While redoing the Baldwin R might be too expensive for this customer, who bought the piano second hand 30 years ago, and has no sentimental value, I am restringing a 60 year old Kimball console that belongs to a lady who has had the piano all here life. She and her sister grew up with that piano, and in memory of her sister who died recently, she wants to keep the piano and pass it to her grand daughter. The case isn't very good, and I have to also replace the damper levers and felts, but for her it's worth it. I told her that for the $4000 it's going to cost, she can buy a brand new one, but it won't be "her" piano. Wim -----Original Message----- From: David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net> To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Mon, Jul 30, 2012 6:00 am Subject: Re: [pianotech] NY times article on Pianos 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-thud-in-the-dump.html?pagewanted=1&hpw -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20120730/b4b5843b/attachment.htm>
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