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<div>Phil,</div>
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<div>I have bought a few 243's the past few years. For the most
part they are still pretty good. The two beefs I have with them
are, one, since they started getting their plates from South America
the tuning pin/ string alignment in the third and fourth octaves are
not quite right. Strings weave through the adjacent pins and
then they are impossible to space in the speaking length.</div>
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<div>My second issue is the wound strings on the treble bridge.
One person told me they drill the hitch pin holes in the wrong place.
Whatever the reason, those strings are not right. The winding
starts way off the bridge and then is too long up at the v-bar.
It is obvious that instead of fixing it they unwound some copper until
they fit. Except they don't. They do a terrible job,
they're uneven and look like they were chewed off by mad weasels.
Also, the swedge goes all the way over the v-bar. Those unisons (3?)
sound about like you'd expect.</div>
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<div>The 243 used to be a great piano but they have not taken the
trouble to fix these problems. This last purchase I bought a
couple of Boston verticals. They are a touch cheaper and, made
by Kawai, very nice. </div>
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<div>chris</div>
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<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">I work for a
large school district that is growing, every year they are purchasing
more pianos for new buildings. We have been buying the Yamaha
P22 for 15 years or so and I don't see a lot of other brands in that
environment. I have been asked specifically about the 243's but
have not seen a new Baldwin since Gibson took over. Anyone with
any thoughts on the Baldwin. I usually recommend the Kawai and
Charles Walter if they want to shop price and get a
bid.</font></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">Thanks,
Phil</font></blockquote>
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<div><font face="Helvetica" size="+2" color="#000000"><b>Christopher
D. Purdy R.P.T.<x-tab>
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<div><font face="Helvetica" size="+2" color="#000000">School of Music,
Ohio University<x-tab>
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<div><font face="Helvetica" size="+2" color="#000000">Athens, Ohio
45701<x-tab>
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<div><font face="Helvetica" size="+2" color="#000000"><b>(740)
593-1656</b></font></div>
<div><font face="Helvetica" size="+2" color="#000000">fax (740)
593-1429</font></div>
<div><font face="Helvetica" size="+2"
color="#000000">purdy@ohiou.edu</font></div>
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