Olympia, WA<p>
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