[pianotech] Old upright

[Jeff Deutschle]

I'd love to see the pictures!

Maybe you could answer a few questions. It seems that the achilles
heel for old uprights is loss of downbearing at the treble break. Do
you have a protocol for dealing with this? Also, I've been keeping my
eye out for any brands that do not have a deep notch (deeper than the
cap), or even no notch at all, for the treble break strut. Have you
noticed any?

On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 10:07 AM, Chuck Behm <behmpiano at gmail.com> wrote:
> In our shop, we regularly restore old uprights for prices ranging from
> $5,000 - 7500, so I agree with Dean in thinking Duaine's price is not out in
> left field (at least, here in rural Iowa, it wouldn't be). For the above
> price range, we put on a 3 coat polyurethane finish, repin and restring (and
> sometimes replace the pinblock), repair the soundboard, shape or replace
> hammers, put on new keytops, repair and regulate the action, etc.
>
> I always make clear to the owner that the commercial value of the piano,
> when completed, is far less than the investment they are making. Our
> customers, however, are by and large not interested in resale. It' s their
> grandmother's piano, or their mother's piano. That's what makes it worth it
> to them to bring the piano back to life.
>
> These instruments are beautiful when they are done, and I love working on
> them. It really does become more than just a paycheck when you are bringing
> back a treasure from the past. I know many would rather send them all to the
> landfill (out with the old, in with the new!), but personally, I've never
> subscribed to that philosophy.
>
>  If anyone is interested in seeing some before and after pictures of
> uprights we've worked on, email me and I'll send a batch or two.  Chuck Behm
>



-- 
Regards,
Jeff Deutschle

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