Who was the better?

[Delwin D Fandrich]

Vballx@aol.com wrote:

> To Del
> Can you tell me your vesion of what a complete rebuild would be?
> My understanding of a complete rebuild is to; restring the piano, replacing
> the pinblock, replacing the hammer heads, damper felts,and key bushings and
> possibly replacing or completely overhauling other sets of parts as well. Even
> refinnishing the piano can be considerd par of the rebuild.

Well, our situation is somewhat different these days.  For the past several years
we have been specializing in a certain type of rebuilding and/or remanufacturing.
See our web site at:
http://www.olynet.com/users/pianobuilders/index.html

In addition to the above list we would install a new soundboard and rib set and
new (not recapped) bridges cut to a new scale.  We would also replace hammershanks
and probably replace wippens.  Depending on the style of damper lever assembly we
may or may not replace the entire assembly.  But the pianos that get sent out here
are either in pretty rough shape or they are fairly new and are here only for our
soundboard and scale enhancements.

Not every piano needs, or is worth, this kind of investment in either time or
money.

'Rebuilding' can, and does, mean a lot of different things to different people.
There are a lot of words bandied about to describe the work done on pianos.  By my
definition, the work you're describing above would be considered the bare minimum
to qualify as 'rebuilding.'

It's probably good to remember as well that you're not buying a toaster when you
buy a rebuilding job on a piano.  For example, 'a new pinblock' can mean most
anything.  In its most literal sense, it simply means that there is a new chunk of
wood in there.  It says nothing about how well that chunk of wood is fit and
bedded to the plate's pinblock flange.  Or to the tuning pin panel.  Is it the
correct thickness?  How well do the tuning pin holes in the pinblock line up with
those in the plate?  Is it properly fit to the inner rim and/or the stretcher?
How carefully was the drilling done for the tuning pins?  How consistent is the
tuning pin torque?  Etc., etc., etc.



> This is mostly taken from THE PIANO BOOK.  I've been using this as my reference
> and I have to say that everything that I have read and quoted has been done to
> this piano. The shop I'm getting this piano from has been in business for 50
> years.  I do
> have to say I don't think they know the fair market value for this piano and
> others in their shop.  They are sticklers for perfection.
> Del, thank you for all of your knowledge, You're a true professional in this
> world pianos. Hats off.

Have you checked their reputation with other piano tuners?  (Forget about checking
with stores -- they might have a vested interest in seeing that you do not buy
this piano.)  Have you considered having an independent piano technician examine
the piano before you sign on the dotted line?  Believe me, I hope the deal is
exactly as you describe, it's just that I know how long it takes, and how much it
costs, to do this type of work competently and thoroughly.  If this shop has been
in business for 50 years, you can be pretty sure that they do also.  If memory
serves -- I get between 75 and 150 E.mail posts a day.  Most of these get the
immediate delete button treatment, but still things get a bit fuzzy from time to
time. -- the price of the piano you're considering was $9,000.  Keeping in mind
that the piano itself has some value, it would be pretty difficult to competently
do even the basic rebuilding you've outlined above for that amount of money.

In any case, good luck with your piano.  I do hope that it is just as you describe
-- and it could well be -- and that it meets your needs and expectations fully.

Regards,

Del