A complete grand Bechstein rebuild, including case, but retaining the original board, as considered better for tone on those = 450 hours work (info from people that do that kind of job often) The braces have to be reglued, as the soundboard (but retained) . New bridges New pin block of course, new trap work, new damper tray, new parts for the action, replacing original systems with capstan and using modern whippen. New hammers and shanks from Renner for the ones who know how to shape hammers and voice, Abel for the ones who prefer pre shaped hammers. New wood on the side of the keys allows the keyboard to be recovered. new backchecks on new wooden supports. Case with new parts is often retained , new cover, new legs if necessary, new lacquer (polyester) new desk. Price of those kind of rebuilds is around 15000, ex VAT, depending of the parts and case parts to be changed. Best Regards Isaac OLEG -----Message d'origine----- De : pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]De la part de Ron Nossaman Envoye : jeudi 5 aout 2004 07:54 A : davidlovepianos@earthlink.net; Pianotech Objet : Re: Bechstein: Gloria Frazier >Here's the situation: > >Belly bracing joints are coming apart and need to be reglued and doweled. >Some separation of the soundboard panel from the ribs. >A few cracks in the board. >Pin block (beech) has been shimmed and partially plugged. Small crack in >bass section. Needs plugging or replacing, I think, as oversized pins >don't tend to do to well in beech blocks. >Delamination of the bass bridge cap along about half its length. Some >delamination in the upper treble bridgecap as well. >Minimal but positive bearing, little or no crown in the panel. >Don't know how it sounded as I never heard it before. >Customer wants it functional for least cost. >She has had Christopher Ris, Frank Bettinger, John Callahan, me and you >for opinions. > >I think it needs a new board, new and reinforced belly bracing, new >pinblock. One could probably get by with less with no guarantees and lots >of disclaimers (remember those plates can be pretty fragile). The senior >Ostrovsky doesn't think it needs a new board but he may be from a >tradition that doesn't replace soundboards ever. > >What do you think? > > > >David Love I don't know who this was supposed to go to, but I think that if wishes were fishes, we'd be swimming in sushi instead of BS. "Functional for least cost" requires someone to make the determination of (and take the responsibility for) what constitutes function, and what is the least cost to obtain said function. If cost trumps function, the piano is already a very good deal because all work not done on it is free. You can't beat that, so go with it. I'd suggest they bask in the glow of zero cash outlay function with what they have until they decide if it's worth what it takes to meet their, and your, definition of function. Remember Phyllis Diller at the beauty shop saying "just make me beautiful"? Ron N _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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