[pianotech] Rebuilding a early 1920's Knabe Piano

[David Love]

Old soundboards are not necessarily better by virtue of being old.  They're
just old.  Substantial cracks means substantial damage probably not visible.
The health of the soundboard can be determined by sound.   The notion of
whether you can find a soundboard as good as the one from the 1920's is a
false premise since the ones from the 1920's are necessarily better to begin
with.  Anyway, you can't find one that's better, but you could have one made
that would be better.  

 

Shimming does little to recapture compromised tone so the choice of grains
per inch is a cosmetic one.

 

You could sell the old soundboard if someone was fool enough to buy it,
otherwise not.  

 

Price for finishing varies regionally, by size (which you didn't mention),
the amount of repair work, type of finish, detail in the case.  You need to
have a finisher do an estimate.

 

Not sure what the price you mention is for.  If you mean is $10,000 -
$12,000 too much for a Knabe grand of unknown size with a lousy finish and,
at best, questionable soundboard and probably questionable action, yes it
is.

 

That being said, Knabes can make fine instruments when rebuilt properly.
They have solid rims, good plates and the actions can be rebuilt.  If you go
the piano cheaply enough to have it fully custom restored it has the
potential of being a fantastic instrument.  Will you be able to turn around
a sell it for the money you put into it?  Only if somebody appreciates the
musical instrument and not the implications of the fall board decal.   Is it
worth it?  Probably not considering the time involved.  But if you found a
rebuilt Knabe of this type???  Well that's another story altogether.  

 

Have someone look at it and give a thorough estimate and assessment.  Be
prepared to pay them for it.  

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Lynn Hall
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 7:43 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
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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