It seems I'm being outvoted on this one. But until I get the funds to even consider what to do, it's a moot point. Since this thread got started with wippens, I want to report that I am not going to be able to do the work on the balanciers on the D until Dec. 7. I will give a report once I'm done. Wim Quoting A440A at aol.com: > Wim writes: > > << I believe that there comes a time, especially with institutional > > pianos, that you have to say "this piano has had it". In other words, > > > even though it might cost between $20 - 25K to totally rebuild these > > > pianos, (new everything, including keys), I don't think it will be as > > > good as a new one. At least that's my theory. >> > > The Steinway Restoration Department loves this idea. They know how > much they > can make off that old carcass and the whole sales pitch of "trade'em > in on a > new one" is designed to support their profit. > $10,000 for a complete action rebuild is everything needed to make > the > instrument perform like a new one, shall I list them? > New back action, hammers, shanks, key-bushing, guide rail cloth, > keyframe > cloth, whippens, damper felts, total pedal rebuild, keytops, new > keyleads, (this > is a balanced action I am talking about), let-off buttons, maybe a > new action > rail or two, back-checks, all punchings and the time to assemble and > regulate. > $11,000 for the cost of a new soundboard and block/strings and > cartage. > > So, for less than half the price of a new one, what would be the > difference? > It could actually be cheaper than that. No need to refinish a > piano > that is going to live in a studio. And as far as a new soundboard, is > it really > necessary for studio piano that will live with its lid down and > covered up by > stacks of sheet music? Maybe just a block and strings if the bridges > are good. > That would take another $6,000 off the price, so you might have $ > 16,000 in a > rebuilt M that will play just as well as what is coming out of New > York right > now. > What would serve the school best? Three completely restored > pianos or > one new one? If they do decide to get rid of them, us rebuilders > would love > to buy the old ones. > I think it is totally false economy to trade in a Steinway > rather than > rebuild it. > Regards, > > > Ed Foote RPT > http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html > www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html > > Willem Blees, RPT Piano Tuner/Technician School of Music University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL USA
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