[pianotech] NY times article on Pianos

[David Love]

Hard to know in what context the quote was actually made (as several have
pointed out) but there is a reality.  

 

I probably get at least two calls a week inquiring about "restoring"
grandma's old upright piano.  When I run the numbers by them they are
generally shocked thinking that a piano could be "restored" for $1000 -
$1500.  The reality is that these pianos have a starting value of -$500
because that's what it would cost to have someone come and haul them away.
Simple restringing, action reconditioning, cheap finish and you are into the
piano for minimum of $10,000.  Now the piano is worth $1500.   While there
are certainly many pianos out there that have good musical potential, the
cost of manufacturing now is much lower than our own labor costs for
restoration work.  While Del and others have pointed out the "value added"
approach, which has validity, it's a rare opportunity to be able to sell
that.  I was sad to see them throwing out this old Knabe as I have restored
several old Knabes and they make fine rebuilding pianos.  Most recently I
restored an old 5'2" Knabe with a new soundboard, action, finish.  No
question that the cost far exceeded the value (and the customer knew that
going in), but the piano belonged to her father and she wanted it done.
Those opportunities are rare.   A new Yamaha C1 could have been purchased
for less than half the cost of what it took for this piano and there are
other manufacturers selling their new pianos for less than that and the
reality is, they aren't bad pianos.  The less expensive pianos of today are
much better pianos than  the less expensive pianos of yesterday.    

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Paul Williams
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 8:34 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] NY times article on Pianos

 

He didn't (so it says ;.0 ) say to purchase a Japanese fine quality piano.
However, fixing an old piano for 3-4K would indeed get you a high end
digital or a Chinese piano. It's just hard on our industry to have a quote
like that go round the world.

 

Paul

 

 

From: David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
Reply-To: "pianotech at ptg.org" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Date: Monday, July 30, 2012 10:05 AM
To: "pianotech at ptg.org" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] NY times article on Pianos

 

We may not like hearing it but fundamentally Fine is correct.  It's pretty
hard to ask a customer to spend the thousands it takes to restore an old
upright when they can buy a new Yamaha U1 for $7000.  

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Paul Williams
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 7:07 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] NY times article on Pianos

 

I didn't appreciate Larry Fine's quote..and to think he was selling his
stuff at the PTG Conference!

 

Paul

 

 

From: David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
Reply-To: "pianotech at ptg.org" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Date: Monday, July 30, 2012 8:49 AM
To: "pianotech at ptg.org" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: [pianotech] NY times article on Pianos

 

FYI

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/arts/music/for-more-pianos-last-note-is-th
ud-in-the-dump.html?pagewanted=1
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/arts/music/for-more-pianos-last-note-is-t
hud-in-the-dump.html?pagewanted=1&hpw> &hpw

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