One of the
difficulties in dealing with used instruments is that you can't just order
another one. Each instrument is unique and rebuilt to the customers
specifications and budget. Because of this we are not just a sales
organization but a sales and service business. We try to find the
right instrument to suit your needs at your budget point.
Because of this
we can't just call a manufacturer and have them ship us another piano.
There are pros and cons to buying a new instrument verses a quality rebuilt
or refurbished used instrument.
One of the major
reasons for buying a used instrument is of course the cost. More and more
as time goes on, quality woods are becoming harder and more expensive to
find. So manufacturers are using chip board. I have heard all kind of sales
pitches about why the new woods and intruments are better. Tell this to
a musician who is looking for an old Stradivarius, or an old Gibson guitar!
Why are the older vintage instruments in such demand?
Let me balance
out this issue, dealers may have a point when it comes to some older, delapidated
instruments. There is certainly a lot of junk out there ready for the piano
manure spreader. The fact is though we weed most of these out before they
get to you. Also there are some high tech actions that are computer accurate,
but the average customer is not going to be getting these anyway. The best
way I can liken this is to the difference between digital sound and analog
sound. Most serious musicians still prefer the old vintage analog sound.
It is more musical, while digital is more precise. In fact, I have personally
had new intruments in my home, and I have had to repair them just as much
as, if not more than, some older quality uprights. The down side of this
is that the new instrument costs 10 TIMES MORE! The last new instrument
I had in my living room my wife (who plays piano along with all the children)
said, "Please get that piece of junk out of here and get me a good old
upright!" The new instument cost me twice as much as the last upright I
had in our living that I sold retail!!
I am yet to
be convinced that the new chip board, and polyester cabinets are better
than the woods used on vintage instruments. I have talked to many refinishers
who have told me point blank, that repairs on the new Polyesters are a
nighmare. I know this for a fact because I have called colleagues and have
paid them to try to do a better job on touch-ups only to find I did as
good a job and wasted my money. Many of the virgin forests are gone and
environmental concerns are making it harder and more expensive for manufacturers
to have quality woods. It is more cost effective to use chip board and
cover it over with polyester. Also, try to reproduce the fine engrainings
and swirls of these older instruments with modern labor costs and see what
you will pay.
The positive
side of a new piano is that it can be ordered and reordered with great
consistency. Also that makes for quicker and faster sales. And more profit
for sales oriented dealers. The truth is that if I had a large overhead
and a good number of employees, I would have no choice but to focus in
on selling new instruments. I know what I'm talking about because I was
a high volume salesman for a leading music store where we sold mostly new
intruments. Today I am convinced that the best thing for the customer is
a quality vintage refurbished or rebuilt used instrument, if you can locate
it. That is the purpose of this page. Give me your name & Phone number
and give me what you're looking for and we will try to locate it for you.
If you're selling something, give me your name and phone number and what
you are selling and if I can locate a customer I will refurbish and sell
it for you.
