[pianotech] Rebuilding a early 1920's Knabe Piano

[Lynn Hall]

Mike you are correct. I could not figure out how to thread to the posting so here is my reply to Wim; (Thanks)
 
Willem,
 
Thanks for the information. I should write better for clarity.
 
It is my piano I and am considering having it rebuilt. I will have a rebuilder do a complete rebuild and I know I it is not a "good investment", but I play a lot and will pass it on to family someday. 
 
I am torn between having a new board put in or having it shimmed.
 
When I was talking about price I meant the price to have the case refinished costing between 10,000 and 12,000 dollars, not including the rest of the rebuild which I know is costly.
 
Also is a 1922 Knabe worth this investment, I certainly could not buy a new Steinway M for under $45,000 and I assume when completed the knabe will be able to compete for quality of sound and playability after the rebuild?

Thanks

--- On Mon, 1/12/09, Mike Spalding <mike.spalding1 at verizon.net> wrote:

From: Mike Spalding <mike.spalding1 at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Rebuilding a early 1920's Knabe Piano
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Monday, January 12, 2009, 11:14 PM

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.
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!
<http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1216817552x1201106465/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=82%26bcd=DecemailfooterNO82>*





      
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20090112/95418110/attachment.html>