<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Dear list,  I was called to evaluate a Steinway upright = yesterday.          =    To my horror this piano (1890) rosewood case had been = “Restyled”---1950’s style---You know, the usual chopped off upper front panel with mirror = treatment on top. Action parts and brackets-rails-capo etc sprayed with = gold paint .Crappy plastic keytops with overzealous sanding on the sides, = leaving gaping spaces between the keys.          =    All this was certainly bad enough, but here’s the worst--- The = “tech” had drilled a series of quarter inch holes across the top of the plate = above the tuning pins and broke off approximately the top inch of the plate. = Only a few of the plate bolts remain on top with the only pin block screws = seemingly holding this thing together. All this to lower the piano one inch! I’ll = bet it looked horrible at 50” and just great @ 49”          =    Surprisingly the piano was @ pitch and fairly even and I’ve contracted to do a = minimum of service with caveats galore concerning the plate = issue.          =    Put this one under the thought I’ve seen everything = category.          =    Tom---can’t believe it--- Driscoll RPT </div> </body> </html>