Economics of rebuilding grands ...Roger

[Lance Lafargue]

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Brian,

It all depends on the level of work, amount of time, and what expected
earnings are.  I personally try to make rebuilds look factory.  I don't
always succeed, but I try.  Others don't have that thought at all -never
even consider the idea.  Some use Renner, some use Schaff.  Some don't mind
68 gram touchweight, some do.  Some customers don't notice, or care.  I say,
if it works for you, go for it.  I personally have stopped sending out
contracts and doing estimates because I cannot rebuild profitably.  So, I
see where Wim is coming from and most techs I talk to agree.  I spend way
more hours than you do, there are always unforseen problems, etc.  I use
Renner, expensive bass strings, and Brooks, LTD.  I've tripled my prices and
I still have a hard time seeing it as being a wise business decision for me.
I have all the tuning, repair, maintenance, and action work I want, though.
Others have to work at keeping busy.  The markets vary widely.  I say all of
this because you sound like you are doing a personal survey.  Some guys
don't enjoy tuning every day and do shop work to enjoy their time - that was
me.  This is just my little opinion.  Best of luck.  And remember,  when
you're lying there dying, you won't be complaining that you didn't get to
tune or rebuild enough pianos.  $25 or $100 shop time, you're still
dead.........

Lance Lafargue, RPT
Mandeville, LA
New Orleans Chapter


  -----Original Message-----
  From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf Of
Brian Trout
  Sent: Monday, August 09, 1999 8:20 AM
  To: pianotech@ptg.org
  Subject: Re: Economics of rebuilding grands ...Roger


  Hi Roger,

  Re: M&H,
  I guess it would make a difference what is going in.  It got a new set of
keytops/fronts, keys rebushed, rebedded, sharps refinished, and a new set of
hammers which were from Schaff. And, of course, regulated.  (Schaff hammers
need some work, but I've usually had pretty good luck with getting a nice
sound out of them.)  Someone had already done some action work on the piano
when we got it.  It appeared to have had a new set of knuckles and a pretty
thorough replacement of a lot of the action felts.

  The keytops/fronts were done by Walker Piano... $125  (we did the
rebushing ourselves)
  Rebedding the keybed... is $15.00 of materials a reasonable number?
  A set of Schaff hammers... about $150

  But lets say for the sake of argument that we did go ahead and spend $1500
for action parts.  Does that mean we didn't make any money on the job?  Not
by a long shot.  (I would actually have rather spent more on this job, but
I'm not the guy who made that decision.)

  As I have progressed in the detail of work I'm doing, I have tended to put
more into the pianos I do parts wise.  But when you do that, the hours
needed to 'refurbish' all those old parts are significantly diminished as
well.

  As for a few other aspects of the job...

  Soundboard and ribs... North Hudson  around $575 (includes shipping)
  Bridge materials... (guessing) $25 (Also from North Hudson)
  Damper felt...(Apsco) $35 ?
  All refinishing supplies, (Mohawk, W.Wordak, Decals Unlimited) $250,
(includes decals)
  Tuning pins...(Apsco) $65 ?

  I'm guessing on some of these numbers, as I don't have all of the actual
costs in front of me.  But I think I'm in the 'ball park'.

  Perhaps for those who go Renner all the way, costs would be significantly
higher.  I have not taken that step yet.  I have used Renner parts on
occasion.  They are beautiful.  They are expensive.  As are Hamburg S&S
parts, beautiful and expensive.  But if I can spend a few hundred dollars on
parts, and a few hours of time to make an old action into one that plays
very, very well, I don't feel ashamed that I haven't put on all new Renner
parts.  (There are exceptions, ...I'm too tired to get into every
conceivable circumstance...)  'Used' pianos are a lot like used cars...
they're all a little different.  Some need more, some need less.

  Just my take from this angle.  Thanks for sharing some of your perspective
as well.  I look forward to hearing from more people.  No doubt, we all have
a slightly different view.  :-)

  Have a good day.

  Brian Trout
  Quarryville, PA
  btrout@desupernet.net


    -----Original Message-----
    From: Roger Jolly <baldyam@sk.sympatico.ca>
    To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
    Date: Monday, August 09, 1999 12:03 AM
    Subject: Re: Economics of rebuilding grands




    Hi Brian,
                    I would like to know where you get your inexpensive
parts, Action materials alone cost me about $1,500 US. Add a board, strings,
pins, dampers and misc. other felt products, and the bill would be a lot
more than $1,600.
    Regards Roger

    Roger Jolly
    Baldwin Yamaha Piano Centre
    Saskatoon and Regina
    Saskatchewan, Canada.
    306-665-0213
    Fax 652-0505

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