Quite true; the piano is best voiced to the room, and after the instrument has settled after being moved. There's more to voicing than just working the hammers--- the instrument has to be in tune and in regulation.
I wonder if this instrument has already had the hammers altered by hardening them with lacquer, if it sounds so noticeably different from the others of the same model. It's often hard to tell in the showroom how it's going to sound at home.
Are you in a great hurry? This is not the only Boston 178 in the world; they can surely order more (it could already be in progress, especially if they're selling so well they've run out of stock).
If you don't find the evenness of action, tone, and voicing acceptable in the showroom, maybe this is not the instrument for you. It's likely you can keep the same deal that's in place, but try some more examples of the model you like, until you and your son find one you think is just about right.
Short of that, I would not accept delivery until the piano sounds and feels acceptable, before the dealer ships it. If you haven't written down the serial number already, this might be a good time to see to it. It will help you to know you've received the same piano you've played and ordered, and it will let the seller know, in a perfectly nice way, that you didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday morning.
Last edited by Jeff Clef; 08/15/09 07:20 PM.
