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<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow"> </FONT><BR><BR>So I have a question. You
all run across the occasional bargain piano <BR>and with a small amount of
capital could keep a small inventory. Unless <BR>you are booked solid, you could
use down time to work on refurbishing. <BR>So, when the real beaters show up you
could offer a reasonably priced <BR>alternative to wasting money on a "money
pit" and perhaps retain a <BR>customer while providing yourself with a better
piano to tune. You'd <BR>make a few bucks on the refurb.<BR><BR>I'm sure this is
not a new idea, but I'd be interested in hearing <BR>opinions from this very
experienced list.<BR><BR>Steve Brooks</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow"> I find that "real beaters" are
seldom worth anything except the ivories, casters, wood screws, and possibly a
few hardware items, and the foregoing only if they're in decent enough
condition to salvage. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow">Unless the soundboard doesn't have numerous
cracks and doesn't buzz and rattle; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow">unless the tuning pins are tight enough to hold a
tuning; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow">unless the finish is already decent enough
that most people wouldn't be embarassed to have it in their home
(well, OK, if it's going in the basement or a back room, it can be
"funky"); </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow">and unless the bass strings aren't all tubby
or buzzing, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow">you just can't can't make any money refurbishing
(reconditioning) the poor old things, especially if you pay any money for
them at all.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow">Not only that -- they're hard to sell and sit
around in the shop forever.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow"> --David Nereson,
RPT</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>