[pianotech] Upright price

[Duaine Hechler]

Well...David - and - Dean ... are both right .....

Meaning, I have a player rebuild coming up in 2013 - that from the get go - is a disaster - BUT - the customer insists 
they want it done - and - is willing to pay for it. Currently, best estimate $10,000 to $12,000.

They bought it for $100 - fell in love with the cabinet with - no - sentimental value. I have to - find - the player 
system - then - rebuild it. The cabinet needs refinishing, new strings, new pins, possibly new pin block, new hammers, 
new dampers, about half of the keys need work. Plus anything thing that I might have missed on the estimate.

AND, YES, I advised them - THREE TIMES - to find a better player that was complete - however - they said they they fell 
in love with the cabinet - and - also said that they like "rescuing things from the dump".

So, go figure......

Duaine

On 11/29/2011 01:38 PM, David Love wrote:
>
> I think you’re both missing the point of all this.  This isn’t a comment on the lack of appreciation for old 
> uprights.  The issue being discussed relates to the debate of paying $50 or $150 or even $250 for this piano.  The 
> concern is in the wrong place.  While you can certainly make a good piano out of an old upright (sometimes) that 
> doesn’t mean that it makes sense economically or that a person debating between $50 or $150 is likely to be in the 
> position to the do the work required even if it could be justified by the value—depending on their goals, of course.  
> The tech’s obligation, in my view, is to be realistic about the potential of the piano and all the costs involved and 
> then inform the customer of the reality of the situation and give them something to compare it to.  Otherwise they may 
> end up getting the piano for $50 but who cares if it has problems that trump the acquisition at any price.
>
> As far as the economics of rebuilding old uprights, rarely does it make sense unless you’re a hobbyist working for fun 
> or unless the customer has some sentimental attachment that extends beyond the cost/value relationship, which does 
> happen and can be justified.  The time involved and the cost of materials is not significantly different from what it 
> takes to do a quality grand piano maybe with exception of the finish.  The value when you’re done, however, is a 
> fraction.  Where do you want to spend your time?  I know where I want to spend mine.  While it may be sad to relegate 
> many of these once interesting instruments to the scrap heap, the value that justifies the time and cost generally 
> just isn’t there.  As technicians we would be remiss in our responsibility to advise customers otherwise.
>
> David Love
>
> www.davidlovepianos.com
>
> *From:*pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] *On Behalf Of *Stephen Grattan
> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 29, 2011 11:07 AM
> *To:* pianotech at ptg.org
> *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] Upright price
>
> Noah,
>
> As a rebuilder that rebuilds old uprights, grands and player pianos every day - I agree completely with Dean.
>
> *Steve Grattan*
>
> *Lost Chord Clinic*
>
> *888 742-6644*
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:*Dean May <deanmay at pianorebuilders.com>
> *To:* pianotech at ptg.org
> *Sent:* Tue, November 29, 2011 1:50:36 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] Upright price
>
> One thing you must realize, Noah, is there is a quite a bias on this list against old uprights. Which is too bad, 
> because even though there are zillions out there richly deserving of their scorn, there are still many that make very 
> nice instruments and have beautiful cabinets.
>
> Your job, as the buyer’s agent, is to discern what they are looking for and help them find it for the best price. 
> Their decorating scheme may demand and pretty old upright. And if you can make a decent playing piano out of it for 
> less than $500 and they love the cabinet, then they’ll have a decent piano that fits their needs for less than $1k. If 
> it could be done for $10k and still fits their budget, I wouldn’t think twice about giving them the recommendation, 
> and I have done that very thing with older uprights with PianoDisc installed. Just be sure to give them full 
> disclosure that they will never be able to recoup their investment. What they’ll have is a very unique piece: a 
> beautiful antique piano that plays and sounds nice and fits their needs.
>
> *Dean*
>
> Dean W May                        (812) 235-5272 voice and text
>
> PianoRebuilders.com <http://pianorebuilders.com/>           (888) DEAN-MAY
>
> Terre Haute IN 47802           Give us a LIKE on Facebook! Go to PianoRebuilders.com 
> <https://www.facebook.com/pages/PianoRebuilderscom/137780082943148>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:*pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] *On Behalf Of *Noah Frere
> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 29, 2011 9:27 AM
> *To:* pianotech at ptg.org
> *Subject:* [pianotech] Upright price
>
> I gave an estimate for repairs/assessment last week of a 90 year old Werner upright who's player components had been 
> removed. The insides were as expected, though on the better side. Only one broken note (hammer flange), few if any 
> cracks in soundboard/bridges. However, the sound was clearly 90 years old and the bobbling hammers, etc. left much to 
> be desired.
>
> The seller was asking $275, to which I immediately responded (the potential buyer and I were alone) that it was too 
> much, and I would ask for it for $50, but go up to $100 or even $150. Soon afterwards my attention went back to the 
> case, which I had forgotten about, and realized it was in very good condition. The owner came in, and, hearing about 
> the condition of the interior, and the $100 offer, began to cry. She needed to sleep on it.
>
> As the hours and days progressed, I started double-guessing myself. Had I over-emphasized the interior while ignoring 
> the quality exterior?
> Maybe it /was /worth $275.
>
> Hmm...
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-- 
Duaine Hechler
Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ
Tuning, Servicing&  Rebuilding
Reed Organ Society Member
Florissant, MO 63034
(314) 838-5587
dahechler at att.net
www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
--
Home&  Business user of Linux - 11 years