About every three years a client or prospective client calls about buying a piano needing work. I make an over the phone estimate for various restoration-rebuilding procedures with a "guarantee"---that if the client is not satisfied I waive the rebuilding price, pay them the purchase price (in the future equal to the time I spent including their decision) and keep the piano. So far no takers but then again only 3 inquires in the last 10 years. Rural areas don't turn up much rebuilding opportunities. And some work I would have to farm out (with the stipulation I get to assist) like pinblock and sound board replacement, or my first Wapin installation. Still I am curious, what was the purchase price of this 6'4 " 1902 Knabe? What is the price of a new Kawai 6'4" and then a 10 year old Kawai? ---rm ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Brekne <Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no> To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 5:27 PM Subject: Re: Knabe Grand > Terry, I am curious about this. You say you helped a client buy the > piano for rebuild. How much (roughly) is the customers final total bill > going to be and how long are you expecting to have the piano at your > shop before delivery to him ? > > I am curious as I dont think this kind of a deal would happen over here. > Customers here expect to just "take it home" as it were, when they buy. > To lay out some amount of money, deliver the instrument to a shop for > rebuild, much less for some extended time frame..... nah.... wouldnt > happen here. How do you sell folks on this kind of a deal ? > > Cheers > RicB > > Farrell wrote: > > > > Just thought I would share my latest acquisition of sorts. I helped one of my clients purchase a 1902 Knabe 6' 4" grand for full rebuild - soundboard, etc. It was delivered to my shop today. This is a very impressive piano. Open pinblock (glued to stretcher). Three bridges - nine wound tricords on the tenor/transition bridge. And the rim - the rim - a full 2-7/8 inches of 14 ply ash. Not a trace of delamination. Truly massive. Piano appears to have had a kind first 100 years. Five frame members under board. Won't get to this one for a while, but am very much looking forward to it! They sure built those pianos back then. > > > > Del had shared a bit of advice to me regarding selection of this piano. Thanks Del. It looks like a real winner. > > > > Terry Farrell > > _______________________________________________ > > --
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