Studio piano as investment

Carey Carlan <[email protected]> wrote:
>New Steinways are going for $60,000.
>
>If I was investing that much money, I'd want an appeciating asset.
>
>Is there a good piano I can buy (new or used) that has the potential to
>increase in value over time?
>
>I play violin and cello and have instruments far better than I can ever
>exploit. They make me sound better than I really am, and they are part of
>my retirement fund as they have appreciated about 20% since 2000. Is the
>same possible with a piano?

If you had bought a Steinway in 2000, it would have appreciated a considerable
amount. One of the things about pianos, though, is that they are not so easy
to sell abroad compared with a violin. So the question is whether they will
continue to appreciate in the future, and I can't answer that.

Your other question is what kind of piano can you get that will bring in
customers? You could get a Petrov that sounds and feels wonderful, but
it won't look as good on the website as a broken-down Steinway.

As always, buy used, and get a real piano tech to set it up for the room,
not just a piano tuner.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

In article <g1mcu9$1e8$1@panix2.panix.com>,
[email protected] (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

> Carey Carlan <[email protected]> wrote:
> >New Steinways are going for $60,000.
> >
> >If I was investing that much money, I'd want an appeciating asset.
> >
> >Is there a good piano I can buy (new or used) that has the potential to
> >increase in value over time?
> >
> >I play violin and cello and have instruments far better than I can ever
> >exploit. They make me sound better than I really am, and they are part of
> >my retirement fund as they have appreciated about 20% since 2000. Is the
> >same possible with a piano?
>
> If you had bought a Steinway in 2000, it would have appreciated a considerable
> amount. One of the things about pianos, though, is that they are not so easy
> to sell abroad compared with a violin. So the question is whether they will
> continue to appreciate in the future, and I can't answer that.
>
> Your other question is what kind of piano can you get that will bring in
> customers? You could get a Petrov that sounds and feels wonderful, but
> it won't look as good on the website as a broken-down Steinway.
>
> As always, buy used, and get a real piano tech to set it up for the room,
> not just a piano tuner.
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."




Unless you plan on recording a lot of classical music, I would not
recommend a Steinway, for the simple reason that it'll be way too dark
sonically for just about everything else.

My piano, 6'1" Young Chang model G185 purchased new in 1982, is one of
only a handful of gear that is worth more today than when I bought it,
but that is not taking inflation into account. But the piano paid for
itself very quickly.

I have it voiced for pop/rock/jazz music. When heavy classical folks
come in, I take my Summit Pultec clone and roll off some of the top. But
classical music is not the piano's bread and butter.

And if you have a really nice piano, you're gonna want a pair of really
nice mics and a very good mic pre to really capture what you hear in the
room.

Imo the best test of a mic pre is a grand piano.

Best of luck.




David Correia
www.Celebrationsound.com

david correia <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> And if you have a really nice piano, you're gonna want a pair of
> really nice mics and a very good mic pre to really capture what you
> hear in the room.
>
> Imo the best test of a mic pre is a grand piano.

I think I have that covered. What I lack is the proper room, which will
cost as much or more than the good pair of mics and the preamps.

david correia <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>Unless you plan on recording a lot of classical music, I would not
>recommend a Steinway, for the simple reason that it'll be way too dark
>sonically for just about everything else.

Okay, this has more to do with setup than anything else. If you get
a Steinway off the shelf and just put it in place, it will be a lot more
dark than, say, a Yamaha. But a good piano tech can change that. You
can make a Steinway just as bright as a C3 if that's what you want.

In Hawaii, all the classical guys played Yamahas... the Steinways all
sounded very dull... came out here to the mainland, and the Yamahas are
all too bright and the Steinways about right. Maybe it has something
to do with the climate. Maybe it has something to do with the techs
installing them, I don't know.

>My piano, 6'1" Young Chang model G185 purchased new in 1982, is one of
>only a handful of gear that is worth more today than when I bought it,
>but that is not taking inflation into account. But the piano paid for
>itself very quickly.
>
>I have it voiced for pop/rock/jazz music. When heavy classical folks
>come in, I take my Summit Pultec clone and roll off some of the top. But
>classical music is not the piano's bread and butter.

How much would it cost to have a tech come in and add some felts before a
classical gig? Not worth it?

>And if you have a really nice piano, you're gonna want a pair of really
>nice mics and a very good mic pre to really capture what you hear in the
>room.

Oh yes, you also need a really nice room.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

> Okay, this has more to do with setup than anything else. If you get
> a Steinway off the shelf and just put it in place, it will be a lot more
> dark than, say, a Yamaha. But a good piano tech can change that. You
> can make a Steinway just as bright as a C3 if that's what you want.
>

How do I find a good piano tech? How can I tell one from a tuner
masquerading as a tech? Is there usually a big price difference?

David

David Grant <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Okay, this has more to do with setup than anything else. If you get
>> a Steinway off the shelf and just put it in place, it will be a lot more
>> dark than, say, a Yamaha. But a good piano tech can change that. You
>> can make a Steinway just as bright as a C3 if that's what you want.
>
>How do I find a good piano tech? How can I tell one from a tuner
>masquerading as a tech? Is there usually a big price difference?

I don't know how you find one, but you could always call Steinway and ask
who they would recommend in your local area. There will be a very substantial
price difference in most cases.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

On Fri, 30 May 2008 15:15:32 -0400, "David Grant"
<[email protected]> wrote:


>How do I find a good piano tech? How can I tell one from a tuner
>masquerading as a tech?

You can look here:
http://ptg.org/findATechnician.php

>Is there usually a big price difference?

Are you asking short term or long term? :)

>
>David
>

David Grant <[email protected]> wrote:

> How do I find a good piano tech? How can I tell one from a tuner
> masquerading as a tech? Is there usually a big price difference?

While guild membership is no guarantee of skilled practice, the PTG does
have standards, members have met those, and a members reference is
available:

http://www.ptg.org/findATechnician.php

--
ha
Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam