[pianotech] Rebuilding a early 1920's Knabe Piano

[Mike Spalding]

Wim, when I read the original post, it sounds like the Knabe's owner, 
asking about what scope of work to specify to a rebuilder, and what to 
expect to pay for that work.  But now that I re-read it, I'm not so 
sure.  Lynn Hall, please clarify your position.

thanks

wimblees at aol.com wrote:
> Lynn
>
> 1. If the soundboard has crown, by all means, shim it.
> 4. By "cost", I presume you mean selling price. This is the problems 
> with these older, well made pianos. It used to be that you could ask 
> $8 - $10,000 for a rebuilt Knabe, but the market just isn't there 
> anymore. For a little more money, a customer can buy a pretty nice new 
> instruments. Yes, eventually you'll be able to get it, if it has new 
> everything, except a soundboard. But you might have to wait a year or 
> two to find just the right buyer.
>
> If you're buying this instrument as an investment, I would hesitate. 
> If this belongs to a customer, and he/she wants to spend the money, it 
> will be worth it, as long as she/he understands that he/she will never 
> get her money back, at least not in the near future.
>
> Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT
> Piano Tuner/Technician
> Mililani, Oahu, HI
> 808-349-2943
> Author of:
> The Business of Piano Tuning
> available from Potter Press
> www.pianotuning.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lynn Hall <lmha60 at yahoo.com>
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Sent: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 5:43 pm
> Subject: [pianotech] Rebuilding a early 1920's Knabe Piano
>
> I have a few questions about rebuilding a Knabe Piano:
>  
> 1) I notice the soundboard has very tight grains, never has been 
> replaced, but has at least 9 substantial cracks. If I decide to 
> replace the soundboard instead of asking the re-builder to shim the 
> cracks, will I be able to find a soundboard that is as good as this 
> one is from the 1920's?
>  
> 2) Or should I demand that it be shimmed to retain grains/inch?
>  
> 3) Could I sell the old soundboard to offset the cost of replacement, 
> since it would be a good soundboard to build shims?
>  
> 4) The piano has a mahogany finish, but is in very bad shape due to 
> the age of the piano. I want it to look very nice and last many years. 
> What is a reasonable price to pay for this? Is between $10,000 and 
> $12,000 too much.
>  
> Many thanks.
>
>
>
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