Well...David - and - Dean ... are both right ..... Meaning, I have a player rebuild coming up in 2013 - that from the get go - is a disaster - BUT - the customer insists they want it done - and - is willing to pay for it. Currently, best estimate $10,000 to $12,000. They bought it for $100 - fell in love with the cabinet with - no - sentimental value. I have to - find - the player system - then - rebuild it. The cabinet needs refinishing, new strings, new pins, possibly new pin block, new hammers, new dampers, about half of the keys need work. Plus anything thing that I might have missed on the estimate. AND, YES, I advised them - THREE TIMES - to find a better player that was complete - however - they said they they fell in love with the cabinet - and - also said that they like "rescuing things from the dump". So, go figure...... Duaine On 11/29/2011 01:38 PM, David Love wrote: > > I think you’re both missing the point of all this. This isn’t a comment on the lack of appreciation for old > uprights. The issue being discussed relates to the debate of paying $50 or $150 or even $250 for this piano. The > concern is in the wrong place. While you can certainly make a good piano out of an old upright (sometimes) that > doesn’t mean that it makes sense economically or that a person debating between $50 or $150 is likely to be in the > position to the do the work required even if it could be justified by the value—depending on their goals, of course. > The tech’s obligation, in my view, is to be realistic about the potential of the piano and all the costs involved and > then inform the customer of the reality of the situation and give them something to compare it to. Otherwise they may > end up getting the piano for $50 but who cares if it has problems that trump the acquisition at any price. > > As far as the economics of rebuilding old uprights, rarely does it make sense unless you’re a hobbyist working for fun > or unless the customer has some sentimental attachment that extends beyond the cost/value relationship, which does > happen and can be justified. The time involved and the cost of materials is not significantly different from what it > takes to do a quality grand piano maybe with exception of the finish. The value when you’re done, however, is a > fraction. Where do you want to spend your time? I know where I want to spend mine. While it may be sad to relegate > many of these once interesting instruments to the scrap heap, the value that justifies the time and cost generally > just isn’t there. As technicians we would be remiss in our responsibility to advise customers otherwise. > > David Love > > www.davidlovepianos.com > > *From:*pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] *On Behalf Of *Stephen Grattan > *Sent:* Tuesday, November 29, 2011 11:07 AM > *To:* pianotech at ptg.org > *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] Upright price > > Noah, > > As a rebuilder that rebuilds old uprights, grands and player pianos every day - I agree completely with Dean. > > *Steve Grattan* > > *Lost Chord Clinic* > > *888 742-6644* > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > *From:*Dean May <deanmay at pianorebuilders.com> > *To:* pianotech at ptg.org > *Sent:* Tue, November 29, 2011 1:50:36 PM > *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] Upright price > > One thing you must realize, Noah, is there is a quite a bias on this list against old uprights. Which is too bad, > because even though there are zillions out there richly deserving of their scorn, there are still many that make very > nice instruments and have beautiful cabinets. > > Your job, as the buyer’s agent, is to discern what they are looking for and help them find it for the best price. > Their decorating scheme may demand and pretty old upright. And if you can make a decent playing piano out of it for > less than $500 and they love the cabinet, then they’ll have a decent piano that fits their needs for less than $1k. If > it could be done for $10k and still fits their budget, I wouldn’t think twice about giving them the recommendation, > and I have done that very thing with older uprights with PianoDisc installed. Just be sure to give them full > disclosure that they will never be able to recoup their investment. What they’ll have is a very unique piece: a > beautiful antique piano that plays and sounds nice and fits their needs. > > *Dean* > > Dean W May (812) 235-5272 voice and text > > PianoRebuilders.com <http://pianorebuilders.com/> (888) DEAN-MAY > > Terre Haute IN 47802 Give us a LIKE on Facebook! Go to PianoRebuilders.com > <https://www.facebook.com/pages/PianoRebuilderscom/137780082943148> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > *From:*pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] *On Behalf Of *Noah Frere > *Sent:* Tuesday, November 29, 2011 9:27 AM > *To:* pianotech at ptg.org > *Subject:* [pianotech] Upright price > > I gave an estimate for repairs/assessment last week of a 90 year old Werner upright who's player components had been > removed. The insides were as expected, though on the better side. Only one broken note (hammer flange), few if any > cracks in soundboard/bridges. However, the sound was clearly 90 years old and the bobbling hammers, etc. left much to > be desired. > > The seller was asking $275, to which I immediately responded (the potential buyer and I were alone) that it was too > much, and I would ask for it for $50, but go up to $100 or even $150. Soon afterwards my attention went back to the > case, which I had forgotten about, and realized it was in very good condition. The owner came in, and, hearing about > the condition of the interior, and the $100 offer, began to cry. She needed to sleep on it. > > As the hours and days progressed, I started double-guessing myself. Had I over-emphasized the interior while ignoring > the quality exterior? > Maybe it /was /worth $275. > > Hmm... > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/> > Version: 2012.0.1873 / Virus Database: 2101/4646 - Release Date: 11/29/11 > -- Duaine Hechler Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ Tuning, Servicing& Rebuilding Reed Organ Society Member Florissant, MO 63034 (314) 838-5587 dahechler at att.net www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com -- Home& Business user of Linux - 11 years
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