<HTML>In a message dated 2/5/02 10:15:13 PM !!!First Boot!!!, mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">So, here finally is the question(s). She has a replacement-type policy, so she wants it fixed right. I need to provide her insurance company a cost estimate for soundboard replacement (obviously, the cost is going to exceed the value of the piano, which I would place around $3,000 - and will even likely exceed the cost of piano replacement (with one of similar quality). I guess one has to limit proposed repairs to that which may be caused by water damage. So we have soundboard. I suppose the bridge is not damaged (are we worried about the cap peeling off?). To get to the soundboard, we need to remove strings - ain't nobody gonna get me to put half-rusted plain wires back on, so new plain strings. What about the bass strings? They sound OK - like you would expect on such a piano - but not tubby. Do we propose to re-use the bass strings? What about the pinblock? Certainly restringing will cause some wear-and-tear to the pinblock. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks. Terry Farrell </BLOCKQUOTE> Terry When replacing the soundboard, you need to remove the plate. In order to get the plate out, you need to remove the strings. All of them. Yes, you could maybe save the bass strings, but to uncoil them, and have half of the break, is not worth it. The labor to do that is not going to be less than buying a new set of bass strings. Don't even mention the idea of using the old strings. Just say that the strings need to be replaced. Period. The Pin block. Expect the same to happen to it as happen to the soundboard. In other words, with a new soundboard comes a new pin block and new strings and pins. You also need to add new damper felts, because the old ones will probably have rust on them, if they are not hard from the humidity. I think the only thing you could save are the bridges. The cost of doing all of this is going to far more than the value of the piano. The cost of doing all of this might even be more expensive that buying a new Samick grand, unless you can convince them the piano is equivalent to a Weber, or even a Baldwin.  In any case, if the cost of repairs exceeds the cost of a new grand, (and they might be able to get wholesale), the insurance company might give the customer the money for a new piano, and take her piano. The problem is, it won't look like the old Estey. So she'll have to negotiate that. Be sure to explain to the customer that anything less than what I just mentioned will NOT put the piano back in the shape it was before the flood. The insurance company might also try to find someone who will dry out the piano, "fix" the soundboard, polish the strings, and give it a quick tuning. But that won't repair the damage. So be firm about this. Good luck. Wim   </HTML>