Grotrian 275 grand

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Hi,

I would like to hear different experiences with the Grotrian 275 grand, 
about 9 feet long.

I work with a couple, one is the 275 (about 10 years old) and the other is 
a 277 (I think and about 8 or 9 years old). The 277 seems to have always 
been the brighter and more powerful instrument, when compared to the 275. 
(Note: I know the 275 model is correct, but looking at my notes, I am not 
sure if the other one is a 277, but it is a year or two newer and a 
slightly different model).

I like them very much and they seem to have a more round-mellow tone, a 
tone which fits very well for chamber music, solo or voice accompaniment. 
But not with larger orchestras. Actually, in the past each has been voiced 
and maintained with this roundness in mind.

The 275 has recently been voiced up quite a bit, with juice, in order to 
give it more power, but it seems to be too brassy/brilliant to the point of 
being described as tinny or harsh. My sense is that in the attempt to gain 
power, it is too close to the edge of being too brilliant. Pianists are 
describing it as "a little too brilliant, tinny, harsh", one pianist who 
travels quite a bit said that Grotrians tend to be too tinny in the 
treble.  The piano certainly has more power, but when pushed (played big 
and hard and loud), it gets too brassy too quickly.

So, at least a couple of my questions are:

Has anyone been successful in getting this piano to be more powerful (along 
the lines of the Steinway), without overstepping the boundary into tinny-ville?

Is the Grotrian better at that round-mellow (European) tone, rather than 
trying to compete with the Steinway sound? How's that for a generality (but 
it does seem to me that the Steinway Concert Grand is the benchmark for 
many people's ears:-)?

Thanks,

Ken Hale

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