<HTML>In a message dated 9/18/0= 3 7:04:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time, mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-= LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Interesting question. My mi= nimum is a spinet or console that is in fair regulation and functions reason= ably well. I think that is pretty minimal and I know it leave much grey area= . But it does exclude the old upright with 800,000 miles on it with keys wob= bling all over and action banging and clanking all around. But when the darn= thing doesn't function, and it ain't going to function in this world, ya ju= st gotta call it that way! I'd sure be interested in anything anyone could say that is more definit= ive. Again, we are talking about a beginner student here. </BLOCKQUOTE> Terry, Beginners need an instrument that performs in a way that is predictable,= both in feel and in sound.  The better the instrument, the more likely= they are to play it.  If something feels uneven, and sounds like broke= n glass, why would they want to play?   I think we've all been in this situation before.  It's uncomfortabl= e.  You did the right thing. Dave Stahl</HTML>