I wish to take issue with Jon Page and his view that a piano is not
rebuilt unless the soundboard has been replaced.  When you rebuild
a piano you do not have to replace the soundboard.  Granted a few
have wood in such bad shape that it must be replaced.  Here is a tip:
If someone drove a truck through the soundboard -- replace it.

Once again I will state that when you restore a Stradivarius violin you
do not throw it out and build a new one and call it rebuilt.

The soundboard is the heart of the piano.  Yes, it has cracks.  Yes,
it probably has lost its crown, and yes, it probably sounds like an old
piano.

If you just pull off strings and put new ones on it will continue to
sound like a clunky old piano.  But if you recrown the soundboard, it
will most likely sound better than it did new.  I do know it has a
better tone than ANY new soundboard.  Do NOT replace your soundboard
unless you absolutely have to.

I agree with all the rest of Mr. Page's concept of rebuilt pianos.

D. L. Bullock    Piano World    St. Louis