Hi John. I highly agree with you about the Lipp instruments quality, while I encountered too few of them. I also agree with your Bechstein selection, while my three all times favourite ones were from the 1870ies, two of them 8 foot straight strung. One of those was chosen by Jos van Immerseel for a Brahms concerto performance at the Concergebouw in Amsterdam, with Lubimov as pianist. Indeed, I bought many Bechstein pianos in UK, and the first thing that they did when imported in Belgium (dryer climate) is develop cracks immediately. Not so with the Knabe I was working on lately: he did stand the dry winter here, even while my damp machine was broken. Could it be that Bechstein prepared some soundboards especially intended to go to (wetter) UK ? Best regards. Stéphane Collin. -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of John Delacour I have encountered charming Bechsteins but they have all been from about 1885 to 1899 before they introduced the new styles. Very early Bechsteins I find worthless and the later ones not at all interesting, but just occasionally I'll come across one of the old style 6'6" grands that really draws me in and speaks to me. Unfortunately Bechstein was careless both with cast iron and with soundboards and to find one of this age that has survived is a rare occurrence. I must say I avoid them generally. Give me a Lipp any day. JD
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