soundboard troubles

[Greg Newell]

Greetings folks,
    I need the advice of you treasured people who are so kind to find
the time to teach those clueless people like myself.
    I took in a piano for a customer who was having a property of theirs
demolished and needed to get the piano out in a hurry. She is having and
A.B.Chase (early 20's vintage) refinished, restrung, and action
overhauled for her family. I have had this piano in my home for about
three months acting as a big surface upon which to gather many many
useless items. I recently was preparing to begin the restringing process
and took down the tension on all the strings and removed the bass
strings. I plan to have Newton redesign the scale for this while ,
hopefully teaching me how to do it for future piano I may inflict my
talents upon. Since I took down the tension about a week ago I found
something rather startling. What began as one very shim able but not yet
seperated crack in the board has now become 6 or more two of which have
separated from the ribs at spots and are wide enough to see daylight
through. I would call the main crack to be about thick enough to slip a
thin guitar pick through. This particular one has the wood being uneven
on both side of the crack indicating it's separation from the ribs.
Naturally this big one is right through the center of the board.
    I'd like the opinion of this list as to whether these cracks can or
should be repaired or is it time for another board? I've never left
tension off a piano for this long before. Did I do a no no? If it is
your opinion that a new board and bridges are necessary then how would
you go about telling the customer of this added cost? Do you know anyone
in the Cleveland, OH area of perhaps PA area that you can recommend to
install a new board and do a job I could be proud to offer? Are there
any pitfalls along the way I should look out for? What could I expect to
pay for a board and bridges?
    I've only subcontracted once before and I got bit really bad that
time so I'm really gun shy. Thank you for the time and effort to
respond. I hope the coming days, months, and years bring you all
continued growth and prosperity.

Greg

--
Greg Newell
Greg's Piano Forté
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net