so Just Play Like It's a '55 T-Bird!
The dash is the same as the '55
T-Bird....
so Just Play Like It's a '55
T-Bird!
OK,
so let's take a little trip from your hometown
to
L.A. on Route 66.
We have at our disposal the following:
New Instrument -- recently made, sent to the dealer showroom, brand spanking new down to the nuts, bolts, screws, wires, widgets, hopefully the best of the best. Think if it as a 1998 T-Bird with all the options, including cruise and moonroof and all accouterments. Cool! Ex-Pen-Sive! But, the car's ready for a road trip to L.A.
Vintage Used -- Used is used. A one year old piano is used. A 100 year old piano is used. A 40 year old piano is used. A used instrument may have some worn out parts replaced, and possibly some partial rebuilding its life. A 40 year old piano may have new strings (which usually last about 15 years or so anyway), new hammers, and some action work to keep it running (playing well). It could have some cracks in the curved soundboard, but good curvature and tone, in spite of a few cracks, providing several more years of good tone. The case probably could use refinishing. Think of it as an original 1955 T-Bird with 75,000 miles on the odometer. She still looks good in spite of her age, a few dings, paint chips, and her faded black paint. With her tune up, valve job, and new fuel pump, she's ready for a road trip. And less expensive. Let's go to L.A.!
Vintage Restored -- This is a used instrument which is probably at least 40 to perhaps over a 100 years old. She has been completely disassembled and restored and rebuilt part by part using new parts in the action, soundboard (if not repaired having had good curvature already), et cetera, just like a frame off restoration on a 1955 T-Bird right down to the detailed and repainted black frame. She has new motor (or rebuilt motor), transmission (or rebuilt transmission), interior, mechanics, chrome, tires, brakes, interior, and exterior paint. She still has 75,000 miles on the odometer, but she has been restored to factory showroom condition. Probably less expensive than a new one, and worth considerably more than an original (vintage used).
Given the choice, what would you want for the trip to L.A.?
New 1998 T-Bird or New Piano ?
Original 1955 T-Bird or Vintage Used Piano ?
Restored 1955 T-Bird or Vintage Restored Piano ?
Dead
1955 T-Bird
or One ready for the Restoration
Shop?
(Pal, you ain't going very far in this one, let me tell you!)
The
choice is what you want to drive or play. Given a choice,
I'll take a Red Restored '55 T-Bird! You still
get to L.A. It's the style in which you get to L.A. that is the difference,
for there is no wrong answer except the inability to decide.
Ready
for Restoration Shop! Vintage Used in Pretty Bad Shape
----This was a 22,000 mile automobile - but,
well vintage used!----
Our
'54 Ford @ Uncle Wheeler's Garage This is
after we trailered it home and
c.1985 before we acquired it. It had been took it to
Rusty @ Como Tire for some
repainted in the 1970s and kept inside,
new rubber & went to the car wash.
later was moved to the back parking lot. Yeah...pretty
bad. Wouldn't start either.
After
the Restoration Shop!
Restored
Vintage Used
with
25,000 miles
Bear's College Cruiser
Look
like 25,000 miles now????
Guess the miles on my old '54?
Paul & Gale's
1954 Ford Customline Bear
drove this '54 Ford Coupe in College.
MO Plate Number:
"JBC-54" for
Sold it in 1980 with 80,000 miles.
Paula's Grandpappy
-
Miles now...about 85,000?
Joseph
Blaine Castle
Old Mississippi Delta Proverb:
"Rode hard & put away wet!"
I would say this '54 Coupe is ready for...
You Got It...The Restoration Shop!
Which would you prefer for a road trip...?
No. One cannot
generally drive dependably an
automobile that's
ready for the Restoration Shop!
Been There, Done
That!
Pianos
are very similar to vintage cars, aren't they?
Keep
on Going?????? Why
Sure! I'd Love To........
Original
Vintage Used
This
is an Original, Unrestored 30,000 mile '72 Big Block 400 Chevy Ready to
Show,
a
one owner, and garage kept since new. All Original including vinyl top,
except
for
new Am/Fm Chevy Radio & new Rubber. Some touch up painting.
Yeah...Bear's
PlayToy! Bear is now the second owner. Faster than the Deuce!
My
Daily Driver is a Vintage Used Original
(Modified &
reconditioned to suit me...)
This
is an original 105,000 mile, "modified" '70 Deuce & a Quarter (Buick
Electra 225)
Needs
new paint, Original 455 Engine, new quartz clock, Original working A/C,
rebuilt
transmission, new rear rubber, older front rubber, new electronic ignition,
newer
4 year old aluminum dual exhaust system, new fuel & water pump, used
correct
Buick Electra Am/Fm, 4 year old vinyl top, 5 year old headliner. excellent
original
interior naugahide, and has a ding in the left rear bumper. Cruises nicely
in
the 85-95 mph range...not a red Lamborghini...or a new Park Avenue..
Ole
BB-55 has been hauling me around for the past 45,000 miles...
Not
as up to date as a new '98 Buick Park Avenue Ultra with all the toys...?
No.
Whoa!
Analogy here! Old vintage may not be as lean and mean as some of the
newer
more advanced designs???? But they still play, look good, and make a
beautiful
sound...? Ain't that Brilliant?! See why vintage automobiles & pianofortes
go
hand in hand with the old Bear?
Brand Spanking New out of the box....
or off the Portable Parking Lot...
Right! New 1998 Ford
Crown Victoria! Cool!
Expensive compared to
my old Deuce!
photo courtesy Joe Machens
Ford, Columbia, MO
Pianos are like automobiles...
and People...ever seen a
really great looking, gorgeous
beautiful lady, whom you
thought may have been about 35
or so, and come to find
out she's over 50? That's what
we call in real estate appraisal
a very low "effective age". That's
why it just isn't polite to
ask a Lady her age.
This stuff all works for houses
& real estate as well.
That's why I use real estate appraisal
terms such as
"effective age,"
"deferred maintenance,"
and "observed
condition"
when talking about the pianoforte...
It makes sense to me, and it is
supportable from one
piano to the next, regardless the
make, case size, or country
of origin. There are a lot of fine
automobiles on the planet.
Not all made in the USA or just
one country. Same with
the pianoforte...The Old World
Craftsmen brought with them
to the New World the skills to
manufacture the pianoforte in North America...Yes, Guys like Mr. Steinweg
(Steinway).........But a lot of those Cats stayed home...and their descendants
build some mighty awesome pianofortes...Cats like Bösendorfer and
the like. And then there's Yamaha....whom no one used
to take very seriously......
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