[pianotech] Tips for restoration of a 1926 Knabe grand?

[Terry Farrell]

> I find one underlying negative aspect to piano rebuilding; the  
> customer is expecting more than the technician or piano can produce.

Then perhaps the piano owner has made a poor choice of a piano  
rebuilder. What's so unusual about that? Same thing happens in  
construction, auto repair and medicine. Why would it be different for  
pianos?

> This manifests itself when the technician is expecting more than is  
> possible through naiveté or outright deception.


Same comment as above applies here I should think. However, I agree  
that this is something the technician has some control over. So some  
techs are smucks - is this news?

> A 1926 Knabe may, in a long shot, be economically feasible if it  
> lived in this area all its life.


Or a Chickering or whatever. What do you mean "economically feasible"?  
You mean whether the owner can afford the piano or the rebuild?

> But I think, no matter how the economics spell out, that the end  
> result could be disappointing.


Of course, any work could be bad. But any work can be good also. Why  
do you suggest something might be disappointing? I don't understand  
what you are trying to say.

Terry Farrell

On Oct 8, 2010, at 2:54 PM, Roger Gable wrote:

> Nora,
>    I agree with Barbara and William that these pianos are not much  
> to write home about. Over the years I find one underlying negative  
> aspect to piano rebuilding; the customer is expecting more than the  
> technician or piano can produce. This manifests itself when the  
> technician is expecting more than is possible through naiveté or  
> outright deception. Engaging in such practice can damage your  
> reputation in short order. There was a well known PTG member in this  
> area who engage in a "rebuild" of a turn-of-the-century Steinway  
> "A". The job entailed a new action and restringing. When the job was  
> completed, the customer -- a well to do client - was grossly  
> disappointed with the $10,000 expenditure. Why? Any seasoned  
> technician could easily tell that the underlying problem was that it  
> needed a new soundboard. Subsequently, the customer sent the piano  
> out to a well known rebuilding technician, yielding a greater than  
> expected outcome.
>    Here in the Pacific Northwest, pianos live a much longer viable  
> life than in areas such as the East coast or Gulf states. A 1926  
> Knabe may, in a long shot, be economically feasible if it lived in  
> this area all its life. But I think, no matter how the economics  
> spell out, that the end result could be disappointing. Nora, don't  
> take this personally, but your asking the question suggests that you  
> may have limited experience rebuilding. If so, be careful.
>
> Roger Gable
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