Hello,

I consider buying a baby grand piano to use for mainly composing music, occasional playing and looks.
Visited a piano studio-slash-new/used-piano selling business and the owner suggested a brand new Baldwin baby grand - BH152M, 5 feet long, for $7000 (orig. $8900) or $7700 for delivery, set-up and tuning at my home, with a modern design - silverish harp, funcky wheels and base, something along the designed by Porche Steinway style (foto here: http://11870.com/pro/pianospain/media/378e520e).

Its sound is not glorious, partcularly that I played a Yamaha C5 in the same room and could compare. The feel of the keys is ok, again slightly inferior to Yamaha, which is a different class and budget - $20,000 used, made in 198-something.
The piano tuner of the studio who happened to be around, said that the feel of the keys could be adjusted (voicing) and the tone of the piano will change - the hammers will harden and the lacking brilliance of the new instrument will appear in time.

I googled Baldwin webpage and this particular model wasn't there, but the owner of the studio mentioned that the piano is custom made.

Please, let me know if this sounds like a good deal or not.
Many thanks.

That is one funky looking piano. If you didn't care for the sound, then it's not a good deal. Baldwin, unfortunately, since being purchased by Gibson guitar company has lost its way, in my opinion. They tried to make "Custom Shop" style pianos, just like they do guitars. This concept works great on guitars, but not so great in pianos. A guitar is NOT a piece of furniture, and a piano is - that's what Gibson has failed to grasp. It's one thing to hold some wild looking instrument while you are onstage, and quite another to have such an unusual looking PSO in your living room. When in doubt, look elseware. If you absolutely LOVE this design and piano, there's no reason not to go for it. By the way, where's the music rack? If it doesn't have one, pass.

Hi, soldiezz… and welcome to the Piano World forums!

Call me old fashioned, but I agree with Pianolance… I prefer the traditional style of a grand piano. I would say the Baldwin name is still well known though… the price seems reasonable too, for a new piano.

Good luck!

Rick

Is is a Baldwin M?,, an artist grand? Those are good pianos.

Hi Apple... take a look at the link provided... the piano is a model BH152M, one of the newer styles from Gibson/Baldwin. It doesn't at all resemble a traditional L or M model.

Take care,

Rick

Sorry, call me old fashioned but if I were buying a small Baldwin grand I would try to find a used Baldwin M or R. If well maintained they can be quite nice grands.

Rich

I agree with Rich

Sorry, isn't this piano in Spain? If so I doubt there are many used Baldwins around.

Thank you for your opinions!

Is it true that the hammers could harden in time so that the new instrument will acquire (some) brilliance of tone?

(There is a classic looking Baldwin for sale at the same place by the same person - BH185, 6'1, for about $9000, brand new, which I suspect I could negotiate down a bit. Would that be a possible bargain? Is there an advantage/disadvantage of a new but cheaper model versus an older, more expensive one, in this case Baldwin BH and the suggested M or R models?)

I am not in a rush of purchasing; will carefully weight in all the advices, for which again, I thank you very much!

That's correct.



Your prices are similar to those here. The Baldwin BH are Chinese pianos and are very different designs than the American-made R1, or L1 (which cost at least $20,000 more). I tried the 5' and it was decent, so I would expect the 6' to be very nice, too.