Just needs a little tuning!

[Joey Recker]

I guess that is my assessment of what it would be worth to me.  
 
Joey

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Dean May
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 1:14 PM
To: 'Pianotech List'
Subject: RE: Just needs a little tuning!



I think you are a little low on what the piano would be worth. A nice
looking console in good playing condition can fetch 1000-1500 around here. 

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Joey Recker
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 11:29 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: Just needs a little tuning!

 

At least you confirmed my numbers were in line.  I told her 3000 for the
stringing and hammers and associated pitch raise.  I told her there would
likely be more charges at that point aftere we found out what regulation and
voicing needed to be accomplished.  I also told her at that point she would
have a piano worth $400 (at best) and could buy a brand new comparable piano
for around $2500.00.   So at least we agree on the numbers.  I was amazed
that she wanted to do the work.  

I must report that she said she "thought" she wanted to have it fixed, but
was going to sleep on it before making a decision.   She hasn't called back
so far...

  _____  

From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 7:06 AM
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: Just needs a little tuning!

I've also been reading this thread with some wonder. Just a quick tally of
proposed fees for the minimum this piano would need - complete restringing,
new hammers, damper felt and action & damper regulation, I come up with
$2,800, which doesn't include running back and forth to this guy's house,
etc.

 

I gotta admit, I'm very curious what the "just high enough" bid was and what
the proposed tasks were. I'm also curious what the suggested new and used
comparable piano prices given were. I mean, you can't even buy a piano that
bad anymore - can you? They don't make GRAND pianos anymore - do they? A new
comparable piano - if there were such a beast - might be $2K (just thinking
that you can pick up some trashy little thing today for about $2.5K)? And
used - wholesale - zero; private retail - $200 - $600; dealer retail - $1K -
$1,300?

 

Only once have I refused to work on a piano when the owner really wanted to
do the/some work. Almost always I can educate the owner toward some better
options. Of course, when there is significant sentimental value to the
piano, all common sense goes out the window - I know that and I can work
with that. But that is reportedly not the case here. 

 

If a reputable piano tech can't make the owner see the light in a situation
like this, then........

 

$2,800 just to end up with a crappy little piano? No, I would walk from this
one - I would fear my reputation suffering. For $2,800 the person could go
to a dealer and buy an excellent condition Yamaha P-22. With some legwork,
they could find a decent U-1 or U-3 in a private sale. For less than that
cost they could find a later model good condition American studio piano.
When pianos like the aforementioned are available at a similar or less cost,
it makes NO sense whatsoever to sink that kind of money into a low-end
spinet.

 

Even if all the work needed cost $500 - even if it were $200, I would still
try to talk the owner into replacement.....

 

Just my rant worth.....

 

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 

Jeez, on an Aeolian spinet, I would think the money would be better spent
toward a better piano.

    --David Nereson, RPT 

-----Original Message-----
"Mamma said there be days like this."

 

This morning I woke up to a terrible rain storm.  My first piano of the day
was a new customer only 10 miles away who told me she had an upright piano
that just needed a "tuning".

 

I arrived to find a 1975 Henry F. Miller Spinet.  It didn't look too bad
from the outside.  Then I opened it up.  the felt on every single hammer is
seperating from the hammers.  I counted 24 bass strings broken, and 26
treble strings.

 

I showed her what it looked like on the inside and she asked me if it was
worth fixing.  I told her that she was the only one who could decide that.
I gave her a price for re-stringing, and replacing all the hammers and a
good cleaning.  I explained to her what a comperable piano would cost her to
purchase new and used.  I bid the job high enough (but fair for the amount
of work that needs to be done) and figured that no sane person would want to
put that kind of money into this piano.  She wants it fixed!   

 

I usually just lurk here and glean all the knowlege I can from you fine
folks, but my new year's resolution is to participate more in the list.  I
thought this gem of a piano was worth sharing.  I'm just glad all it needed
was a good tuning!  I don't think I could stand it if it needed some serious
work done!

 

Joey

On Key Piano

Plains, GA

 <http://www.livingwaters.com/learn/> 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20070110/bbead8f9/attachment.html