I'm just a novice looking for a good first reproducing piano, and I
suspect I want what everyone does: a quality, dependable, rebuilt piano
that looks and works like new and sounds wonderful.  I'm partial toward
a Duo-Art grand, mostly because I think the Ampico drawers make the
piano look weird, and I don't want to have to look down at my lap while
watching a roll scroll by.

I'd like to get the right piano the first time -- one I'll still be
happy with in 20 or 30 years.  My first choice would be a Steinway OR,
but I'm limited to a budget of $10-15K (preferably toward the lower
figure).  The restored XR's and OR's I've seen available are up in the
$20K+ range.  I'd be happy with a nice Weber grand too, or maybe even
a high quality upright (in which case an Ampico would be okay too).

I'd consider buying an unrestored piano and having someone rebuild it,
but don't feel like I know enough about that process or costs to dive
in and buy a unrestored piano.  It seems to me one could easily spend
$10K or more getting the piano back to snuff, rebuilding the player,
and refinishing the case.  Plus there's the difficulties of finding
a reputable rebuilder, time and transportation factors.  There's an
unrestored OR here in town I need to go look at, but I know the seller
is looking for close to $10K for it, and I'm sure it needs refinishing
and the Duo-Art completely rebuilt; I don't know what the piano needs.

I've looked at everything there is to see on reproducers on the
Internet.  I read Reblitz' book on player rebuilding and joined AMICA
hoping to find something in the classifieds (got my first issue and not
much in there).  Any advice, references or contacts you could give me
are very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Doug Wendel
Kansas