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I have a customer who want to sell her Heintzman Grand and wonders what its value might be. 5'7" circa 1929, good original finish, played little so all internals in good shape and VERY stable. Any ideas? Thanks, PNO2NER

In the city, probably 4k in the country 1k. Even with the mechanics being in ok condition, I would assume that the strings would need replacing before long, and that there has to be some aging over all.. You may could get more but probably not.. people now days would rather buy a new Asian grand for 6k than a Good Goldenager for 5k...

Brandon

When you're selling that type of piano, keep in mind how you advertise it. This is the Canadian rival of the Steinway piano, and in some people's opinion, the champion of the two. Great craftsmanship and a rich quality sound. Hang on to it and get the right kind of cash. -Much depends on how it looks. Polish it up, and maybe we can help you sell it too.

Thanks for all your help, guys. The customer sold it for $4,000, it seemed fair to both buyer and seller. PNO2NER

Thank you China
Thank you very much
With all the cheap Chinese pianos out there now the reconditioning of quality older grand pianos has become a thing of the past. It wasn't that many years ago I actually reconditioned classic American grands for my customers. Older Lester grands were a pretty nice piano, Kurtzmann made some nice sounding grands, Even some of the older Kimballs were worth reconditioning. Some of these old pianos were sweet after reconditioning and thet family heirloom was brought back to life. Old Aunt millie's old Mcphail 5'7" grand remained on the family for 2 more generations.
Now it's Pearl River, Donbei, Beijing.

You will notice I said reconditioning, not rebuilding. There is a difference.On these pianos you shimmed and refinished the sounding board instead of replacing it. The bridges were good so you renewed the graphite and moved on. replace the hammers, shanks and flanges. Rubush the keys, restring and regulate. It as affordable for the customer and rewarding emotionally and financially for the technician. Taking off the old crazed finish and making the piano pretty again was so rewarding. When I would see the look on the customer's face when they came to my shop to see their old friend in its new form was almost payment enough. Those people supported many more piano technicians than the peopel rebuilding their Steinway they bought at an estate sale.
Now those days are prety much over with the introduction of Chinese pianos. I'm not bitter, just a little disappointed that these great old pianos are now living on the landfill instead of a 2nd or 3rd generation's home.

Wow, JR007 -
That is a sad tale. But you don't think people with old pianos are dumping them for cheap new chinese, do you?

Being a nostalgist and an environmentalist I'm strongly disposed to find that decent, reconditionable old piano and have a good technician run with it. All that first-cut, virgin hardwood lovingly brought back from the grave.

From a consumer standpoint, how can rebuilders create public confidence in the face of *new* pianos with 10-year warranties (which may or may not be honored..) and that "new-piano smell" or whatever it is that makes newcomers seek new?

We have not noticed any sort of slowdown in the reconditioning-for-others end of the business, but we can no longer recondition and sell small grands and make money at it. We currently have two nice baby grands for sale, and they will probably be the last that we recondition and refinish for sale. The demand for refinishing and reconditioning Grandma's 1925 grand still remains strong here in Nashville..........Sam