Did I get a deal? Wm. Knabe & co. concert artist series

[justharmony]

OK, so I couldn't quite turn this down, even though right now this piano is not feeling like "my" piano.  Some woman had bought a house that came with a Wm Knabe and co. concert artist series baby grand (5'3"), complete with high end adjustable bench and dampp-chaser, which supposedly works.  She knew nothing about the piano other than that she needed to keep the damp-chaser full, and that it was taking up space in her house that she's tired of.   

Finish perfect, soundboard intact, no rust or anything on the strings.  Some weird orange-y crumbly looking something on some of the hammers which I couldn't figure out, but I could scrape off a bit of it so I don't think it's penetrating the hammers. Pedals work.  Held a tune pretty well for not having been serviced for almost 2 years that this woman has lived with it.

Anyhow - it needs - at least for MY taste - some serious service to make the action more responsive and light, and to voice down the hammers - WAY too bright right now.  Know all that's going to cost a pretty penny - assuming I try to make this piano my own for a while.

So.  I paid 1100.  Good deal? I thought so - hoped so, which was why I did it, even though the piano market is in the toilet.  I thought even if I can get a little use out of it and then sell it as a step toward my greater dream piano, maybe this could be a good thing.

What you think???

JH

[justharmony]

Oh, forgot to mention that this piano was made in 2006 (according to serial number).

[hfmadopter]

Sounds like a very good deal to me.

The orange-y stuff could be a hardener ( not saying it is but could be) and also part of why it plays bright. Get it tuned, voiced and regulated, you might have a prize there !

[justharmony]

Yeah, I thought about that.  That's kind of a technician shortcut, isn't it?  Weird, though that there seemed to be no orange color IN the hammers themselves, and what was there was almost like a mineral deposit or something that could be scraped off.   Hmm. 

[hfmadopter]

Yeah, I thought about that.  That's kind of a technician shortcut, isn't it?  Weird, though that there seemed to be no orange color IN the hammers themselves, and what was there was almost like a mineral deposit or something that could be scraped off.   Hmm.  

Is the sound board stained at all ?

I wonder if along the way some one was using a spray polish and that could have gotten on the hammer ( or dampers for that matter) felts but not soaked in.

It could be a form of a little powdery mildew too.

[justharmony]

The soundboard is not stained and is pretty pristine looking aside from a bit of dust.  It has to be some hammer treatment - but it seems weird.  Wish I had photos. 

It seems as though the piano was well-taken care of prior to this woman "inheriting" it (dampp-chaser installed,etc.) and this woman claimed she never really even opened the instrument, and that seems about right.  Her dog paid more attention to it than she did, I think (he thought the nice adjustable bench was quite tasty).  That would be a shame except that I can sew and cover the damaged parts well enough - so cool. 

I'm surprised it took her 2 years to get rid of something so big that she clearly didn't want and couldn't use.  I guess it made pretty furniture?  Who knows. Feeling pretty good about the purchase at the moment.  Look forward to seeing what I (i.e. ,my technician) can do with this instrument for me. 

JH

[hfmadopter]

Your tech is going to make it into a silk purse so to speak, that's what he can do with it ! It's at it's worst sounding right now, so imagine if he does a good job how it will be. That should turn out to be a great little grand. It's really not a very old instrument from what you are saying ( 2006), it should have tons of life left in it, in fact has just begun living !

[indianajo]

Don't know if your price is dollars, pounds sterling, or Euros, but outstanding if the former.  there was a 50's Baldwin large grand 200 miles from me, no maintenance listed $1500 must move this weekend (3 years ago).  And last week there is a Hamilton baby grand in town, no top, no legs, no pedal stands, no warrentee, sitting on cinder blocks, $400.