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<DIV> <FONT size=3> To All my esteemed colleagues</FONT><=
/DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Probably all of you are aware of a
rebuilding outfit across the border in Juarez, Mexico.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> I've seen two recently "rebuilt" Stwys that were&=
nbsp;a
disaster with one exception.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The first was a 1908 A-2 in ebony. St=
andard
case Round style front. The best part of the job was the finish work. I=
've
seen plenty & this & 'twas quite nice & the satin rubout excelle=
nt.
The plate finish was fair. New block of some sort but the string =
job
was poor. Poor coils & not pulled up.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The sound board was a literal venetian blin=
d of
shims that were installed to look cosmetically nice from the top but it was
literally the worst I've ever seen. Horrible board discoloration & of co=
urse
the shims all those shims sticking thru. Crown? Bearing? yeah,uh
huh</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Bridges toasted of course.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The action once again had the ever ineffective Re=
nner
15.5 mm knuckle shank placement & the ever heavy </FONT></DIV=
>
<DIV><FONT size=3>un-prepared & bored wrong hammers (not Renners fault=
). It
Needs new keys. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3>The Regulation poor, tone poor</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> etc etc etc.........</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The very nice gentelman that purchased it for 33k =
was
looking for his last & dream piano. Bad dream</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> I value it maybe 12 to 15K. The restoration estima=
te
24K</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The other was a 1906 O. Once again nice sat=
in
Mahogany finish. The top treble rib was broken & hanging down. The=
rest of the scenario is, second verse same as the first. Value 8 k=
She
paid 15,000 & not stung as bad. But now she's stuck with a loss or
spending the cash to get the real deal.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> All the action cleats were=
loose
& the action was rattling around. Hammers bored too short by over 1/8. O=
ne
cleat was replaced it was so split it was unusable & the sos spring=
screw holes were so stripped the sos was floating around & causing notes=
to
stay open. The block so split I replaced it. The "new " pinblock was sitting=
1/8th inch off the treble shelf. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> I was just giving her a band aid with the 1=
7K
estimate.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The moral of the story is don't shop on e-b=
ay
& no there really aren't any totally rebuilt stwys for sale in that pric=
e
range.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> This gal ignored good advice (mine) before she
purchased it & then expected a stamp of approval when she called. I was =
nice
but bad news is just that.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> This is just another business scam in differ=
ent
clothes. Dress it up and sell it is the name of this dealer game & if I
sound annoyed well.... I hope this helps someone out there. Pass this E-mail=
to the client who is looking at one of these rip offs.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> So to ya'all buyer beware & you heard it here=
first.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Regards & Blessings</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Dale Erwin</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>