Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Piano regulation

I have a Mason and Hamlin Console Model E, serial no 64730 (I think 1958)that I will be picking up this weekend. The keys are not level, sunken. I was told that it needs regulation and is a 2 day process and will cost $1,500. Looking for experts opinion. Thank you.

Sounds like a scam to me, unless there is other stuff to repair.

Was this assessment based on an in-person inspection by a technician? It doesn't sound that way...
Also, $1,500 would likely far exceed the market value of a console piano of that age, no matter the brand name on the front.
How much did you pay for the piano?

It is a free piano. I have pictures that I am struggling to get on to this forum. Loaded successfully to the file manager but there is no Submit button. Anyway, the quote was from a reputable piano store that does a lot of restorations. Not in-person, I sent pictures for a rough estimate.

If I had $1,500 to spend, all-in, I'd not be starting with a free piano with obvious problems. Maybe $1,000-1,200 for a well-working, newer piano, and then the remainder to cover moving and basic servicing by a piano technician.

Regulation for upright pianos is not that complicated, and need not be so accurate that it takes that much time, especially for a piano of that quality, which is not that great. The only problem I could see is if the felt has been eaten by moths, mites, or mice, in which case you do not want the piano.

If we are assuming that a complete reconditioning and regulation is going to take place, I do not see $1500 as being out of line. (If its just a quickie, then it is out of line). If that amount of money is fine with you, and you have confidence in those doing the work, then I see no problem with it. After all, good piano techs don't work for 20 bucks an hour anymore.

This of course is just one man's opinion FWIW.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

I agree.

Thank you all, I appreciate your comments and will now have better knowledge moving forward. I also saw a MH 50 1978 that looks great for $3000 (includes tuning and moving). Thoughts?

$1500 for a full regulation, hammer sanding and the works seems like a reasonable price to me.


The question whether the piano is worth it is entirely different matter.

The price is okay for that much time spent, but the piano does not merit it. The 50 is a better piano.

I also concur.
In fact, I just did some work back in October on a freebie M&H console (no idea if it was model E or what) and it came to over $1,000. I don't quote work that isn't technically justifiable and I am very comfortable telling people they have gotten something that needs to go to the landfill. But in this case, the piano was basically sound but needed the service level that I call "accumulated routine maintenance" which included mouse aftermath. Now they have a good, playable piano for less than what their payment for service could have gotten them from a dealer.

I'm also very up front with people that if they are able to spend several thousand dollars they would probably get something better than what the serviced piano would turn out to be. But normally a $1500 piano from a dealer isn't going to be that great and likely will still need some level of service "catch up".

Keith,

"Accumulated routine maintenance"

I like that. 👍

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

The mover bailed out on me today. So I am not sure if this free MH console will be available for a few more days. Out of my budget but definitely like to consider this MH 50 1978. Was used as a studio piano. $3000 includes moving and tuning. Opinion?

$3k is pushing it for an upright piano that's pushing 45 years old, in most cases. A 50" upright should sound a lot better than a console.
Any reason you keep looking at one brand? They had widely varying levels of quality (and associated performance) at different times in their production, and are probably more famous as a maker of grand pianos.

I have no reasons to be focusing on one brand. Each time I see a free piano I do some internet research and I thought MH is a good brand and I have ran the pictures of the inside with a technician and he thinks it is reasonable to get it and spend less than $1000 to repair. Goal is to get a piano to play within my budget. Ultimate goal is to have a piano that plays nicer than a console. If I squeezed my pocket to come up with $2500-$3000 what models of pianos do you think I can get out of this price range. The MH 50 was listed to be in this price range and the lady is closing her studio. Thank you.