[pianotech] Old upright

[wimblees at aol.com]

$5000 for action work and stringing might be doable. But Duaine is also restoring the player system for that. The last time I got a quote from a reputable player guy,?(about 10 years ago), the player itself was in the $4000 range. 


Wim

-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Behm <behmpiano at gmail.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 4:07 am
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Old upright



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

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