Hi All, I thought the Boston 118s was all right. I think the 126's are definitely more desirable. I certainly wouldn't want a 1098. Ron Poire retired UMN school of Music Hi Ron. I service several Bostons of various sizes and find them to be quite satisfactory all in all. As part of a midrange priced package deal I see no reason whatsoever for advising against them. On an individual basis I can most certainly find cons, both of practical sort and from my own sense of musicality. I think the uprights are a bit high priced (at least here in Norway) compared to most pianos they are meant to compete against. And tho I find the G178 and G215 to be very nice sounding and balanced instruments, I am less satisfied musically with the other grands Boston offers. As for the S&S 1098... well I never had any particular problems either tuning them or servicing them, tho I did not particularly like the bass from a musical standpoint. I suppose my first 1098's were a bit testy to figure out a good hammer technique... but one gets past that after a while with any new (to you) instrument IME. I get the feeling that very much of this discussion in the end really winds up with its basis in what I view as an irrational resentment of Steinway and their dominance and much less to do with any real dispassionate objective comparatives, analysis, or regard to larger perspectives that concern such decisions an administration has to make. There will always be a market dominate company who will generate all the same kinds of resentment that Steinway seems to do in these folks. Indeed... before too long Yamaha may very well finally achieve their goal of taking over. This side distraction has to do with the nature of the human being and there is I am afraid nothing we as individuals can do about that. Humans are flock animals.... grin... as even lists such as this display quite clearly. There are always and always will be large groups all following their respective deities. Those few who truly attempt to step out of that box get isolated quite quickly one way or the other. The flock, any flock... does not "like" the individual so much unless he/she is seen as some kind of hero. Even then its not so much a matter of liking the person as it is worshiping. This despite all the apparent weight placed on the individual in some western societies.... which is quite a false picture really in the end. All who wish of course must go on ranting and raving about the big bad wolf who in reality is just an old honorable company (as honorable as any company can be in their position) trying to survive in an ugly market world.... and slowly but surely getting beaten down... curiously enough with the help of many patriots of its home country who apparently would rather see their demise and resultant necessary establishment of a new order dominated by some Asian make.... as most certainly that will happen with any future exit of S&S. Just that many less American and European industries... just that much more...er... ah... globalization I think they call it in polite terms. I truly would love to see any of the critics of this, or any such company try and produce even a remotely successful instrument on a scale of any significant proportion. There are so many problems of all sorts that are so difficult to keep all together under some kind of control it is quite unfathomable that any company can do it at all. Let alone with the success through the years S&S has displayed. Yep... they are far from perfect. So what ? There far too many out there far to ready to cast the proverbial first stone IMO Cheers RicB
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