Introduction

It had all started when I saw the piano in a friend's workshop. It was a wretched thing that was apparently used as a table in the carpenter's warehouse. blotched with paint and with peeling veneer, It didn't look like much. My friend said that he wanted to fix it and never got around to it. It was a steinway upright piano, with an unknown past.
I put it out of my head for months, and then one day I called my friend and asked him if he wants to sell it. I had some free time and I needed a DIY project to keep my mind off things.
He told me that I can have it if I thought it was worth the trouble, not wanting to discuss the price on the phone. He was going to give it to me for a symbolic fee, although someone apparently offered him a handsome amount before. Not wanting to "rip-off" this good friend of mine, I emailed the mother company with the serial number so that i would know for sure the exact age and origin of the piano, and to get a rough estimate of what i should offer him. The reply was that this particular piano was a 1969 steinway model Z, manufactured in Hamburg, with a dull walnut finish. A price of a restored one would be around 3000 Euros, and from what i described it should be around 500 to 1000 Euros.
I had all of this information ready and we set up an appointment to have some coffee and agree on the price. Sadly we never did have that cup of coffee, for the very day we were supposed to meet he passed away.
It was very inappropriate to bring up the subject to his family of course, so I just forgot about the whole thing.
Not a month later his son called and told me I should pick up the piano because his father wanted me to have it. not knowing what to do exactly i just paid a good sum.
So there it was, a dirty, semi decayed piano waiting for my eager hands to rip it apart.


Not having any experience whatsoever, I decided to turn to the guidance and wisdom of the uk piano page forum : http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-forums

Most of the helpful people there were skeptical, and some even advised me to drop it. however I already bought the thing and i couldn't just chuck it out. I told myself what is there to lose? if i keep expenses to a minimum i could have some fun, and learn a thing or two about these mysterious instruments.
so in this blog i will describe the process of rebuilding a piano by a total novice, who has nothing but some DIY skills and an internet connection.

Special thanks to Pianomate, for his constant feedback.