Baby Grand Piano for studio. How much help?

[filthyrich]

I just picked up a Chickering Baby grand piano today. I got an amazing deal and I'm very excited to hear it after a tuning. It's from approx. 1943. Do you guys with a piano in the studio find that you get a lot of extra business because of it?

Thanks.

[river]

I have a 6' Knabe, all rosewood from 1903 (long term loaner). I definitely get business for having it. Hope your new purchase works out for you!

[Eganmedia]

It depends on who your clients are. If you're doing lots of heavy rock stuff, the piano will probably be in the way more than anything else. If you record a lot of jazz, you might find it's a draw.

I bought a Yamaha C7 three years ago and just made the decision to sell it this week. It hasn't been anywhere near the draw I had hoped it would be. It's got a cool history: It was purchased new in '93 by the band Phish and was was Page McConnell's touring and recording piano and was kept in good shape. I bought it from them in '05 after the band broke up. I figured the plethora of Phish wannabe jam bands here in Burlington would flock to it. Instead, they come in, drool over it, and then use their Kurzweils on the record rather than drop the $85 to have it tuned for their session.

It isn't that it doesn't get used at all, but to justify the maintenance it would need to be used considerably more than it is. On top of the regular tunings, I had the action regulated, new damper felts installed, and put it on a spider dolly. I've spent more than $2000 on it since purchasing it. Between the loan payments and the other stuff mentioned, as well as the real estate it takes up in the studio, I can't justify keeping around from a business perspective.

Now that it's likely Phish will get back together in the not-to-distant future, I suspect they'll be interested in buying it back. If not, it's going on the block.

Not a very slutty thing to do, is it?

[joelpatterson]

That's a pretty sad phucking story all around.

[Bassmankr]

Joel Phatterson's right!

[Eganmedia]

Phew! It's nice to know a phew phellows pheel the same way.

Phanks, guys.

[kafka]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

That's a pretty sad phucking story all around.

Pheriouphly. I'm in tearph jupht phinking about it.

[Mike Brown]

Originally Posted by Eganmedia

Phew! It's nice to know a phew phellows pheel the same way.

Phanks, guys.

Dry your ears my fellow gear slut.... I see several rare tube mics in your future.

About the piano: Its all about where to put it... does it diminish your capacity in any way when its -not- being used?

One of the studios where I work gets a lot more indie-rock business now, and most clients end up using it somewhere in their project (even a few of the hard rock guys).

As long as its not too much of a burden then I think you will get some biz out of it. Give it a few years to let some producers discover it.

[ribteen]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

That's a pretty sad phucking story all around.

now that is phreakin' phunny.....

[Eganmedia]

Originally Posted by Mayor999

Dry your ears my fellow gear slut.... I see several rare tube mics in your future.

About the piano: Its all about where to put it... does it diminish your capacity in any way when its -not- being used?

One of the studios where I work gets a lot more indie-rock business now, and most clients end up using it somewhere in their project (even a few of the hard rock guys).

As long as its not too much of a burden then I think you will get some biz out of it. Give it a few years to let some producers discover it.

It's not that it diminishes capacity (footprint notwithstanding), but that it costs more than it brings in. When I bought it I anticipated some degree of short term return on the investment. It's a relatively large investment, and was purchased as much with my head as with my heart. 3 1/2 years into it, it's not paying for itself, plain and simple. If it were an employee, it would be laid off by now.

If it were a girl... hell, I don't know.

It will probably hold its value for a while, but Phish ain't Elvis, and I ain't the Colonel. I joked that it was my 401K, but it was only a joke. There might be a fan who has a lot of money would buy it at a premium, but my guess is that unless the band wants it back, I've got an expensive, 1000 lb monolith tying up space and loot with few potential buyers. I got a good deal on it, and with it's roadcase, extras and "pedigree" I hope to break even, maybe even a little better. But regardless, that cash would come in awful handy. And a piano can't be sold at the Dow's opening bell.

If anyone knows anyone who knows anyone who might be interested... have 'em get in touch. It's a great instrument.

[Mike Brown]

Originally Posted by Eganmedia

If it were a girl... hell, I don't know.

If I see a girl that size I man the harpoons! The white whale approaches!