Hi. I have a possibility of purchasing a 1932 Mason & Hamlin AA in Las Vegas and I need find a tech to evaluate the instrument. Can anyone give me a recommendation?
Also, while I realize inspection is everything, I would like to get some opinions on the value of a 1932 AA. The piano is still in original condition; nothing has been dione to it, except tuning. The owner said her grandmother purchased the piano new in 1932 and it has been in climate controled storage for 50 years. Is there anything I should look out for? What is a piano like this probably worth? I realize the tech will tell me this, but just curious sfor others' opinions. Thanks

There are one or two Las Vegas techs who post here. As well, there is a thread in the Tuner/Technician FAQ Forum called "How to find a good technician". Lots of good information there.

Regardless of what a tech might say, my recommendation is that if the price is over $1000.- you should look at it, hear it and play it yourself. The tech may not find technical faults with it, but how do you know that you will like the piano based on that?

Mike,
I offer survey services in the Las Vegas area and can help you. I have serviced pianos in the area since 1997 and can tell how the Las Vegas climate has or has not affected cabinet and tone producing components. If you have any questions perhaps you can contact me privately.

David Chadwick RPT
702.368.4408
chadwick61@cox.net

Dear David,

Gee, you are being humble, sir. Just for the record; David has served as President of the Las Vegas PTG Chapter for a while. He is a top-notch technician who services pianos for many of the shows in Las Vegas (...I remember a post about tuning for Elton a while back), and took care of the Liberace Museum instruments before the unfortunate closing of that facility.

Whether you prefer to use David's services or not...he knows everyone in the City of Lights and can help you find the right person for your piano needs.

Patting David on the back,
I am,
Remembering Elvis walking into the room,
Ah!

Dear Mike,

I do not know David, nor have I ever met him. However~~ forthright, straight-ahead posts such as his hardly ever come around in the Tuner/Tech forum on PW. If I were you, I'd call him first thing in the morning, if not tonight, based on Jeff's recommendation and David's own immediate readiness to help in time of need (at first, I thought it was chutzpah, but then, thought about what it meant to put a reputation on the line like that...)

Patting TunerJeff on the back,
and David, too,
I am,
Someone who knows someone in Phoenix with a Mason & Hamlin,
whom David has never seen.

I will add my recommendation to the mix. You will be in good hands with David Chadwick.

Gosh,
Thanks for all the kind words everyone. I will usually take a friendly and approachable posture regarding my service. I learn new and useful information everyday about my job and the folks I meet. I'll never know it all. Sometimes i'm even a little greedy when hearing about a new tool use or smart repair techniques. It alway nice to be recognized by other technicians in our community. Thanks to you all.

Mike,
I'm surveying the piano today (Sat.) at 4:00 and I'll organize the information, from frantic scribbling to readable text, and contact you for the next step. I'll enjoy crawling through another early Mason and find it's story a telling one I'm sure

As do I. David did some work for Young Chang at the PTG Annual Convention a couple of years back. Very nicely done. (And that's saying quite a lot considering the noise and commotion going on around you at these things while you're trying to work.)

ddf