"New" old uprights Costs

[Kdivad@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 05/04/2000 10:34:59 AM Central Daylight Time, 
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes:

> I love this thread. I love old uprights. But I do not understand how to go
>  about a "complete restoration" within the $7K to $8K range...at a profit.
>  Are we talking complete, complete, i.e. board, bridge caps, block, strings,
>  action, keys, refinishing (good job), regulating? I have a hard time
>  envisioning anthing under $10K. How can it be done?
>  
>  Terry Farrell
>  
Well here we go with restoration definition problems, First you quoted me 
with saying "complete restorations,"  actually What I said was 
"restorations."  What I should have said was restorations; including refinish 
closed grain with rub, restring with new pinblock, usually recap bass bridge, 
new hammers, capstan felts, damper felts, repin any flanges that need it, new 
bridles, new keybed felt, key bushings, keytops, full regulation, 4 pitch 
raisings and 2 tunings (one in the home), nickel plating or polishing of 
hardware and drayage.  I may have left out something but it will not be huge 
like a new board.  Your right, if we do replace the soundboard it will  run 
from 10k to 12k.  If the piano is a quality piano worth rebuilding what most 
of my customers end up with is a beautiful instrument with sentimental value. 
 To buy something new of the same quality will usually run from 13k to 23k 
and though it would bring much more on resale I think the depreciation will 
be similar in the end.
I always make sure that the customer understands the resale facts.
David
DFW Texas