(no subject)

[kenjari]

My piano is finally fixed. My tuner managed to get a hold of a part that fit. So now the pedal mechanism is nice and quiet, as it should be. And the piano is now freshly tuned, and everything I play sounds better.
I've recently been thinking about eventually buying a baby grand piano, probably once I have finished a doctorate. Right now, the most likely candidate is a Mason & Hamlin. They seem to have the right balance of quality, sound, and price. I like Bosendorfers, but they are considerably out of my price range, unless I get a refurbished model. I've played many Mason & Hamlins at various places, though, and I usually end up liking them a lot - great sound, nice action. Many of them have been rather old, too, which is a good sign. A piano should last a lifetime, if not more.

Comments

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't even a refurb Bosendorfer need you to either get a technician to visit regularly or learn to fix the felt yourself? It was my understanding that they do this weird lacquer on the felt that tamps down over time, so you have to go in and refluff the felt on each hammer periodically, and far too often for the average home pianist. Maybe they don't do that anymore, or do it on all models, but that's what I was told years ago at chamber music camp.

Speaking of which, I'm going to the UMass Piano Sale tomorrow, I think. They're selling one-year-old Yamahas, real pianos and keyboards both, for a good price. Me and the boy haven't agreed on when and what sort of piano we want, so likely I'm just going to plan for the future, but oh, we want a piano....

[kenjari.livejournal.com]

If that's the case with Bosendorfers, that might cause me to cross them off the list. That kind of maintenance requirement is probably not ideal for a home piano.
Check out the blue book of pianos (http://www.bluebookofpianos.com/Subscriber3925.htm). It lists all the major manufacturers, their models, and the current average retial price.

[joshua.livejournal.com]

The M&H AA is so good for its size. I played one at Kurt Saphir in Chicago that I would have taken home in a second (I've played about six of them total, but this one was voiced perfectly). These are the new Masons, and my experience with older ones is very limited.

I have my heart set on a Petrof II.

[kenjari.livejournal.com]

I've always liked the sound of Mason & Hamlins I've played. I might end up having to go down to the model A, though, if I'm living in a small place when I decide to buy a baby grand piano.