BLUEBOOK OF PIANOS
PIANO CONSTRUCTION AND SCALE DESIGN

STYLE AND FINISH

The case is made of veneers of oak, walnut, or other outer finish. It has a core made up of cross sections of another yet cheaper form of wood, pressed wood, or chipped wood, which are totally acceptable in and by today's standard because they are for cosmetic appearance only and should not wear out.

Next, is the beauty of case design and finish. The standard cases are made or finished in mahogany, walnut, ebony, rosewood, oak, fruitwood, pecan or pine. The two first named are the more popular. All are dependable if the piano is well made. The manufacturing process for pianos does not readily lend itself to automation, due to variations in the acoustical qualities in pieces of wood.

These variations require skill in selecting the wood stock and conditioning it to specific moisture levels. Many of the other labor - intensive functions such as voicing, tuning and regulation require skills based on years of experience. For these reasons the piano is still handcrafted in many respects.

The prospective buyer of a piano who, relying upon his own judgment, attempts to select an instrument soon discovers that very many arguments may arise to perplex him in his choice. As a rule, and with rare exceptions, it is wise to buy of local dealers to whom you can, at any time, have access should there arise necessity for explanations or advice. And in dealing with the local piano dealer, do not begrudge him a fair profit.

The piano dealer is familiar with the instruments, and if he is a man who is honest and reliable, you may depend upon what he tells you concerning them. Having once decided upon your piano, do not permit yourself to be disturbed by the contradictory talk of any other person who may decry your choice or declare that you have not made a good bargain. In ninety-nine out of every hundred cases, discontent is the result of disappointment born of a competitor's defeat, and such attempted interference is unworthy of consideration.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 

PIANO AGE | ARCHIVES | APPRAISALS | PIANO TYPES | BLUEBOOK VALUE  | SELL A PIANO

Copyright  © 2015 Bluebook of Pianos  All Rights Reserved - Copyright laws exist to protect our intellectual property. They make it illegal to reproduce someone else's expression of ideas or information without permission. At one time, a work was only protected by copyright if it included a copyright trademark (the © symbol). According to laws established in 1989, however, works are now copyright protected with or without the inclusion of this symbol. Anyone who reproduces copyrighted material improperly can be prosecuted in a court of law. It does not matter if the form or content of the original has been altered -- as long as any material can be shown to be substantially similar to the original, it may be considered a violation of the Copyright Act.