Spinet/Console Definition; was: Appraisal Value

[David Ilvedson]

For me, that's a console if it has free standing legs...not that it makes a heck of lot of difference...;-]

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Cliff Lesher" <lesher at dejazzd.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Received: 10/26/2007 7:38:26 PM
Subject: Re: Spinet/Console Definition; was: Appraisal Value


>How about those 36"-tall pianos with keysticks that, just aft of the  
>balance pin, dive about 3 or 4 inches, their capstaned tail ends  
>providing direct blow to the wippens.  Spinsoles?  Consets?

>Oh, and don't forget the 36" Weavers with the key-end, rocker  
>crowbars.   My name for them:  Out-of-control tail spin..ets.

>To their credit, both types afford convenient action removal, making  
>them more consolesque.

>Cliff Lesher
>Winfield, PA
>_______________________________________
>On Oct 26, 2007, at 9:47 PM, David Ilvedson wrote:

>> Drop action=spinet.
>> Action on keys/free hanging legs=console
>> action on keys/legs attached to case at bottom=studio such as U1,  
>> UST-7 and such
>> Big=Upright
>>
>> David Ilvedson, RPT
>> Pacifica, CA  94044
>>
>> ----- Original message ----------------------------------------
>> From: Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>
>> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
>> Received: 10/26/2007 5:15:53 PM
>> Subject: Re: Spinet/Console Definition; was: Appraisal Value
>>
>>
>>>> If it's tall, with a full-blow action, it's not a spinet.
>>
>>> Well, I said "tall (for a spinet)". I'd guess it was close to 40  
>>> inches tall - no shorter
>>> than that. The music desk was level with the lid.
>>
>>> Not trying to split hairs or challenge anyone, but rather  
>>> determine the definition of
>>> spinet and console. To the best of my knowledge, there are two  
>>> streams of piano
>>> type definition defining four types of vertical pianos (spinet,  
>>> console, studio upright
>>> and upright) - the layperson's and the technical definitions. The  
>>> layperson definition
>>> is based strictly on how tall the piano is. My understanding is  
>>> that the technical
>>> definition of a spinet is that it has the drop action - whether or  
>>> not it has the
>>> compressed or full size action does not matter. A console does not  
>>> have the drop
>>> mechanism, i.e. the action sits on key capstans, but has a  
>>> compressed-size action.
>>> Then the studio upright has the full action directly on capstans  
>>> and the upright has
>>> the action either on capstans with riser extensions (think Yamaha  
>>> U1 or U3), or the
>>> stickers common in the old uprights.
>>
>>>> Even if it's
>>>> console size, but has a drop action, it's a "drop-action  console."
>>
>>> Opinions on this? IMHO, if it has a drop action, it is a spinet.  
>>> Or do we use five
>>> classes on vertical pianos?
>>
>>>> If the
>>>> rear ends of the keys (capstans) extend under the wippens, then  
>>>> it's a
>>>> console.
>>
>>> Well, if it has a compressed action. If it has a full size action,  
>>> it would be a studio
>>> upright.
>>
>>>> Yes, a dealer might ask $2K,
>>
>>> Right, which is why I defined "retail value" as what the dealer  
>>> would ask for it....
>>> Oops, I see I did not define "retail value". I meant to. Well, I  
>>> guess there is another
>>> question: Does the phrase "retail value" mean what a dealer would  
>>> ask for it? I
>>> thought that to be the case.
>>
>>>> but through the newspaper, between private
>>>> parties, it might be hard to get more than $1200 - $1500 unless  
>>>> the finish
>>>> is really like new.
>>
>>> Agreed. If even close to that. I see the majority of pianos like  
>>> this go for somewhere
>>> between $500 and $1K in a private sale.
>>
>>>> (Looks always seem to matter more than the quality of
>>>> the instrument)
>>
>>> LOL! Good point. So sad, but oh so true. That's why I told the  
>>> lady that there would
>>> easily be a $200 difference in the price of the piano if she were  
>>> to be able to remove
>>> the 39 or so glued-on letters on the middle keys (ABCDEFG).
>>
>>
>>> Terry Farrell
>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>    If it's tall, with a full-blow action, it's not a spinet.   
>>>> Even if it's
>>>> console size, but has a drop action, it's a "drop-action   
>>>> console."  If the
>>>> rear ends of the keys (capstans) extend under the wippens, then  
>>>> it's a
>>>> console.
>>>>    Yes, a dealer might ask $2K, but through the newspaper,  
>>>> between private
>>>> parties, it might be hard to get more than $1200 - $1500 unless  
>>>> the finish
>>>> is really like new.  (Looks always seem to matter more than the  
>>>> quality of
>>>> the instrument)
>>>>    --David Nereson, RPT
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> I'm looking for a reality check on the retail value of a 1983  
>>>>> Baldwin
>>>> spinet - midwest USA prices.
>>>>
>>>> It is a tall one (for a spinet) with the Baldwin full-blow  
>>>> action. Case is
>>>> good to very good, and mechanically the piano is in very good  
>>>> condition - I
>>>> would estimate that it has average to light wear for a piano its  
>>>> age. The
>>>> regulation is good.
>>>>
>>>> I'm guessing that a dealer would ask about $2k for such a beast.  
>>>> Yes?
>>>>
>>>> Terry Farrell