QUESTION ABOUT AN OLD PIANO

[Shawn Brock]

Hey man You should love John!  He is saving all those old uprights for you! 
Its those who don't want to work on them that lets the rest have them. 
Making a living is making a living.  No matter how you slice it!  I love 
some of the old urs, but I would rather work on a new Bechstein.  That don't 
mean that I will turn down money how ever.  I have to say though the only 
complaints I have ever had were from people who had old star or piles of 
Kimball.  You all know the ones!  The ones that have 15 pounds torque for 
tuning pins.  The ones that have hammer felt that's coming off the molding 
and so on!  So at this juncture I will make the confession that I don't care 
to work on this stuff.  If others do that's good for them.  Some folks don't 
like or need gratification in piano work.  That's okay!  Others how ever... 
My limited experience is in the east and Mid west most old up rights are not 
worth the trouble.  Here in Washington how ever its a little different.  We 
don't have the drastic humidity swings like they do in the east.  So the old 
pianos will last a little longer.  But...  What ever works for you I guess.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hechler Family" <dahechler at charter.net>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 6:57 PM
Subject: Re: QUESTION ABOUT AN OLD PIANO


> John,
>
> I REALLY HATE PEOPLE THAT MAKE BLANKET STATEMENTS !!!!
>
> Over 99% of my customers, not only consist of the old beauties but many,
> what most of you call "junkie" smaller uprights (consoles, spinets, etc)
>
> SO WATCH IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> AND THAT GOES FOR THE REST OF YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> Duaine
>
> John Formsma wrote:
>> Marshall,
>>
>> I am recommending people not do anything with old uprights. I no
>> longer tune them, having built up a database that at present allows me
>> to work on other pianos.
>>
>> My experience with old uprights is that they require more work than
>> tuning. That "more work" ends up being personally unsatisfying because
>> there is so much more work that should be done before tuning, and the
>> customer is unwillling or unable to pay (and I don't recommend any
>> work except full restoration which never gets a taker). Things like
>> adjusting 1/4" or more of lost motion, backchecks, etc. Not to mention
>> hard hammers and deteriorated everything that make tuning difficult.
>>
>> John Formsma
>>
>> On 5/24/07, pianotune05 at comcast.net <pianotune05 at comcast.net> wrote:
>>> Hi Everyone,
>>> Someone e-mailed me who wants to sell an old piano.  It's a Baurer
>>> manufactured in Chicago.  I'm told that the piano is in pretty good
>>> shape with one key not working. I'd have to check it out to get an
>>> actual look at it.  I'm wondering first, does this person have a
>>> chance at selling this old piano. She thinks it's a 100 year old
>>> piano.  I asked her to provide the serial number, but she has not as
>>> of yet.  Are these pianos worth rebuilding? If so, is there anyone
>>> out there in my area, Chicago interested in an old piano for this
>>> type of project?   What can I do to help her sell the piano as in the
>>> role of a piano broker?  If its a hopeless case, what should I tell
>>> her.  Thanks.
>>> Marshall
>>> Villa Park, IL
>>>
>>
>
> -- 
> Duaine Hechler
> Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ
> Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding
> Associate Member of the Piano Technicians Guild
> Reed Organ Society Member
> St. Louis, MO 63034
> (314) 838-5587
> dahechler at charter.net
> www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
>
>