Noah - These are excellent ideas you're getting from both Thumpe and Mike. In regards to fitting the pinblock to the plate, Mike said: "Most likely the new pinblock will need to be fitted to the plate flange. Do this exactly as you would for a grand piano; i.e. jigsaw as close as you can to original pinblock shape, refine with chalk transfer from plate flange, finish with epoxy (West with colloidal silica filler, not the stringy yellow goop in your photos)." Here's an article from June 2009 (<a href="http://www.pianopromoproductions.com/resources/19.%20Sept.%2C%202009%20Small%20Shop.pdf">Simple Grand Pinblock Replacement, part 3</a>) that might help if you haven't read it recently. It's concerning a grand pinblock installation, but the principle are the same (if there is a flange to be fitted to). As far as choice of pinblock material, I agree that Delignit or Falconwood would be especially rigid - I've used them both over the years. I wouldn't rule, however, a standard hardrock maple block as available from Schaff. It's easy to work with as far as grinding down the edge for fitting with the plate, drills nicely and holds the pins tightly. It's the pinblock material featured in the article. For as small of a piano as you're dealing with, I think it would be plenty rigid, especially if you consider using the ideas Thumpe gave you regarding the angle steel across the top of the block. You'll end up with a piano built like the proverbial brick shit-house! Chuck