Dear Nils, Responding to your query regarding which pianos to recommend to your clients: Based on my over 46 years of experience as a pianist/tuner-technician, I would recommend the following pianos in each of the price categories you mentioned: (please note that these reflect my own personal preferences and experience in terms of both tone (clarity, fullness, and warmth) and touch (evenness, responsiveness, and overall "feel")... Group 1: Bechstein (B208) or Bosendorfer (214) Group 2: Bluthner (4) or Hamburg Steinway (B or C) Group 3: Seiler (206) or Schultz & Sons (8801SX) Group 4: Schultz & Sons (8701SX) or Boston (GP218) Group 5: Kohler (KFM700S) or Samick (WFG205) Since the final decision will be your client's, you should try to compare some of these pianos side by side (if possible)after you have thoroughly tuned and voiced them. If they can spend more than $25,000 then I suggest you skip category #5 altogether. I hope this helps you and your clients. Sincerely Yours, CA Dan pianotech@iwon.com On 9/1/00 you wrote: <<<Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2000 18:48:32 CDT <<<From: "N Luehrmann" <n_luehrmann@hotmail.com> <<<Subject: Offering Advice to Clients who want to "Upgrade" <<<their piano I have a client who now has room for a 7' Grand and she has asked me for help in recommending the right one within her budget. This is not the first time this has happened, and well frankly I havn't been around long enough to offer the kind of help I think I should. The last thing I want her, or any of my clients to do is purchase the wrong piano just because I couldnt give them enough, or even any info to guide them in the right direction. I made a list of all the modern 7'(6'6"-7'6") Grands I have read about, and grouped them into price catagories so that clients can get a clear picture of what is available in their price range. Here is the entire list, followed by my grouping: Baldwin SF10 7' USA Bechstein B-208 6' 10" Germany B-232 7' 6" Bluthner 4 6' 10" Germany 2 7' 6" Bohemia/Rieger-Kloss (Weber) BG-214 7' Czech Bosendorfer 200 6' 7" Austria 214 7' 225 7' 4" Boston GP-218 7' 2" Korea Fazioli F212 6' 11" Italy F228 7' 6" Forster 215 7' 2" Germany Grotrian/Steinweg Concert 7' 4" Germany Hyudai G-85 6' 10" Korea Ibach F-III 215 7' Germany Kawai RX-5 6' 6" Japan RX-6 7' RX-7 7' 6" Knabe KN-700 6' 10" Korea Kohler & Campbell (Samick) KFM-700S 6' 8" Korea KFM-800S 7' Maeari/Hallet & Davis (Samick) G-485 6' 10" Korea Mason and Hamlin BB 7' USA Pearl River/Ridgwood (Weber) GP-213 7' China Petrof/Weinbach II 7' 9" Czech Samick WFG 205 6' 8" Korea WFG-225 7' 4" Sauter 220 7' 3" Germany Schimmel CC 208 T 6' 10" Germany Schultz & Sons (Samick) 8701-SX 6' 10" Korea 8801-SX 7' 4" Seiler 206 6' 9" Germany Steingraeber 205 6' 9" Bavaria Steinway & Sons B 6' 11" USA Steinway & Sons/Hamburg B-211 6' 11" Germany C-227 7' 6" Weber WG-70 7' Korea Yamaha C5 6' 7" Japan C6 6' 11" S6 6' 11" C7 7' 6" Young Chang PG-208 6' 10" Korea PG-213 7' (GROUP 1: $75,000+) The Bechsteins, Bosendorfers, Faziolis, and Ibach. (GROUP 2: $45-75,000) The Bluthners, Forster, Grotrian/Steinweg, Mason and Hamlin, Steingraeber, Steinway, Steinway & Sons/Hamburgs, and the Yamaha (S6). (GROUP 3: $35-45,000) The Baldwin, Kawai (RX-7), Sauter, Schimmel, Schultz & Sons (8801-SX), Seiler, and Yamaha (C7). (GROUP 4: $25-35,000) The Bohemia/Rieger-Kloss , Boston, Kawai (RX-5 & RX-6), Petrof, Samick (WFG-225), Schultz & Sons(8701-SX), Yamaha (C5 & C6), Young Chang (PG-213). (GROUP 5: $15-25,000) The Hyundai, Knabe, Kohler & Campbells, Maeari/Hallet & Davis, Pearl River/Ridgewood, Samick (WFG-205), Weber, and Young Chang (PG-208). If I have missed a piano that should be on this list or if I have placed a piano in the wrong group, please let me know. The next question is simply, for those familiar with any of these models within a group - how would you rate them and why. I am hoping for a big response so that I can generate a really nice form that we can hand out to our clients when asked for our opinions. I will gladly forward this final list to whomever is interested. Have a great day, and keep those tuneing forks polished. - - Nils Luehrmann>>> _________________________________________________________________________ ........................................................ iWon.com http://www.iwon.com why wouldn't you? ........................................................
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