for Sale(money stuff)

[David ilvedson]

Speaking of new soundboards...last Tuesday at our chapter 
meeting we had a young fellow from Germany who had worked 
in both the Hamburg Steinway & Bechstein factories. He was 
discussing differences and similarities between the two 
pianos.  At one point when talking about soundboards he 
mentioned that you could saw kerfs in the bridge of a 
Bechstein (other pianos too) with a flat board, wedge up the 
board from underneath and then insert shims in the kerfs 
thereby recreating some crown and restoring some of the tone 
when the wedges were removed.  When I said that for the 
work you were doing, restringing etc. a new board would 
probably be the way to go and he was sure that we wouldn't 
have a "Bechstein" anymore and the character of the 
instrument would be lost.  Obviously we Americans don't have 
the right wood and skill to do that.  He was very much into the 
mysterious, romantic qualities of the pianos.  Also he said he 
loved lead in the keys.  I was a little incredulous.  We had 
been talking about how the Steinway and Bechstein plates are 
made the same way, i.e. not the Vacuum process.  I was also 
wondering why Bechsteins don't have the same problems 
Steinways have with fitting the action to the piano?  I guess 
Bechstein is still doing well.  They make around 250 pianos a 
year.  

Have a good night!

David Ilvedson  

Date sent:      	Thu, 04 Mar 1999 09:08:06 -0500
From:           	Michael Jorgensen <Michael.Jorgensen@cmich.edu>
To:             	pianotech@ptg.org
Subject:        	Re: for Sale(money stuff)
Send reply to:  	pianotech@ptg.org

> A440A@AOL.COM wrote:
> 
> >      If it is of any interest, recent prices here in Tennessee have been $25K
> > for a completely rebuilt 1919 Mahogany Steinway O,( everything but the
> > soundboard, which was really nice),  a 50 year old Baldwin 6' grand( rebuilt
> > the same) just went for $16,500.
> > I tried to buy a Steinway M(1923) with frozen action, pretty nice case, and a
> 
> Interesting Prices, 
>      The opinions of some on this list indicate that any piano over 40
> should have a new soundboard.  Yet these prices aren't far from those
> with new boards, atleast in my area.  It makes me wonder if there aren't
> some myths regarding new boards that should be discussed.
> -Mike Jorgensen
> 


David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net