[pianotech] Commercial value vs. sentimental value

[Kerry]

I think it was Wally Brooks who I first heard express the sentiment that
anyone could rebuild a Steinway but it takes a real piano man to rebuild a
<substitute your favorite PSO here>.  I'm not sure of his ratio of
tongue-in-cheek, but there is some truth there.

 

Kerry Kean

 

 

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From: Delwin D Fandrich [mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com] 
Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 3:21 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Commercial value vs. sentimental value

 

I don't know whether or not David would rebuild it, but I would (and have).
Not only was it an often distained Howard grand, it was less than 4' 7" in
length. And then I ended up giving an all-day seminar on the project because
it ended up sounding so, well, musical is the word that comes to mind. At
least that was the word the 30 or so technicians used after being given the
opportunity to play it and compare it with the half-dozen or so new and well
respected grands surrounding it.

 

Yes, the owners understood that they would never be able to sell the piano
for anything like what they were putting into it. But, still, it had been
grandma's piano and then mom's and now daughter's. They did not want a new
and supposedly "better" grand, they wanted that grand. The just wanted it to
perform and sound as good as possible.

 

I believe it is our responsibility to tell our customers (and potential
customers) the truth about their pianos. Present all of the facts including
the hard, economic realities. And then, if the owner so chooses, do the work
and do the best you can do. Regardless of the perceived or pre-conceived
value of the brand. 

 

Some of the best and most successful pianos--in musical terms--that I have
rebuilt over the years have been pianos others have dismissed as junk
pianos. But, if we are to be the craftsmen (and women) we claim to be, that
is our job. It is also our exciting challenge. It is relatively easy to
start with a piano like a worn out Steinway B and remake it into a Steinway
B that performs on par with a new Steinway B. It is both professionally and
technically challenging to start with a sub-five foot grand of questionable
vintage and turn it into a great little piano, even when its performance is
judged directly against new and larger grands by a highly regarded maker. 

 

It is also highly satisfying when one can pull this off and see the tears of
joy welling up in the eyes of the owner when she sits down to play the newly
rebuilt piano for the first time. Would I have rebuilt this piano for
myself? No, of course not. But I certainly do not regret having done the job
for this owner. Nor does this owner regret having spent the money on a piano
that is worth about one-fourth to one-third the amount they put into the
job.

 

We owe it to our customers to be honest and give them all the facts about
their piano. Including the fact the we, and probably most others in the
profession, may not regard their particular brand an/or type of piano
highly. But once the owner has considered this and weighed the alternatives
and still decide to go forward with the project it becomes our
responsibility to act like the professionals we claim to be and work our
particular form of magic to the best of our ability.

 

ddf

 

 

 

 

 


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From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of wimblees at aol.com
Sent: April 10, 2009 7:09 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Commercial value vs. sentimental value

David

Same scenario as you just stated, but it's a same vintage Howard grand.
Would you rebuild it, even if the customer begged? Same scenario, (except
for the soundboard)*, but it's a 1920 Settergrin explayer upright. 

Wim

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