[CAUT] To buy New or Rebuilt?

Dennis Johnson johnsond at stolaf.edu
Mon Oct 11 12:38:25 MDT 2010


Hello List-


Our department is preparing for a significant expansion in shortly over year
and one of the questions some piano faculty have raised is can completely
rebuilt 100 year old Mason & Hamlins or Steinways be expected to hold up in
heavy use practice room situations as well as new pianos of similar
quality?  My answer was that if the rebuilds include soundboards and bridges
or bridge caps, and if generally the piano had not been in a heavy use or
abusive environment the past 100 years and the rebuilding work is done to at
least a factory standard, if not higher, ..... then yes.  That answer though
is qualified by the fact that we don't have real experience to objectively
test that theory.  Can any of you offer evidence one way or the other?  How
do nicely rebuilt 100 year old pianos hold up side by side with similar new
pianos in heavy use situations with climate control?  The working
recommendation we currently have is to strive for about 1/3 old rebuilds,
1/3 new Yamaha, and 1/3 new Steinway.   I don't have complete numbers yet,
but it sounds like at least 50 additional pianos- probably more.   I also
get an expanded shop and some assistance.

Any recommendations much appreciated.

thanks!

Dennis Johnson
St. Olaf College
Music Dept.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut.php/attachments/20101011/4f9e1857/attachment-0001.htm>


More information about the CAUT mailing list

This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC