<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content=Word.Document name=ProgId> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2769" name=GENERATOR> <META content="Microsoft Word 10" name=Originator><LINK href="cid:filelist.xml@01C60026.8AB8C540" rel=File-List> <STYLE>@font-face { font-family: Tahoma; } @font-face { font-family: Bradley Hand ITC; } @page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; = mso-header-margin: .5in; mso-footer-margin: .5in; mso-paper-source: 0; } P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; = mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; = mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; = mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } A:visited { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } P.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } SPAN.EmailStyle17 { COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-style-type: personal-reply; = mso-style-noshow: yes; mso-ansi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: = 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; = mso-bidi-font-family: Arial } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 } </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US style="tab-interval: .5in" vLink=purple = link=blue bgColor=white> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I think that because we are involved in = an unlicensed profession, there is no way to have any such workable = standard. But as far as what I'd like to see - sure, I'll bite on that = one.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pretty simple actually. First, a = conversation needs to be had with the piano owner. They need to identify their targeted end = result for the piano. Do they want the piano to be better than new? Like new? = Improved? Look nice, but it will never be played? What are their needs, wants = & desires?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Once the target result is established, = a checklist of all piano parts should be used to evaluate condition/need. Each part = should be rated - okay, repair, rebuild, replace.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Then the rebuilder can sit down with = the piano owner and discuss his/her recommendations for achieving the piano = owner's targeted rebuilding result.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>That is essentially the process I go = through each time I take in a rebuilding project.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have pianos in my shop that are being = stripped to the frame and are being completely redesigned and remanufactured - = because that is what the owner's are looking for. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I also just took in a 90-year-old = Packard grand for bass restringing, and partial rebuilding of the action. The piano was = "rebuilt" 20 years or so ago and the finish and plain wires are okay (the action = is so far out of regulation that it barely functions). The wippens can be salvaged = (good shape for age) and action geometry is acceptable. The owner/pianist has Alzheimer's disease and the expectations for the performance of = this piano are not high - they just want it to function reasonably well and not = hold the player back. So we put together a $4K package of rebuilding tasks that I = think will make them happy with the piano.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But I did cover the $30K option with = the Packard owner - just so they were aware of the range of possibilities for their = piano. They eliminated that direction pretty quickly. I understood that with no = problem.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In my original post, the Chickering = piano owner expected the piano to be in excellent working order after the rebuild. = The result was far, far short of that. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Although my conversation with the = Chickering piano owner was limited, it seems apparent that there was no discussion about rebuilding options - the rebuilder offered one level of piano rebuilding = - "everything".</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>IMHO, everything means everything - = every part that commonly wears over time needs to be rebuilt or replaced (hopefully = properly). That means every piece of leather or felt - every bushing in the back = action and trap work - everything means that at a minimum, bridges need to be at = least refurbished (resurfaced, renotched, pins secured) - preferably rebuilt = (better yet new!). And yes, an "everything" rebuild typically means the = soundboard also - but again, that depends on the piano owners need and expectations. If = the soundboard is shot - the piano sounds dead, etc. - that must be = discussed with the piano owner - not identifying that system dysfunction is deplorable.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"Rebuilding" an action consisting of = new hammers, keytops and damper felt - and then not regulating the action - is = inexcusable IMHO. Even if the rebuilder's only objective was to make the new keytops = look good, s/he would want to level and space the damn keys!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</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><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV class=Section1> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Okay, = Terry. Give us a workable standard- what you’d like to see. = <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <P class=MsoAutoSig><B><FONT face="Bradley Hand ITC" color=navy = size=6><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 22pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-no-proof: = yes">Dean<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy; mso-no-proof: yes">Dean = May<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: = yes">           &n= bsp; </SPAN>cell 812.239.3359<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy; mso-no-proof: = yes">PianoRebuilders.com<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">   </SPAN>812.235.5272<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy; mso-no-proof: yes">Terre Haute = IN<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>47802<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Tahoma = size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">-----Original Message-----<BR></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Oh I wish there were = some standards for the "rebuilt" piano.</SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN> </P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN><o:p></o:p><FONT = face=Arial size=2>SNIP</FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times = New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: = 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Arial = size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Terry = Farrell</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTM= L>