Pianotech

I serviced a nice 7' Kawai grand recently that had several sloppy wine stains on the pin block area, soundboard and hammers.  This might have been a bar or hotel piano, but it begs the question:
What is the estimated loss in value of a single (serious) wine stain on a grand piano?

This might make a nice institutional handout if we had a reasonable quatification of the loss in value of an instrument following a careless spill.
It also might help in recovering the lost value of an instrument, or in emphasizing the importantce of keeping liquids, particularly alcoholic beverages away from pianos.

Has this been discussed before?

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Blaine Hebert
Duarte CA
626-795-5170
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if the stain is cosmetic it should not affect the value of the piano to any significant degree. on the other hand if it has soaked into hammer and damper felt, compromised the soundboard finish, caused problems in the pinblock with rust, stickiness, torque it is a whole other deal. many people never even look into the piano or even clean them. its not always a case that the piano was in a bar or restaurant. of course no liquids should be anywhere near a piano wine/water/soda/beer. some people like to put flowers in water filled vases on top of the lid or on the music desk. i have removed all types of food, candy, crumbs and seen an abundance of wine and soda spills. if you have to drink wine at the piano skip red. regarding removing red wine stains in pianos i am not sure it can be done but i would guess it would depend on where it is. have cleaned some stains off plates and the tuning pin webbing but i think once the tannins or color gets into the wood pores its game over until the board is scraped and refinished. wax from candles really does a number .

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James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-24-2021 01:16
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: Value lost by wine stain?

I serviced a nice 7' Kawai grand recently that had several sloppy wine stains on the pin block area, soundboard and hammers.  This might have been a bar or hotel piano, but it begs the question:
What is the estimated loss in value of a single (serious) wine stain on a grand piano?

This might make a nice institutional handout if we had a reasonable quatification of the loss in value of an instrument following a careless spill.
It also might help in recovering the lost value of an instrument, or in emphasizing the importantce of keeping liquids, particularly alcoholic beverages away from pianos.

Has this been discussed before?

------------------------------
Blaine Hebert
Duarte CA
626-795-5170
------------------------------

I would say the cost of returning the piano to its prior condition = the loss in value. 

Pwg

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Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-24-2021 15:26
From: James Kelly
Subject: Value lost by wine stain?

if the stain is cosmetic it should not affect the value of the piano to any significant degree. on the other hand if it has soaked into hammer and damper felt, compromised the soundboard finish, caused problems in the pinblock with rust, stickiness, torque it is a whole other deal. many people never even look into the piano or even clean them. its not always a case that the piano was in a bar or restaurant. of course no liquids should be anywhere near a piano wine/water/soda/beer. some people like to put flowers in water filled vases on top of the lid or on the music desk. i have removed all types of food, candy, crumbs and seen an abundance of wine and soda spills. if you have to drink wine at the piano skip red. regarding removing red wine stains in pianos i am not sure it can be done but i would guess it would depend on where it is. have cleaned some stains off plates and the tuning pin webbing but i think once the tannins or color gets into the wood pores its game over until the board is scraped and refinished. wax from candles really does a number .

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357

Original Message:
Sent: 10-24-2021 01:16
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: Value lost by wine stain?

I serviced a nice 7' Kawai grand recently that had several sloppy wine stains on the pin block area, soundboard and hammers.  This might have been a bar or hotel piano, but it begs the question:
What is the estimated loss in value of a single (serious) wine stain on a grand piano?

This might make a nice institutional handout if we had a reasonable quatification of the loss in value of an instrument following a careless spill.
It also might help in recovering the lost value of an instrument, or in emphasizing the importantce of keeping liquids, particularly alcoholic beverages away from pianos.

Has this been discussed before?

------------------------------
Blaine Hebert
Duarte CA
626-795-5170
------------------------------