Selling old, used uprights

[Bob]

Is this even possible?

Are these "things" worth antyhing at all?  Is there a way to get any money from them?


The things sit around and take up space.  You don't want to get rid of it because it's an instrument.  You don't want to waste money repairing it or even tuning it because it really is a waste.  So the thing sits around taking up space.

Can these ancient beasts be turned into money somehow?

Of course you don't want to sell it to a student because you don't want any of your students playing on the thing and you don't want to feel guiltly about having any kid try to learn to play on it.

Perhaps they can be sold as firewood?  Bowling with pianos?

[timothy42b]

Lots of uses for these.

Most obvious (or, actually, hopefully not) is firearm storage. 

Take the guts out, keep your guns in there.  Nobody will ever look. 

If you're into quick access for defending the home, arrange the top or front so it flips open.  If you just need to keep them out of reach of kids and burglars, not much you need to do.  Leave the sound plate in and it's not going anywhere, don't even have to bolt it down. 

[pantonality]

When you say old I'm not sure how old is old. If you're talking about a piano that's nearly 100 years old, then I'd say turn it into firewood. It's no longer an instrument. I had a hard time unloading a 15 year old Samick 42" console. We ended up giving it away to the local Symphony Academy. They were good enough to pay to move it and we got a tax deduction, but it was still a very viable musical instrument. Any piano that's over 50 years old that's not a major brand (Steinway, M&H, Baldwin, Bosendorfer, Bechstein) is probably not worth it to rebuild (everything new including soundboard) unless it has substantial sentimental value.

[Bob]

Lots of uses for these.

Most obvious (or, actually, hopefully not) is firearm storage.

Take the guts out, keep your guns in there. Nobody will ever look.

If you're into quick access for defending the home, arrange the top or front so it flips open. If you just need to keep them out of reach of kids and burglars, not much you need to do. Leave the sound plate in and it's not going anywhere, don't even have to bolt it down.

Umm..... thank you Tim.  Guess I solved two problems there, didn't I?


I take it these beasts are worthless then?  (besides playing "how does a piano really work?")

[arensky]

I have been thinking about this lately...the "Old Beasts" are sturdier and better made than new uprights.

And have you ever stopped to think about what an environmental holocaust a piano is? The WOOD, the PLASTIC, the STEEL, no not ivory anymore... 

Southeast Asia is being deforested right now, and a lot of it is being turned into PIANOS. While pianos are a good thing, it is wasteful to destroy old ones that merely need new "engines" and soundboards; the spruce that is used in soundboards is not endangered to the best of my knowledge, I could be wrong. A new soundboard requires a lot less wood than a whole new piano at any rate...maybe someone could make a lot money using this "enviro"angle. And if we don't start recycling a lot more than we do now, and not just pianos but everything ten we're ALL going to choke to death on our own garbage....

Just thinking aloud..

[arensky]

Lots of uses for these.

Most obvious (or, actually, hopefully not) is firearm storage. 

Take the guts out, keep your guns in there.  Nobody will ever look. 

If you're into quick access for defending the home, arrange the top or front so it flips open.  If you just need to keep them out of reach of kids and burglars, not much you need to do.  Leave the sound plate in and it's not going anywhere, don't even have to bolt it down. 

Now you are a recycler! Brilliant! Had to look at your profile to see where you were from...yes you are in the military, and not a band from the sound of your post!!