Astin-Weight pianos

[Jeannie Grassi]

Hi Wasson,
Thanks so much for your input.  I'm sure my customer will appreciate your
help, as much as I do.


Jeannie Grassi, RPT
jgrassi@silverlink.net
Bainbridge Island, WA



> >> Dear Jeannie:
>
> Over the years I have sold and continue to service a handful
> of Astin-Weight
> pianos, including a few of the 50" model which I presume is
> the model of
> interest to your customer.  This piano is a very well-made
> instrument, with
> an unusually full and rich (albeit somewhat unusual) sound.
> No doubt the
> innovative soundboard design, with the soundboard running in
> behind the
> pinblock, has a lot to do with this.  In my opinion, the
> piano sounds bigger
> but maybe not as well balanced as, say, a 52" Yamaha.  The overall
> workmanship is great; the piano is very solidly built and
> uncommonly heavy
> (to my knowledge, the only heavier vertical is the 52" Baldwin).
>
> In my experience, the Astin-Weight piano is difficult to sell
> for 3 reasons:
> 1) Very little name recognition
> 2) Expensive compared to many better-known (but lower quality) brands
> 3) Cabinet designs and finishes are less than outstanding,
> rather plain and
> dull
>
> I can't think of any company in the piano industry with which
> I would rather
> do business than Astin-Weight.  They won't feed your customer
> a bunch of
> hype and baloney, and I'm quite sure she will be impressed with their
> honesty and forthrightness.
>
> You might suggest that your customer read the section on
> Astin-Weight pianos
> in Larry Fine's book The Piano Book.  The pianos do have a
> distinctive,
> unique tonal character, which impresses nearly everyone, some
> favorably and
> some otherwise.  A very interesting piano indeed.
>
> Hope these opinions are of some interest or usefulness to you
> and/or your
> customer.
>
> Wasson Kerrick, RPT
> Owensboro, KY
>
>