Going down the rabbit hole of searching for new baby grand

[Dave Ferris]

That being said, you're right about walking into a Steinway dealership and the instruments usually not being properly set up -- except for the used ones. During my search, I visited three such dealers, and vowed not to visit a fourth.

 

Again like I posted earlier- in the last few years the Steinway dealerships have improved significantly in this area.

 

At least here in LA. And I'm assuming Steinway Hall of course too. I did notice all the Bs I played at the Beverly Hills store were a notch up from the Pasadena store though. I didn't play a bad, or poorly prepped piano, out of all the ones I tried on the West side.

 

I haven't played any pianos up in SF, Seattle or in Chicago but I would think anywhere where there's more of a cultural center that caters to the Arts, has a good Symphony orchestra and serious teachers and players - Steinway is aware they have to be more attractive initially to these groups of people. As opposed to doctors, stockbrokers and lawyers that will probably only use the piano as a flower or picture stand.

 

There's just too much competition from the Japanese and European pianos for them to rely on their brand name to sell.

[cedar]

Anyone familiar with Bluthner? Just found out there is a nearly-new Bluthner model 6 (which is 6'3") supposedly available at good price.

 

This is probably the limit in size for me, or maybe even a bit too long. But I have heard good things about this brand.

[Dave Ferris]

Forum Member Alex Hernandez/Keybass is the director for sales and marketing of USA Bluthner.

 

The newer ones don't have the same tonal characteristics of the old ones. They sound brighter to me, the new ones. But I like them. Certainly a high level of piano and long respected in the industry. I think Larry Fine puts them in his "Tier one" category.

 

High European build quality and sound on par with Bosendorfer, Bechstein, Schimmel, Steingraeber, Fazioli and Hamburg Steinway.

 

Both Joey Calderazzo and Billy Childs are Bluthner Artists and own the Model 2/ 7'8" I believe. There are probably online videos of them playing ones if you do a search.

 

What year and asking price ? If in good shape and affordable, a definite consideration.

[cedar]

I believe it is a 2014. Not sure of the asking price, but I think it can be obtained for between $25-28K. That's just an educated guess. I was told it was in new condition.

[Dave Ferris]

That's a healthy budget for a used 5'11" - 6'3" piano-- especially through a private party. If that's within your price range, I would think you would have no problem finding something you like. You could take your time and be somewhat picky.

 

Regarding the Model 6, I'm not as up on used Bluthners as I am on say Yamaha, Kawai or Steinway - but considering it's a premium European brand, and it's indeed under 5 years old, the pricing seems excellent ! I'd definitely play it and see if it's for you.

 

Again, I think you'll generally find in playing a lot of different pianos, that when you cross that 6' threshold, you're able to get a fuller sound in all registers, as well as an overall less bright sound then the baby grand size.

[cedar]

Somehow, the price range seems to have doubled from the original plan.

[cphollis]

Somehow, the price range seems to have doubled from the original plan.

 

Yeah, welcome to the club. Don't get me started ...

 

Every Bluthner I've sat at has been fun. If it speaks to you, it's the one.

 

I will say this, though. I spent stupid money on my grand. Best decision I ever made. Why? Zero lust for anything else, ever. I'm done.

[Six-string-man]

Somehow, the price range seems to have doubled from the original plan. [/quote

 

 

Zero lust for anything else, ever. I'm done.

 

 

Q1. Do you really believe that?

Q2. Do you really expect US to believe that?

 

FAT CHANCE lol

[Al Quinn]

I played his Bosie. Believe it!

[cphollis]

I played his Bosie. Believe it!

 

And he played it superbly, might I add.

[Okiikahuna]

I went through this a few yearsago, so I know how hard it can be. A couple of good resources for good information are the piano buyersguide and the piano forum on pianoworld.com.Boston pianos are made by Kawai. Personally, I generally prefered the Kawais I tried over the Bostons. I get the impression the Steinway connection is more about marketing than anything else.Yamahas were great and very consistent right from the factory steinways need moreset-up by the retailer.Also, I still think Yamahas can't be beat for jazz, Because they have a tone that is more centered on the fundamental with less harmonic content and faster acting dampers than say, Steinways or Kawais both of which make fast bop type lines more clear, but which are less desirable in classical music, at least to my ears. I finally settledon a very old (1927) Steinway L. t/his had the action I wanted, but a rather over bright sound which was cured by some voicing work. Its now a very satisfying instrument for classical, less so for jazz.

[cedar]

So the Bluthner was 2004, and available for $29k. A definite contender. I also still like the Hofffman (brand new), which is about sane size and price.

 

Im thinking of returning to a retailer on Long Island today or tomorrow. This place has a large supply of rebuilt Steinways at nice prices. They also have a Mason and Hamlin about 6 2 I think. I mention this in case there are any forumites reading this thread who might enjoy meeting me there. Would love to have another set of ears on this visit.

