Odd Query:

[Joe & Penny Goss]

Cole,
The customer is always right even when they are wrong!
I have done this on squares and bird cage pianos when the case was in good
shape but the piano junk.
Seems to me you are on the right track in reccommending that no heroic
measures be taken with this patient.
I say go for it.
Joe Goss
imatunr@primenet.com
http://www.primenet.com/~imatunr/

----- Original Message -----
From: "Cole Wheeler" <cole@fsvs.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2001 1:08 PM
Subject: Odd Query:


> Hello-
>
> I joined this list for the specific purpose of posting the one question
> which will follow.  The concept involved in this question will undoubtedly
> make some of the members of this forum squirm and shudder with the
revulsion
> one of our Puritan forefathers might experience upon viewing the South
Park
> movie.  That said, here's my question:
>    Has anyone heard of or know of any resources regarding 'retrofitting'
an
> apartment-sized baby grand body with an electronic, fully weighted, 88 key
> keyboard, amp and speakers?
>    The piano in question is of almost no consequence; a Heller brand (the
> company made furniture, not instruments) apartment baby grand that has
seen
> much climatic abuse and four boisterous children, now adults.  The harp is
> seriously warped and shot.  The keys are shot.  The hammers are shot.
> Refurbishing as a traditional piano is prohibitively expensive,
considering
> the initial quality of the instrument.  The box, however, is
> lovely--wonderful legs, lovely top and sides.
>    The owner of this piano is extremely attached to it, for sentimental
> reasons only.  So why not, I ask myself, gut the thing and put a decent
> fully-weighted, 88 key electronic keyboard with an amp and some speakers
> inside?  A 'virtual' piano, if you will.
>
> Please refrain from responding if all you have to offer is a moral
diatribe
> on the heresy I have proposed.  If you've ever heard of anyone else doing
> this, however, please forward any and all information you may have.
>
> Most appreciatively,
>
> Cole Wheeler
>