<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV>Hellooooo list!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I = will also be inquiring directly to our resident Kawai technician Don, but I figured = I'd get the ball rolling now. I'm quite interested to hear what everyone will = have to say on this (if you read it all the way through!). = </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I = have purchased my first piano of my own, my first GRAND piano, and consequently my = first of several major projects (wrapped in one piano). The piano is a 1970s = Kawai 600, in decent condition, needing some detailed cleaning and tlc, little to = no action work, 1/2 step flat. It would have been put for sale for about $8k as is with a bit of cleaning, tuning, string twisting and = lubing, but since it is now *MINE*, I'm planning to soup this baby up to make it = what *I* want it to be, and to use the opportunity to *carefully* work on = skills in areas I don't have much experience. Following is a list of areas of concern/plans to fix/renew. The worst areas are listed first:</DIV> <UL> <LI>First of all, the bass bridge could use some improvement (terrible = grammar, I know); the holes are enlarged with some small cracks around them - no = cracks that reach the edge of the bridge or run the length, or even run = between pins, but again the holes are enlarged enough I'm pretty sure = once I raise the string tension it'll be sketchy. There are spots in the = treble where the holes are a bit enlarged with tiny cracks at the rims of the holes = as well. Trebles look similar to Mark Davidson's project, bass is not = nearly as bad as his, though. I've NO experience with epoxy/CA-glueing bridges, = and there seems to be a slew of techniques and opinions on the matter. Easiest/most effective method? Where can I get West End epoxy and CA = glue (not at Home Depot, it seems!) - ? At what point do you decide it's okay to = just apply epoxy, and where's the point where you really need to replace = the bridge or have it recapped?</LI> <LI>Something spilled into this piano at some point, directly in the middle of the soundboard. When we first got it to the shop, it looked like a = simple cleanup with a moist rag. Until someone sprayed compressed air into = the piano to clear the dust and cobwebs and part of the decal (in the spill = zone) subsequently flaked off. It was my understanding that usually the = decal is under the varnish - if this is the case and the varnish is compromised = (please excuse my ignorance on this matter, btw), am I looking at stripping = and revarnishing this puppy? How critical is it if I leave it? What is the = best way to clean this? I am planning on restringing, so I'll be able to = expose the soundboard more, but I'm afraid removing the plate isn't too realistic = unless it absolutely MUST be done. I don't really want to mess with = downbearing on this piano - it's too valuable to me personally to risk completely = screwing up. Maybe when I get a house with my own workshop and can play = rebuilder on some clunkers, but not now if I can help it. Has anyone ever = touched up or revarnished a soundboard by masking off the plate and working = around it? I feel stupid asking such a question, but my pseudo-"manager"/scheduler/learning-on-the-job-body-repair-guy seems = to think it can be done, and I'm QUITE skeptical. What about spraying a new = finish on the plate? What's the best thing to use and the best method? Can that = be done with the plate still in the piano?</LI> <LI>cleaning in general - = is the general consensus still that warm water with a touch of white vinegar = is a Good Thing for wiping down the works? </LI></UL> <DIV>(and YES I am in the process of researching the archives on all of this, but I thought it = couldn't hurt to ask for any new opinions)</DIV> <UL> <LI>restringing - the strings are just funky. Since it's to be *my* piano, I want new = strings. Suggestions on the best? What about the Mapes Gold Series? Opinions? = The pin block feels fine, and since the story of this piano is that it sat in = some lady's parlour nearly untouched for 30-some-odd-years, it probably = wasn't tuned much if at all (since it's 100 cents flat!). Is = restringing/repinning the pinblock going to be a problem here? Should I pitch-raise and tune = this piano before removing the strings to sort of "break in" the pinblock = and ease the wood a bit or no? </LI> <LI>I really want to replace the damper felts - they're just worn with age. Best kind of = damper felt to get?</LI> <LI>Back to punching felt - where to get these Wurzen punchings people were raving = about in a prior discussion?</LI> <LI>Replacing the rest of the felt in the case - is there a must-see resource to teach = me the best way to get the prettiest and most effective result? Is there ANY = REASON anyone can give me why I should have to replace the blue felt with = more blue felt, or can I just go with whatever pleases me asthetically? </LI> <LI>The keys have yellowed badly in the mid-section. It's not nicotene, and I don't = think it's a spill. I think it's just time and lack of light that have yellowed = them because they feel just fine to the touch and nothing is warped. Best = way to bleach them? </LI></UL> <DIV>Like I said, from what I've seen, the action seems fine. Hammers will want a light filing = and voicing to my tastes, keys need easing BADLY, and regulation is = imminent. There appears to be a little bit of chewing or deterioration on the front rail = punchings, but not much - I just want to replace them for me ;) </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As soon as I can, I will try and get pictures to post. Despite my list, it's not in = terrible shape - I just can't afford a Shigeru or even an RX, so I want to make this = the best I can in the meantime. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks in advance,</DIV> <DIV>ilex</DIV></BODY></HTML>