Disclaimer - If You read no other post, read this one

So...  Having done a bunch of research and read a LOT  of posts, I thought it might be wise - prudent, you might say - to post exactly what my intentions are and why I want to try this.  I think I'd like to save myself a lot of pain - and flame - down the road.

Let me state right up front what I would like to achieve and what I am - and probably more importantly, am not - trying to do here.

Let's start with the goals:

• I want a piano that can be played.  If it turns out that the only method is electronically, then so be it - not the desired outcome, but it's livable.
• I want a piano in tune with itself.  If it can't be concert pitch, than it can't be concert pitch; other instruments can tune accordingly.
• I want a piece of furniture that, when people walk in the house, they say "Ooooo".  At least with the cover down.
• I want to learn, perhaps the most important part...  I learned a bunch when I dissected the last piano, but that was mostly mechanical; this time I'd like to see what it really takes to get one playable.

Now, like I've said, I've read online a lot - especially about tuning and refinishing and restoring.  There are some people out there that believe if you can tune a guitar, you can tune a piano.  And some people violently oppose that opinion...  Actually, quite violently sometimes.

Some people believe that you can indeed rebuild/restore a piano yourself, and others believe that you really have to pay for it.

And, finally, some people believe that antique English pianos, especially English pianos, are total lost causes.  Wooden harps, humidity, loose pegs, poor engineering, you name it...  If I read "Walk away and find something decent" once, I read it a thousand times.

I get it.

So for all the nay-sayers, here's what I'm NOT trying to do:

• I do not want to be a piano tuner - well, not unless this turns out really well and my day job goes down the tubes.
• I do not expect to tune this instrument the way I tune a guitar.
• I do not want to be a piano restorer.
• I do not expect to do this - any part of it - without a lot of pain and learning (that doesn't mean it's not fun).
• I do not expect it to be cheap (athough cheaper that shipping it someplace and letting someone else have the fun).

In the final analysis, we bought this because we liked the way it looked, and fully intended to drop electronic guts into it.  If I go through this and that's what I end up having to do, then mission accomplished.

If, on the other hand, I can actually pull this off - to any degree - then how much better is that?  I'd rather preserve than gut, and I'd rather learn than just rip apart.

If anyone is reading this and has practical, constructive knowledge to share - bring it on!  I'm learning as I go and I usually learn by observation or doing - but I'll take any suggestions.  If you feel the need to tell me all the reasons why this can't or shouldn't be done (I've read enough flame-o-grams), then I'd respectfully ask that you keep those opinions to yourself.  I know, as best as I can, what I'm up against and I don't really want discouragement!

If it works, then totally cool.  If it doesn't, then I've got 88 ivory keys and some action to sell for spare parts to offset the cost of a keyboard.

One way or the other, it works out.