[Dave Ferris]

2004 - just off by 10 years. Still, if you like the Bluthner maybe you can negotiate the price down.

 

Fwiw, I know you didn't care for the C2X you tried but if you're at that price point, pretty certain you can get a later model used C3X. If you're not in a hurry.

 

If nothing else, I'd play a new C3X and see if you like it better then the C2X. I feel there's quite a difference between the two models with regard to fullness, richness and being less bright. Again, a few recommendations on the C3 and C3X in particular on this thread for Jazz specifically.

 

Yeah excellent idea to get another set of ears and hands involved if undecided - Al Quinn, Tony Campo/legato boy, maybe even Nicky/Mike who lives out there I think. Are you studying with anyone ? I remember Terry Trotter going out to a few places for his students at one time.

 

Just be very careful and very certain on those rebuilds. Be sure not be swayed by cosmetics- a shiny new finish, new plate and strings. Focus only on tone and action.

[Dave Ferris]

One more thought. A close friend who is an accomplished composer and engineer went through this some years back. His main ax is guitar but he plays enough piano/keyboard to play parts on jingles he composes and records. He has very good ears. He's been hired to do Mastering by some major labels.

 

I accompanied him on all the trips to a few stores as well as to a few private party homes. He brought along a Zoom type hand held recorder to record both me and himself play the different pianos.

 

Of course not a high quality recording but at least you get some semblance on what the piano sounds like out in the room. In addition to the different tone on each. Like a notebook for recall. Sometimes it's hard to keep everything in your head after hearing so many different pianos.

 

He listened extensively to all the pianos after the fact and eventually settled on old 1927 Bluthner because of the tone. He's had to have a lot work done on the action though. I remember he paid around 10K and probably has a good 3 K into it on the action.

[Losendoskeys]

Happy with my Roland V-Grand...............leaves the room at speed

[Al Quinn]

Im thinking of returning to a retailer on Long Island today or tomorrow. This place has a large supply of rebuilt Steinways at nice prices. They also have a Mason and Hamlin about 6 2 I think. I mention this in case there are any forumites reading this thread who might enjoy meeting me there. Would love to have another set of ears on this visit.

Where on Long Island? Which store?

[cedar]

Im thinking of returning to a retailer on Long Island today or tomorrow. This place has a large supply of rebuilt Steinways at nice prices. They also have a Mason and Hamlin about 6 2 I think. I mention this in case there are any forumites reading this thread who might enjoy meeting me there. Would love to have another set of ears on this visit.

Where on Long Island? Which store?

 

Piano Tek in Huntington Station. Can I persuade you to come on a field trip today or over next few days? :

[cedar]

Here's the ebay link for that place in Long Island.

 

https://www.ebay.com/str/thepianotekcompany

 

 

 

[Al Quinn]

The store's a bit of a hike for me but I'll be going to my daughter's gig in Huntington tomorrow night. So, it if works for you we could meet beforehand at the Piano Tek store around 5:30pm.

[cedar]

Al, I appreciate the offer, but not sure whether that time works for me (and I would need to make an appointment there, since they close at 5 Fridays). I'll send you a PM if it looks possible.

[Al Quinn]

Ill also be in Huntington on Sunday. I could meet you at the piano store in the early afternoon.

[cedar]

Fwiw, I know you didn't care for the C2X you tried but if you're at that price point, pretty certain you can get a later model used C3X. If you're not in a hurry.

 

If nothing else, I'd play a new C3X and see if you like it better then the C2X. I feel there's quite a difference between the two models with regard to fullness, richness and being less bright. Again, a few recommendations on the C3 and C3X in particular on this thread for Jazz specifically.

 

I'm finding it surprisingly hard to find used Yamahas in the NYC area, particularly the x series (which I understand are pretty new). There are not even many showrooms with new Yamahas here. On the other hand, no shortage of Steinways, in various conditions.

[cedar]

The sharks are sensing blood. Faust Harrison - which has high prices generally for this region - just told me of a financing promotion starting next week: 0% for 15 months.

 

Salesman from another place actually used this line yesterday: "What will it take to make you want to take this piano now?"

 

Maybe if I hang tough I can get someone to throw in a blender.

 

[Losendoskeys]

The sharks are sensing blood. Faust Harrison - which has high prices generally for this region - just told me of a financing promotion starting next week: 0% for 15 months.

 

Salesman from another place actually used this line yesterday: "What will it take to make you want to take this piano now?"

 

Maybe if I hang tough I can get someone to throw in a blender.

 

You want to put your Steinway through a blender? Very prog!

[Legatoboy]

Ill also be in Huntington on Sunday. I could meet you at the piano store in the early afternoon.

