<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META content=text/html;charset=iso-8859-1 = http-equiv=Content-Type><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 = Transitional//EN"> <META content='"MSHTML 4.72.3110.7"' name=GENERATOR> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Hi John,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>We did a similar project in our shop last = year.  Lester grands were not the best, but they were not the worst either.  In = general, they seem to be pretty solidly built, although every one I've seen, the = pinblock is delaminating.  Pretty solid case structure.  We basically = put in a new block, fixed up the old board, and restrung, I think with new = hammers and dampers?. (That's what the contract called for...) Turned out pretty = nice.  Customer was thrilled.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>How far do you want to go with it?  New block, = I know, but anything else?  New board?  New bridges? Any new action parts?  Key recovery?  Refinish?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I have thought that perhaps if a person wanted to = put in the time and money and effort, a Lester grand might be a nice complete = rebuild type project, especially if you could do some new string scale design.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Just an opinion.  Perhaps a good learning = experience and at least a break even project.  You stand a lot better chance of = getting your money back out of a 6' grand than an old upright!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Good luck,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Brian Trout</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Quarryville, Pa.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2><A href="mailto:btrout@desupernet.net">btrout@desupernet.net</A></FONT></D= IV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: = 5px"> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><B>-----Original = Message-----</B><BR><B>From: </B>John M. Formsma <<A = href="mailto:jformsma@dixie-net.com">jformsma@dixie-net.com</A>><BR>= <B>To: </B>PianoTech <<A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>><BR><B>Date: </B>Sunday, August 08, 1999 12:40 AM<BR><B>Subject: </B>Lester grand<BR><BR></DIV></FONT> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=50272004-08081999>Hi List:</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=50272004-08081999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=50272004-08081999>I = would appreciate any input on the "rebuildability" and "resaleability" of a 1953 Lester grand piano.  I = think it is around 6 feet (didn't measure--just tuned it today), and desperately = needs a new pinblock.  This is the first one that I've seen, and, since = I have no previous experience with this piano...I thought I'd take = advantage of the expertise of the list.  :-)</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=50272004-08081999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=50272004-08081999>What I was thinking about doing was rebuilding it to get some experience with rebuilding--then trying to sell it.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=50272004-08081999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=50272004-08081999>Your thoughts are much appreciated.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>John Formsma</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>