Buying a piano

[Farrell]

I own a Boston GP178. 1993 it was made - so ten years old. Very nice Japanese piano. Seems to me very much like a nice Yamaha. I also service several of the smaller Bostons - like about 5' 4" or so. These pianos REALLY, REALLY sound a lot smaller. They really have that typical spinet sound.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Avery Todd" <avery@ev1.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 8:02 PM
Subject: Re: Buying a piano


> List
> 
> But while we're on that general subject, does anyone have any "comments" to
> make about the new Bostons? A potential customer has called me because he's
> not happy with the new Boston he recently bought. I haven't talked to him yet
> and am hesitant to do anything (at least without the dealer's approval) because
> it's so new. Any comments about what I might expect when/if I go look at it?
> I have NO experience with the newer Bostons but do have a good relationship
> with the dealer because of where I work. I've also "saved his bacon" a couple
> of times! :-)
> 
> Avery
> 
> Avery
> 
> At 12:28 PM 06/06/03 -0700, you wrote:
> >
> >>----- Original Message -----
> >>From: <mailto:mark.davidson@mindspring.com>Mark Davidson
> >>To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech
> >>Sent: June 04, 2003 3:54 AM
> >>Subject: Re: heavy Steinway action
> >>
> >>Okay, let's give you guys some more information (no don't have 88 SWs 
> >>yet, just a little history).
> >>
> >>First, I am actually the customer, not a technician.  If I knew then what 
> >>I know now would I buy this piano -- probably not.
> >>So problem #1 is simply ignorance.  Probably true for most customers.  I, 
> >>probably like most people (piano techs excluded),
> >>do not expect to have significant issues with such an instrument.
> >>
> >>Keep in mind that Steinway pianos are not bought from the factory, they 
> >>are bought from dealers.  Some dealers are better than others.
> >>I had a choice of three L's locally, none of which were prepped (we're 
> >>talking ZERO prep aside from tuning).  One could not be played because it
> >>still had the packing material in the keyboard (they took it out while I 
> >>was in the store).  Shocked? Welcome to reality.
> >>
> >>Mark, et al.,
> >>
> >>No. I'm not at all shocked. This is, sadly, the status quo for many piano 
> >>dealers. The phenomena is not at all restricted to the sellers of 
> >>Steinway pianos.
> >>
> >>And this is why I recommend that the prospective purchaser arrange to 
> >>play any piano he/she is planning to spend a goodly part of his/her life 
> >>with for at least an hour or two in the dealers facility before handing 
> >>over any money. The piano should be tuned and voiced. At least generally. 
> >>It may need a bit more voicing after delivery but the voice should be 
> >>smooth, even and generally in the ballpark. The action should be in good 
> >>working condition and fully and finally regulated. Again, it may need 
> >>some touch-up regulation after being played for a few months but the 
> >>action should be comfortable to the artist before the piano arrives in 
> >>his/her home.
> >>
> >>If the dealer and his technical staff cannot (or will not) make the piano 
> >>perform to an acceptable level in the showroom how are we to have any 
> >>confidence that he can do this once the piano is in our home?
> >>
> >>There are some obvious exceptions. One would be the customer who is 
> >>asking for something outside of the norm. The dealer should not be 
> >>expected to modify the piano prior to any sale.
> >>
> >>Nor should one expect the same level of in-store prepwork on the "Weekend 
> >>Special Grand Piano Sale! Prices Starting At Just $4,995! Get The Brand 
> >>New Heirloom Quality Grand of Your Dreams Today! Free Tuning and 
> >>Delivery!" But surely expecting a $30,000 to $100,000+ piano to be in 
> >>proper tune and voice and with a properly regulated and balanced action 
> >>should not be too much to ask. These are, after all, supposed to be 
> >>musical instruments.
> >>
> >>And the wheeler-dealer who has wrangled every last dime of profit out of 
> >>the deal should not expect the same level of service as the buyer who is 
> >>willing to pay a reasonable price to the dealer in exchange for a 
> >>reasonable level of service.
> >>
> >>Yes, I know. It would also help if the dealer didn't grossly inflate the 
> >>marked prices to confuse everyone who walked in the door. But one problem 
> >>at a time. Many technicians, if consulted, can offer advice on what any 
> >>given piano should cost and thus help the buyer wade through the B.S.
> >>
> >>All this is basic advice we all, as technicians, should be giving our 
> >>customers. And it is the level of service every purchaser of a high-end 
> >>piano should be insisting on before purchasing something as personal and 
> >>expensive as a Steinway (or whatever) grand piano.
> >>
> >>Let's face it, both the manufacturer and the dealer stand to make a 
> >>considerable profit from this exchange. They should be expected to 
> >>perform at least this minimal level of pre-sale service. If the dealer is 
> >>unable or unwilling to provide this service to the prospective customer 
> >>prior to the sale, why on earth should we expect them to provide it after 
> >>the check has cleared the bank?
> >>
> >>Many dealers may well balk at this. But if enough piano buyers end up 
> >>going elsewhere, who knows, perhaps even the most reluctant of them will 
> >>get the picture.
> >>
> >>Del
> >>
> 
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