We have a Bösendorfer Imperial (9' 6", 97 notes) that has overstayed its welcome here for a number of reasons. (The current dean wants to move to the all-Steinway designation and so the B'dorf' must move away from any concert stage. Also, our backstage is ill-equipped to deal with this extra-wide instrument which cannot be rolled through standard double doors. There is no room for the piano to stay backstage during opera, ballet, and large ensemble performances, so we have been taking the doors off their hinges to move the piano out of the stage area. Big inconvenience) The piano is 40 years old. Four years ago the instrument was refinished, received a new belly, and new hammers, shanks and flanges in Vienna. The case could be touched up to near-perfection. It has one- piece original ivories that show some cracking that can be seen but not felt under the fingers. The instrument is concert-ready for all practical purposes. The dean would like to sell the piano. I think potential buyers would be vanishingly few, and it is unlikely that the piano could be sold quickly -- might take a long time. My observation is that especially in the central part of the country, the values of used nicer pianos and especially used larger pianos have been depressed for some time. I am tasked with estimating at what price the instrument might be expected to sell. Is there any guidance out there? Anyone need an extra Imperial? Thanks, Kent Swafford
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC