Looking for Steinway D

[Paul Stephens]

PianoBook@aol.com wrote:
>
> List:
>
> A friend of mine is looking to buy a Steinway D -- new, used, or rebuilt --
> for a recording studio he is building in Boston.  snip

This posting is somewhat indirectly related to the search for Steinway D
pianos.  The university for which I service pianos is being forced to
close its performing arts facility for at least two and possibily three
years to remodel to conform to life-safety and current ADA building
codes.  The state fire marshall basically told the state government that
he would close the building if the legislature didn't fund the upgrade.
The state has finally come up with $17 million to do a $19 million job.

The director of the building has two major concert halls for which he has
three concert grands available: Two Steinway D's and a Mason & Hamlin CC.
(At least I believe that is the correct model.)  He would like to turn
one of the Steinways and the M&H into a single piano.

The Steinway is serial #384710 (1963).  This piano is used frequently and
serviced regularly.  About 5 or 6 years ago, Rick Baldassin replaced the
hammers, shanks & flanges, and whippens (all the parts with teflon
bushings) with new S&S parts and complete regulation.  The case is about
what you would expect for an instrument moved from stage to stage on a
truck.  On a scale of 1 to 5, it would probably rate a 4-.

The M&H is serial number 1528.  The concert grands did not use the same
serial number sequence as the rest of the M&H pianos, so I am not sure
when it was built.  I estimate that it came from the late 1920's or
1930's.  If anyone can confirm a year, I would like to know.  The action
and hammers are original.  Soundboard and bridges are in fair condition.
As it stands, the piano sounds good, but it obviously needs major work.
On a scale of 1 to 5 I would rate it a 2.

The university would like to get some idea of a trade-in value or sale
value.  What would be a possible value range for these instruments?  So
few used instruments this size change hands in Utah, I have no idea what
a realistic value might be.

I appreciate being able to draw on the experience of this diverse group.
 Thanks for your help.

Paul Stephens, RPT