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From: rwfi@ur-tut.UUCP (Robert Fink)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical
Subject: Re: buying a piano
Message-ID: <158@ur-tut.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 12-Oct-85 16:23:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: ur-tut.158
Posted: Sat Oct 12 16:23:09 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 15-Oct-85 05:43:24 EDT
References: <4400@alice.UUCP>
Reply-To: rwfi@ur-tut.UUCP (Robert Fink)
Organization: Univ. of Rochester Computing Center
Lines: 41

In article <4400@alice.UUCP> trickey@alice.UucP (Howard Trickey) writes:
>I'm about to buy a new grand piano, and would like some advice.
>(I haven't seen requests like this on this newsgroup, but if the
>required expertise lies anywhere it is probably with you.)
>Does anyone care to list brands of pianos in order of ascending
>quality (or personal preference), and fair price if known?
>
>I am only an intermediate player (easy movements of Beethoven
>Sonatas), and I'm worried that what I choose now might bother
>me if I get better.  At the moment I could afford anything up
>to about $10,000.  If I waited a year or so I could afford a
>Steinway-quality piano.  Is the difference only something
>an expert notices?  Are there any good books on buying and
>caring for pianos?

        Here is my list, based on approximately 20 years experience
shared between my wife and myself:

          OK: Kawai, Baldwin  

          Nice: Yamaha

          Wow: Steinway

        I personally own a Steinway (as did Mom- guess its genetic) and
I really do think that it's the best you can buy.  They sound great,  
avoiding the overly bright tone of a lot of other pianos, and the touch
(the REALLY crucial thing) is uniquely satisfying.

        Just a thought:  why not investigate an used piano?  Like wines,
good pianos (if taken care of) improve with age.  If my piano were to
be (gasp) destroyed tomorrow, I'd go out and try to replace it with a
50 or so year old Steinway, not a new one.  If this appeals to you,
investigate any old Chickerings that you find-- they tend to have a lovely
mellow sound.  Of course, all this advice is based on my idea of what a
piano should sound like, and may not transfer to anyone else.

P.S.  Used pianos are like used cars-- better look under the hood before
      you buy.

                                                 Good luck,