He's very good, it's my hometown. I do know from when he had his smaller store on NY Ave.. Been there a number of times. He refurbishes and rebuilds very nicely.

[cedar]

I digress from this thread with a mildly amusing anecdote that will make me and others look somewhat ridiculous.

 

I mentioned at the outset that I began down the path of searching for a new piano because an unspecified problem had developed with my current Story & Clark. I'll be more specific now. Basically, days after the move (and after a tuning), the piano developed a significant buzzing sound. I called tuner back. He tightened everything he could see, and sound disappeared. But the buzzing sound returned days later. This time the tuner - whom I trusted after using him for many years - was stumped. He isolated the sound as coming from the soundboard, but couldn't find the cause. He recommended I call in a soundboard specialist.

 

It was at that point that I began considering a new piano, hence this thread.

 

Still, I wanted to fix my Story and Clark, if nothing else for trade-in value.

 

I called in a random piano technician I found through the internet. He showed up today with an assistant. They were young and barely spoke English. Immediately, I doubted whether they had enough experience or training (probably exposing a bias I didn't realize I had about piano tuners). Within minutes, they discovered that a pencil somehow had been lodged inside. Presto, buzzing is gone, presumably for good. They also then were able to explain certain technical improvements that could be done to improve the piano.

 

Still, even fixed, now the piano sounds nearly unplayable to me. That's what happens when you spend a week or two playing Steinways, Bluethners, Mason and Hamlins, etc. So now I am more anxious than ever to find a piano I really enjoy (despite knowing that a technician could make some improvements). But at least I found a new piano technician!

 

[Mighty Motif Max]

I digress from this thread with a mildly amusing anecdote that will make me and others look somewhat ridiculous.

 

I mentioned at the outset that I began down the path of searching for a new piano because an unspecified problem had developed with my current Story & Clark. I'll be more specific now. Basically, days after the move (and after a tuning), the piano developed a significant buzzing sound. I called tuner back. He tightened everything he could see, and sound disappeared. But the buzzing sound returned days later. This time the tuner - whom I trusted after using him for many years - was stumped. He isolated the sound as coming from the soundboard, but couldn't find the cause. He recommended I call in a soundboard specialist.

 

It was at that point that I began considering a new piano, hence this thread.

 

Still, I wanted to fix my Story and Clark, if nothing else for trade-in value.

 

I called in a random piano technician I found through the internet. He showed up today with an assistant. They were young and barely spoke English. Immediately, I doubted whether they had enough experience or training (probably exposing a bias I didn't realize I had about piano tuners). Within minutes, they discovered that a pencil somehow had been lodged inside. Presto, buzzing is gone, presumably for good. They also then were able to explain certain technical improvements that could be done to improve the piano.

 

Still, even fixed, now the piano sounds nearly unplayable to me. That's what happens when you spend a week or two playing Steinways, Bluethners, Mason and Hamlins, etc. So now I am more anxious than ever to find a piano I really enjoy (despite knowing that a technician could make some improvements). But at least I found a new piano technician!

 

 

Don't feel too bad. Here's a story for y'all.

 

 

When I was a kid, I used to have piano lessons at the local music store. After the lesson, I would usually play for around fifteen minutes or so on the various pianos and keyboards in the shop. One day I was playing a fairly large 7' grand that was out on the main floor. Whenever I or anyone else played this one key, it would rattle. Only that one key. And so I mentioned it to the owners since it was their show model. They went and played with it, looked at it, and couldn't figure out what was causing the problem. I lifted the lid, looked down, and right in front of the tuning pins, someone had lost one of those plastic-bead cross necklaces. It was wound around that one string. They had me pull it out, and then they said that they should hire me to be the piano repairman since their own guy couldn't figure out the problem either. That's the advantage of being a little kid I guess, you can see things that taller people can't.

 

Anyway, it's happened before, so don't feel too bad.

[cedar]

So I'm happy to report that, with the help of Al Quinn, I was able to make a decision yesterday. Put down a deposit for a Mason and Hamlin aa (6'2") offered by the retailer in Long Island (Piano Tek).

 

Took me a few hours to decide between that piano and a Steinway O (or L - can't recall). The Mason had a great price, but I tried not to let that be a factor. (Not sure if I succeeded in that.)

 

Anyway, many thanks to Al for making the trip. And thanks to everyone in this thread.

 

I'll post a photo or video once the piano arrives.

 

And now I can move on with my life! It seemed like everything got put on hold while I was considering the infinite options.

[cphollis]

Congratulations! Let us know how it plays once it arrives in your room ...

[cedar]

Forgot I took a photo of it at the shop.

 

By the way, I think the year is 1907. Soundboard was replaced 20 years ago, and various other parts replaced this year. (Sorry if it photo is oversized).