Knabe Grand

[Farrell]

Well, I didn't really sell the job, she called me asking about a good piano for her new recital hall. We talked about new pianos, used pianos, and the fact that I could put one together for her. She will be getting a very attactive deal, as I will have an ability to show the piano to other prospective clients at will. The final total bill will be about what most rebuilders charge for a standard full rebuild, short of a board. Basically, she will get a new board, new bridges and action balancing for free and pay normal fees for the rest.

Our target for delivery is next Christmas.

> I am curious as I dont think this kind of a deal would happen over here.
> Customers here expect to just "take it home" as it were, when they buy.
> To lay out some amount of money, deliver the instrument to a shop for
> rebuild, much less for some extended time frame..... nah.... wouldnt
> happen here. How do you sell folks on this kind of a deal ?

I'm sweet and she likes me. And I plan to knock her socks off with this piano.

Don't fret. I don't know that this will prove to be the norm around here. She just called me up out of the blue, I mentioned rebuilding an old high-end piano, and she bit. She is smart. She knows what new pianos cost. She has bought several new pianos for her studio - Yamaha verticals and grands, and a Petrof grand. She wants to do it. Who the heck am I to argue? I do feel blessed. Now I just gotta deliver.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Brekne" <Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 6:27 PM
Subject: Re: Knabe Grand


> Terry, I am curious about this. You say you helped a client buy the
> piano for rebuild. How much (roughly) is the customers final total bill
> going to be and how long are you expecting to have the piano at your
> shop before delivery to him ?
> 
> I am curious as I dont think this kind of a deal would happen over here.
> Customers here expect to just "take it home" as it were, when they buy.
> To lay out some amount of money, deliver the instrument to a shop for
> rebuild, much less for some extended time frame..... nah.... wouldnt
> happen here. How do you sell folks on this kind of a deal ?
> 
> Cheers
> RicB
> 
> Farrell wrote:
> > 
> > Just thought I would share my latest acquisition of sorts. I helped one of my clients purchase a 1902 Knabe 6' 4" grand for full rebuild - soundboard, etc. It was delivered to my shop today. This is a very impressive piano. Open pinblock (glued to stretcher). Three bridges - nine wound tricords on the tenor/transition bridge. And the rim - the rim - a full 2-7/8 inches of 14 ply ash. Not a trace of delamination. Truly massive. Piano appears to have had a kind first 100 years. Five frame members under board. Won't get to this one for a while, but am very much looking forward to it! They sure built those pianos back then.
> > 
> > Del had shared a bit of advice to me regarding selection of this piano. Thanks Del. It looks like a real winner.
> > 
> > Terry Farrell
> > _______________________________________________
> 
> -- 
> Richard Brekne
> RPT, N.P.T.F.
> UiB, Bergen, Norway
> mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
> http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html
> _______________________________________________
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>