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Music Appreciation

ProfessorGAC

(71,358 posts)

3. I Had An Old Upright

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Tue Dec 31, 2024, 03:05 PM

Dec 31

Got it for free. It was made just after WW1. 1920, as I recall.
It was in bad shape. Took the whole thing apart, did some key sanding, (especially near the back of the keys) reglued some key tops, acid washed the strings, lubed the pedal mechanisms, and put a ¼# strip of maple over a tiny soundboard crack.
Played it for around 15 years. The pinblock started to shrink, so pegs wouldn't stay tight. I didn't have the gear to inject polymer to expand the pinblock. So, I got a new Baldwin console, which I still have.
I gave the old one to a guy that made a salt water aquarium out of it.
If a pro did what I did today, it would probably cost 3 grand, which would have been more than the think was worth.
New pianos are VERY expensive. Baldwin still makes the model I have and new, it lists at nearly $17k. People could buy one heckuva digital piano for 20% of that.

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Highlight:

Can't give them away: Vintage upright pianos are meeting a sorry end [View all] mahatmakanejeeves Dec 31 OP

Yep! JoeOtterbein Dec 31 #1

Find piano teachers/programs for underprivileged kids blm Dec 31 #4

I donated mine to "Keys for Kids" in St Paul LNM Dec 31 #8

We gave ours to the local high school. Paladin Dec 31 #10

new piano sells arent hot either. even tho mopinko Dec 31 #2

I Had An Old Upright ProfessorGAC Dec 31 #3

Call Mattias Krantz! Gore1FL Dec 31 #5

He's nuts! What a fun channel! chowder66 Dec 31 #17

I had an old Chickering upright that I learned on as a child mainer Dec 31 #6

There's a lot of kids Elessar Zappa Dec 31 #7

Electronic keyboards are good to learn on mainer Dec 31 #19

Good yours is in good shape! elleng Dec 31 #9

The economical portable electronic piano/organ/sythn took away the standup market. LiberalArkie Dec 31 #11

Makes more sense to buy that electric piano/organ/synthesizer. Festivito Jan 2 #21

So sad to read. highplainsdem Dec 31 #12

It is sad. I had an old upright piano, that a friend of mine gave to me, and then 10-15 years later, tried to sell SWBTATTReg Dec 31 #13

Korg? Jean Genie Dec 31 #14

I tried to talk my brother out of keeping his upright when he moved. maxsolomon Dec 31 #15

My wife and I have an old upright Punx Dec 31 #16

Most people can't afford their own house now and need to rent instead. Makes larger luxury items rather unattractive. Lancero Dec 31 #18

We gave our upright piano to a second cousin of my Dad. We had to hire piano movers at thousands of dollars. applegrove Jan 1 #20

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