Wissner grands

[Farrell]

Hello. I service several Wissner grands, from 6-feet to 9-feet long. All are from between 1900 and 1930. These are fine instruments (or at least when they were new). They are Steinway clones - and very nice ones at that. I think most of the ones I service also have Wendell, Nickel and Goss actions - among the finest ever made. So yes, the piano was a very nice piano 88 years ago for sure.

I don't have tons of time right now, so I'll get to the point - pianos wear out over time and with use. Pretty much any piano after 88 years will have every moving part on it (and many of the non-moving parts) worn out - completely.

"Rebuilding" is a VERY nebulous term. It may mean new hammers, strings and dampers to one person, and it may mean new soundboard, full new action, redesign, etc. to another (me!). What you describe may be a very fine piano, or it may be a piano with a bunch of Band-Aids and untapped potential. It may be anywhere from well below mediocre, to very nice. If I recall correctly, Larry Fine gives pretty good text on how "rebuilt" piano is a nebulous term.

Who rebuilt the piano? I will keep that confidential - perhaps that will shed some light. At a minimum, I would have another, reputable technician, familiar with the range of rebuilt pianos inspect the piano. S/he should be able to tell you exactly what was done to the piano, and how well, and what the end result should be.

Email again if you have any more questions. Happy to help with what I can.

Terry Farrell
Performance Piano Remanufacturing
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "The Gadbois-Greens" <gadgreen@ties2.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2002 1:25 AM
Subject: Wissner grands


> I am a piano teacher, and am considering purchase of a 1914 6-foot 
> Wissner grand rebuilt two years ago by a PTG member, model #34070.  The 
> Wissner doesn't show up in Larry Fine's piano book, and I am not having 
> much luck with internet searches.  Can anyone tell me the reputation of 
> this instrument?  If rebuilt well, is it actually a good instrument, or 
> should I rule it out?  The asking price is $12,000.
> I am not interested in investing in mediocrity:  I'm hoping to buy a 
> fine instrument with  richly colored tone that will last, not the 
> brighter Asian sounds I'm hearing on Yamaha etc.
> Please advise!  I know you all do fine work.
> Marie
> 
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