Okay, here's one for the experts.  I live in Phoenix, Arizona, area and
have been wanting a player piano for some years.  After reading through
your archives I believe I would enjoy a pneumatic player piano over the
solenoid-type players such as the Disklavier.

I have spent many Sundays searching the classifieds for a restorable
player, but never actually looked at any (even though I do have a test
roll already).  In this part of the nation I'm lucky to find one ad for a
player piano in any given Sunday edition of the newspaper.  I estimate to
fully restore a player piano that I'm possibly/probably looking at a
$2000-$3000 project.  And I understand that's if the piano is in good
condition to begin with.

I have talked to the local Story & Clark dealer and he's supposed to get
back to me on the price of a new Story & Clark.  Will a new Story & Clark
play all 88 keys?   Would you experienced readers be wary of purchasing
an old player in this area of the country, because of the affects of the
dry desert climate on a piano sound board, not to mention the player
action?  Any idea on prices on a new Story & Clark?

I've seen some beautiful old players, and prefer their cases to the newer
Story & Clark's.

Celine Peterson
Chandler, AZ

 [ Welcome to MMD, Celine.  Since you already have a test roll I can tell
 [ which style player mechanism you yearn for!  ;)   To me, a good ol'
 [ foot pumper is a lot more fun than anything else.  Good luck!  -- Robbie