<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16414" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007>An existing client, with a nice new Yamaha grand at home, teaches music at a local magnate school. He called to have me come look at what he described as a junky little Baldwin spinet his school, and his class specifically, had just received as a donation. Neither of us had any real expectations, and were both considering ways to get rid of it after my minimum charge service call to declare it dead. Surprise, surprise.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007>What I found was a Baldwin drop action console, model 2011C, serial number 1332014, dated 1983. Though it doesn't say so anywhere, this is obviously an Acrosonic. We were told by the person who donated the piano that it had never been played. Finding the pitch at 426, (-53c), I decided that it had also never been serviced. With one small exception, this piano is still in "new" condition. It needs regulation badly, but the pinblock is like new, as is are the bridges, and all other mechanical and acoustical aspects of the piano. All the dampers are like new, as are the bridal straps. Not a speck of rust, or dust for that matter. In fact I found all the original manufacturers warranty info still in it's little zip lock bag taped inside the lid. I did a pitch raise and then a tuning and pronounced the piano both playable and serviceable. And it sounded pretty decent too. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007>BUT ---</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007>That one small exception mentioned above is that in spite of the fact that the hammers look new, no grooves in them at all and they still retain that slight new hammer cup shape, the hammer felt is starting to separate from hammer wood on a couple of hammers. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007>As I write this I now wish I had actually read the warranty card while I was there. Somewhere I seem to remember seeing 25 years, which would mean that I still have one year to cash in on it. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007>Anyway, is this piano just pretending to be in as good a shape as I'm experiencing it? I'm wondering if replacing all the hammers is going to be worth it. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007>Feedback and suggestions welcome. Please.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007>And another question. Is a drop action console still considered a spinet?</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007>-- Geoff Sykes</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007>-- Los Angeles</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007>-- <A href="http://www.ivories52.com">www.ivories52.com</A></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=531292704-12102007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>