Is My Piano worth restoring?

Bumbalina2 · Post by **Bumbalina2** » 07 Mar 2005, 13:30

I have recently been given a Firth Brothers Overstrung Upright piano, which hasn't been touched for 40 years. Does anybody know whether or not the piano would be worth restoring after being left for so long?
I look forward to hearing from anyone with any info as I don't know much about piano's. At the moment it is just a nice piece of furniture for me.

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 07 Mar 2005, 18:29

All depends how bad the piano is the normal rule of thumb these days for uprights that are not a big named piano in the UK is no. You can get a new one for £1500.00

There are the exceptions like an unusual case or the piano has been in the family for donkeys years

Barrie,

martin.slough@btinternet. · Post by **martin.slough@btinternet.** » 13 Mar 2005, 10:54

I reckon that you should only renovate/restore if you are selling or for your own personal use. nSince I guess this would be for your own personal use I would renovate it. I am currently in the process of renovating a bansall and sons piano which is virtually unknown but I want to restore it as it has lovely walnut veneer, candle holders (always a nice addition

), and a huge beatifully crafted inlay panel covering the whole of the middle section of the upright area
hope I could be of help (probably not though)
Martin Slough

O S · Post by **O S** » 19 Mar 2005, 12:50

I Have an Ernst Kaps Baby grand that I am in two minds on whether to sell or renovate. Some people quote a fully renoveated one at £10,000 but i have never seen one sell much above £2000.
Is it worth renovating yourself or is it cost effective to call in a renovator (which I have no idea how much they charge)?
If I choose to go alone and do it myself what books are recomended as guides for doing this?

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 19 Mar 2005, 17:48

I have never worked on an Ernst Kaps Grand done a few uprights and reconditioned a few they turn out very nice

It is never a good idea to restore a piano to sell on and I doubt they would fetch 10K in a private sale they might just get that in a shop down south However, it can cost £10,000 to do a full rebuild but just be cause you have spent £10,000 on a piano this is no guarantee that the piano will get that in a sale

As to a DIY project all depends what state the piano is in, there are some book out there but they have big gaps in them for the beginner they assume you know quite a lot to start with, then there is the problem of parts the supply houses sting the General public for parts if they sell them to you in the first place. there are companies on the net that will sell you parts but at a price.

Barrie,

Barrie,

O S · Post by **O S** » 20 Mar 2005, 20:42

Thanks for the inmfo Barry. If I attempt to do the reconstruction alone is there anyone who would could recomend I could contact if I got stuck?

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 21 Mar 2005, 19:24

Would that be to take over the project or just advise, if the latter you can ask here if the former depends were you live and you could get a bigger bill than if you went to them in the first place

Barrie,

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Is My Piano worth restoring?

Is My Piano worth restoring?

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