Please advise on Wagner/Young Chang

[Terry Beckingham]

Tim,

I believe that Young Chang thought the North American market would not
purchase pianos with the name *Young Chang* on them back in the late 70's
when they were introduced over here. I spent some time with a Young Chang
dealer in 1980 who said that was the reason they had the name *Wagner* on
them. They were not a terrific piano back in those days. Back then, when I
was just learning the trade, and was quite naive, I purchased a *Wagner*
G157. I have since regretted that purchase. I paid $6300 new for the G157 in
1980 and I believe the G185 was only about $7300-7500. As a matter of fact
the dealer offered me either one at the same price. I don't know what they
are worth today, but I'd sell mine for three grand if I could find a buyer.
Mine is in almost new condition....no chips or scratches, not badly out of
regulation, etc. BTW mine is also that light walnut.

Hope I have been of some help.

Terry

 

At 11:41 1/2/98 -0800, you wrote:
>
>At the moment, I am negotiating to purchase a grand piano for a church.  
>The piano has been owned by a hotel in Prince Rupert since it was new, 
>but I have only had a quick look at it ( I was there at about 5:30 pm on 
>New Year's Eve and they were busy with other things--there were several 
>hundred plastic champagne glasses piled on top, so I could not get at the 
>insides).  The fallboard says Wagner, the plate says Young Chang G185.  
>I've dealt with lots of Young Changs, but have never seen one with the 
>Wagner mark.  The Pierce Atlas isn't much help--would the serial number 
>be a Young Chang serial #?  Is the Wagner listed by Pierce as built in 
>Malaysia the same one?.  I am interested in a ballpark price (retail and 
>wholesale) which would be appropriate for such an instrument in western 
>Canada.  It appears to be a gloss polyester finish on a lightish walnut 
>veneer, with a few scratches and chips, but looks good from more than 5 
>feet away.  There are some damaged dampers, and hammers unevenly worn, 
>some probably beyond filing. From beneath, the soundboard, rim, and 
>bracing look fine.  From the little I could see of the inside, the 
>soundboard has had at least one drink spilled on it which was never 
>cleaned up.  The regulation is not great.  It has probably never been 
>properly serviced.  I will do a much more thorough examination next week, 
>but since the purchaser is 70 km south of hear in Kitimat and the seller 
>is 160 km west of here in Prince Rupert, I would like to make sure that 
>the price ballpark is established before I do a lot of running around.
>
>I would be grateful for any comments or advice from the list.
>
>Tim Keenan
>Noteworthy Piano Service
>Terrace, British Columbia
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