On Thu, 19 Dec 1996 00:43:40 -0500, PNOTNR@aol.com wrote: >I'd be interested in hearing diffrent opinions about when schools should >consider buying new instruments as compared to having their existing pianos >rebuilt. > >The school where I work was considering the purchase of 4 new pianos (2 >verticals and two grands). It is a small music department with 27 pianos, >(16 verticals and 11 grands) Six of the grands are Steinways, and they are >all pretty well worn out. The first project is rebuilding or replacing the >S&S L in the piano prof. studio. > >I'll either be sending this out to a rebuilder, or they could pick up a new >Yamaha C3 or C6 from the local music store. What should I be considering? I >can't decide which is the better choice. (The technician in me likes the >thought that pianos get rebuilt, but I also think the school needs to get >used to the idea that there needs to be a gradual turnover in their piano >fleet.) > >Gordon Large, RPT >Maine Gordon, Although I don't have direct experience in a College or University, I am piqued by this topic as several dealers in the Cleveland area have recently gone out of business. I feel that we as technicians may be partly to blame. Not everything is rebuildable or even should be rebuilt. Just because it's possible doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. Haven't we all been to that new customers house who have told us that the piano was "completely rebuilt" [just what does that mean anyway] and you have to ask yourself ...... WHY????? With the piano sales in steady decline over these past years it seems it would only be in our best interst to condem these beasts a little more often than we do. Just my 2 cents! Greg Greg & Mary Ellen Newell Greg's Piano Forte' 12970 Harlon Ave. Lakewood, OH 44107 e-mail; gnewell@en.com or dt945@cleveland.freenet.edu (216) 226-3791
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC