Bidding Restringing Job

[Stan Kroeker]

>I may be getting my first re-stringing job for pay soon, and would
>appreciate some assistance on calculating the bid. I estimate that the
>bass strings are going to run just under $150. And while I haven't yet
>run the numbers, I can get a pretty good handle on how much my cost of
>the plain wire will be. Finally, I use Joe Garret's Repair Labor Guide
>to figure labor. Generally, I charge customers double my cost of parts
>and accessories. So, my question is, do you normally use this same
>markup for strings?

Jerry,

You make no mention of the piano you will be restringing.  Have you
assessed the condition of the soundboard (is it cracked?..is there crown
remaining?..How much?) or the bridges (cracks at the pin locations?..loose
pins?)  I'm assuming you are repinning the original pinblock.(?)

I encourage you to read Bill Spurlock's articles in the reprint book titled
'Bridges and Soundboard Repair'.  They detail efficient soundboard crack
and bridge 'reconditioning' techniques that have become a standard part of
my price quotations for restringing.

If Joe Garrett lists 22.5 hours for complete restringing, not including
string scale data gathering, then the above soundboard and bridge
reconditioning might add an additional 25 hours (on average) of labor, but
the results are worth it!!

If this is an older piano, consider that when the strings are off, it will
be the first opportunity in decades to correct deterioration or sloppy work
or both, in the soundboard/bridge assembly.

Best regards,

Stan Kroeker
Registered Piano Technician

Kroeker & Sons Piano Experts
59 Quiring
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada  R2G 1Y5

Ph. 204-669-5881