Petrof Quality

[Ric Brekne]

Hi Phil

Petrofs are thee piano that I most love to hate.  That is to say... They 
really do have a nice overall sound picture.  Seems to be loads of 
potential, and a field technician can usually accomplish all kinds of 
good tone / touch building results.  But the fact that there is a lot of 
potential means there is a lot left undone or less then top quality done 
things from the factory.  

These have in my experience traditionally included sloppy bridge pin 
placement, poor action assembly /parts, sometimes downright horrible 
bass strings, tons of falsebeats up in the treble, mushy action felts 
(including centers bushings) rubber shanks.... and on occasion bad 
pinblock material and workmanship.

I once had to send a Weinbach (Petrof clone) upright back to the dealer 
because there was a 1/4 inch gap between the plate and the pinblock and 
because the pinblock was missing several bits of laminate all visable 
when one pulled up the covering felt they used to use.  The thing was 
split as well.

For the most part... serious structual problems are not seen in Petrofs, 
especially their bigger grands... tho you do see them.  Mostly its the 
falseness in the treble, bad bass strings...and action concerns that one 
meets... and you can accomplish a lot without getting too deep into the 
instrument. 

With the overall nice sound they have....  I generally have to go along 
with a positive recommendation for these instruments.  The price is 
good...the problems can be resolved (usually), and they sound nice.

Cheers
RicB


I have a customer who is interested in a 7' 9" Model 2 Petrof grand. I am  
blissfully ignorant as to the quality and workmanship of this piano, yet 
told  
her that I would ask those more knowledgeable. Does anyone have an opinion
about  the new Petrofs? I searched the archives and most entries were 
getting
close to  five years old.
 
Thanks,
Phillip Pardue