Too many pianos

[Roger C Hayden]

I use a dollar route.

In NE Pennsylvania I can get from 750 to maybe 1500 for a good playing
nice looking solid old upright in its original finish.  IF the case is
workable.  The fancier the case, the better the price.  I have two
talented touch-up men that do amazing things to these old finishes for
anywhere from 50 to 150 dollars.  

In other words, for this piano I start with what I think I can sell it
for when it's ready, for example it has the 'appearance' of a $1200
piano.  Next subtract the move to my shop, $150, and an average move to
the buyer, $150.  Next subtract what you will have to do to get it ready:
   Pitch raise, $35, Fine Tune, $65, Bridge reinforced with super glues,
$15 (Slight splitting acceptable), a set of straps, $75, tighten and
repair action, $75?, voice hammers and a decent regulation without going
crazy, $100, a follow up fine tuning after delivery, $65, and estimated
brief visit to fix something under warranty, $35.  Ok, this comes to
$735.  Now if I sell this for 1200, I profit on top of all other work
$465 dollars.  Not too bad.  Because of all this money I'm going to put
into this thing, I won't offer a seller more than $100 or $150.

By the way, I do this arithmetic right in front of the seller, including
the part about a 30% profit.  Nobody expects  you to buy and sell and not
make a profit.   And If the seller comes to your shop and sees his piano
he sold you for $150 now priced at $1200 he should not be offended,
because you have been up front with him all the way.

Also, I don't buy any old upright that doesn't have a good big sound,
from top to bottom.  It's gotta have a HEART!!

Ask questions.  If painted, don't take it, unless it's unusually good.   
A great piano painted is hardly worth anything.  Folks won't buy it, and
refinishing time or costs run it out of the market.  

If it's missing many ivories, recovering keys must be figured in.   I
figure around $175.

There is another small market for LARGER FANCIER uprights.  There are
some folks out there turning those into nikelodians using all new player
actions available from two or three different makers.  Locally we have a
refinishing antique restoration shop that retools the cases beautifully,
for about $1200 including stained glass top and bottom, and another
fellow who builds in the mechanism, for about $2700.  Piano techs usually
get the piano part in tidy condition, varying from 300 to 1500, and then
they resell these impressive 'antiques' for $8000 to $12000.

We have one fine upright here now, a Janssen , that I got cheap, needing
not much work, and well worth new hammers.  Imadagewa.  This thing is
wonderful to play.  It's already sold, $1400.

Don't collect pianos.  Buy pianos that can be put back into good service
affordably.  

Roger C. Hayden, RPT

On Sat, 11 Mar 2000 13:14:07 EST Wimblees@AOL.COM writes:
> In a message dated 3/10/00 6:16:07 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
> btnaudio@flash.net writes:
> 
> << Does anyone have suggestions for how not to own 25 pianos after a 
> year in
>  the business? >>
> 
>
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