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Can anyone please give me a ball park for a complete restringing on a Steinway A.

A grand piano takes a lot of space, but even a Little League ball park still seems awfully big!

If you are looking for a price, your best bet would be to call some technicians in your area and get estimates.

You should also figure on replacing the pinblock. I've seen too many pinblocks fail a few short years after restringing with larger pins.

Aren't you guys techs?? Can't someone just give a number?

Parks, your query about restringing has about as much useful specificity as me going onto an insurance forum and asking the question, "How much will it cost to insure my car?"

No reputable rebuilder would give you a quote without seeing the piano, or providing that estimate after examining your instrument in his shop. And how much it will cost is related to the overall condition of the piano.

Here's the answer to your question: It depends.

It's also rare that only restringing needs to be done. People think that a restringing job is all their piano needs when it really needs a complete rebuild.

+1

I don't have a ball park to give away, and even if I did, I'd be very reluctant to give it to a stranger on the internet.

I'm also curious. someone must have an idea, labor cost plus materials.

a few Tech web sites quoting $850-$1500

And you won't know what has been left out until it is too late. Like anything, you get what you pay for. Value is not determined by the how low the cost is.

I know I'm being vague. Forgive me, I am very shaken up, and want quick answers.

My housmate has completely lost his mind, and has taken a pair of loppers and cut every strings on the piano. The pin block is known to be very bad. It is a vintage Steinway, and very worth rebuilding.

If I were to put a figure on the damage he did, would I include the pin block rebuild, since no tech in their right mind would restring over a bad pin block?

That would be quite optimistic. Knowing what some custom bass string sets can cost....extremely optimistic.

Dear Parks,

http://restoration.steinway.com

Suggest you give a call the Steinway Restoration Center for an accurate estimate of a quality job. You'll have an idea of what a complete job should actually cost. Lots. You'll need the model and serial number for them (or anyone) to help with the estimate.

With a 'known bad pinblock' the job must include pulling the plate and installing a new pinblock, which will add $5K-$8K to a restringing job; depends on the difficulty of the specific model and age of your instrument.

Quotes for $800-1500 are NOT from reputable people. The custom-made bass strings, plain wire, and tuning pins alone will cost the rebuilder/technician $600-800, and that does not include ANY labor costs at all.

Replacing the dampers, the felt on the damper heads which quiet the strings, must also be included. Hammer reshaping (...or replacement) is part of a quality job, too. It is NOT a simple job of just stringing new wire in the piano. It is a complex and involved project. Is the soundboard good? Are the bridges solid? Are there cracks or splits at the bridge pins? Are there structural issues? You are dealing with 18 to 20 TONS of string tension in a medium sized grand.

There is simply too much to consider for any reputable rebuilder/technician to offer you a flat dollar figure for 'restringing' without a thorough examination of the instrument.

Very sorry to hear of your problem!
Sincerely,

I take it you're also looking for a new housemate now? If I were more litigious I'd be tempted to file suit for destruction of property.

TunerJeff's response is great and worth paying heed to - restringing is a complex and labor-intensive procedure, and even more so when a new block is required. And thus, for quality work, it won't be cheap.

Bass strings alone cost $300 - $400. Pins are $150 last time I checked. That doesn't leave much room for anything else.

I would have give you a phone number (mine) but I am very far...

Please don't make fun. Did you read the post?? This is a crime! I have not been home in two days, and can't get any of my stuff because this crazy person is there. He is dangerous. I'm so happy that you are snickering, Olek, but Shame on you for this joke!

This post is getting a bit strange.

If he is dangerous, have you considered calling the police and telling them you don't feel safe, and he has already done significant damage to your property?

Sounds like a serious domestic dispute to me and perhaps you should be contacting the local law enforcement agencies rather than an internet piano forum.

However, I hope it all turns out for the best for all concerned.

Rick