[pianotech] commercial value vs. sentimental value - 2nd try

[Farrell]

"Although we don't replace soundboards in our shop (no apology here, everyone has limits their comfort zone)..."

Please be aware that a number of top rebuilders custom build and install soundboards for the rebuilding trade. If one of your potential piano projects needs a new soundboard, you may wish to consider subbing that task out to one what offers those services. No reason to not offer soundboard replacement these days...

Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano

www.farrellpiano.com

  From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Chuck Behm
  Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 1:25 AM
  To: pianotech at ptg.org
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] commercial value vs. sentimental value - 2nd try

   

  Yesterday I was working through some ideas on my computer for a post, when I inadvertently hit the wrong button and it was sent, mid-thought. Since I am not a straight line writer, it didn't make much sense in places, since I had been jumping back and forth from idea to idea. I'd like to finish what I started. Sorry for the screwup.

    

              In the opinions expressed about the ethics of working on old uprights,
  the guiding principle seems to be whether an old piano is "worth fixing" or
  not. Some technicians posting their opinions think that in almost all cases such instruments are not worth the trouble.
              If the worth of a piano were only to be based on its cash, or commercial value, then it's true that very few older instruments other than Steinway or Mason and Hamlin would be worthy of restoration. In that sense, technicians who believe most old uprights and grands should be thrown on the dung heap have a point. 

              Real value, however, is sometimes not monetary in nature at all, but resides in what tugs on our heart.  As I stated in my partial post yesterday, my mother's rings are one of the handful of possessions that I own that to me have such value. Commercially, these rings have a very small worth. Sentimentally, however, they are priceless, if only to me. When a customer owns a piano that is dear to their heart, one that their mother or grandmother owned and made music on, for example, what gives any of us the right to judge the worthiness of such an instrument?

              In the case of a piano with sentimental value such as this, I look the
  instrument over with the customer and explain what I personally can and cannot do to
  bring the piano back to as close to the way it was when it was new as possible.
              What I can tell the customer is that if they agree to the repairs recommended, when we are finished with the piano:
  1.   The case and keyboard will be beautiful. Whether it's ornate or plain, it will look as if it belongs on a showroom floor. The finish will be glassy smooth, all chipped or damaged veneer will have been repaired.  It will be the showpiece of any room. 

  2.   The touch will be responsive and reliable. After we finish replacing whatever action parts need replacing, fixing whatever needs fixing, regulating and re-regulating, I can guarantee that it will play up to its potential.

  3.  With a yearly tuning, the tuning will be stable. Whether we simply repin and restring the piano, or replace the pinblock, pins and strings, we tune the piano 4 times before it leaves the shop to insure stability. 

  4. The tone of the piano, the hardest factor to predict, is usually surprisingly good once the piano is completed. Although we don't replace soundboards in our shop (no apology here, everyone has limits their comfort zone), we do careful shimming and refinishing of soundboards. 

              Always with a older instrument of a lesser known brand, I make it clear to the owner that any investment should be made with no thought of resale, in that they would never be able to sell the piano for what they are putting into it.  I also point out the type of new instrument that could be purchased for a similar price.  With these things understood, I do the best work that I can. 

              To be perfectly honest, before I close, I will say that the majority of work we take on in the shop is at my recommendation. When I see a piano in the field that has a lot of potential, I will bring up the idea of restoration to the owner, and show them pictures and testimonials or invite them to the shop. On pianos that truly seem hopeless, I simply keep quiet about what we do. But, if a customer approaches me, and truly wants a piano worked on because it is dear to them, then because they are my customer, the piano is important to me as well, irregardless of its condition.

              Those of you who think this is all bunk, you are welcome to your opinions (and I'm sure you will express them - go ahead and fire away). For me, however, the warm thanks of my customers, expressed countless times over the years, is all the justification I need to feel I'm doing the right thing.  Chuck

   
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