Hi Bob.  I also had a similar experience about 11 years ago.  The
first Piano I ever restrung was an upright Lakeside player (made by
Cable Nelson).  We bought that old player piano from an estate auction
Marion Illinois.  It was the poor old average "family piano".  When I
got It home, cleaned it up and tuned it, it was the most horrible
sounding piano I have ever heard.

I paid a tuner who used to work for Baldwin to come inspect the
piano and help me determine why it had a weak tone.  He looked it
over and said, "Your downbearing is negative," and he pronounced the
piano "dead".

I decided to attempt my first major restringing, reasoning that if
I ruined the piano, I hadn't lost much.  I was scared to death to say
the least.  I read the Reblitz book on the subject and also ordered the
Travis book, "A Guide to Re-stringing."

This old beast was 56" tall -- much taller than the average player --
so I though it should have potential.  Although the job looked good as
I went along, I still wasn't quite sure of myself at the time.  But
After I had chipped the piano, installed the piano action, and began to
tune, I Immediately realized the effort was worth it.  The difference
was incredible!

Since that time I am no longer afraid to restring pianos; all my Foster
players but one has been restrung.  Hearing the piano "speak with a new
voice" is, to me, one of the most enjoyable things about rebuilding
pianos.

The Lakeside piano is still giving musical pleasure: I sold it to Bill
Jelen in Ohio.  He seems to really enjoy it.  I will never forget that
old piano.

Andy Taylor