So, I've been wading through all the mixed information that's online about gray market pianos and from actually sitting down and playing a bunch of them I can't see anything wrong with them but I'm still not completely hyped up about buying a used Yamaha or Kawai but the store I was looking at just got in a brand I haven't heard of. It's a 6'1 Perzina T188BB, brand new. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of information out there on these pianos but what I did find is that they are an old German design that's now made in China but they are still using the same parts as they used to which is supposed to be the same parts that Steinway uses, is this true? The sales guy was going off about how fantastic Austrian spruce is, is that just a pitch or is it really better spruce?
The thing that makes me raise an eyebrow is that the piano seemed inexpensive for a new piano, I mean that it was in the same ball park as some of their restored pianos. Has anyone else played on these? I mean, is it too good to be true or should I buy this piano? I kinda want to know soon because they only have one in stock and they seem to be a pretty busy store.

Welcome to the forum and the crazy world of buying, selling and hyping pianos. I can only hope the salesperson is speaking from his limited knowledge and not knowingly misleading his customers.

Check out the information about Perzina in the online Piano Buyer Guide on the left margin of this page.

I just looked at the Perzina section in the guide and to be honest it didn't say anything more than what the two Perzina sites I found said (the main site and the Canadian site). Judging from your tone I'm guessing that I will regret buying this piano. The sales person seemed knowledgeable enough but the whole task of buying a piano is daunting and there is so much conflicting information out there and everyone has a conflict of interests.

Hi CHughes84, and welcome to the Piano World Forums!

Supply is a seasoned pro, and he gives good advice.

I have not played a Perzina, but have read a lot of good things about the uprights; I have not read or heard a lot about the grands. I would assume they are at least as good as the uprights.

Have you played the Perzina? If so, what do you think about the tone and touch? That is what really matters.

If you want a well-known name brand like Yamaha or Kawai and others, you will pay more. The Perzina may well be a nice piano for your needs and bring you many years of happines at a good price-point.

Who ever told you the Perzina uses the same parts as Steinway, well... that statement in itself would make me want to turn and walk away; it may be true, but I just don't believe it for a minute.

I don't know if I've been of any help, but I wish for you the best possible outcome in regards to your piano shopping experience!

Rick

I have played a number of Perzina grands and maybe one or two uprights.

The grands sounded pretty good, a bit like Petrof but a little brighter.

I have tuned one brand new Perzina upright. It was one of the worst instruments I have ever seen.

I made no comment about the piano or regretting a purchase, I was simply stating that it seems the dealer was telling you some "interesting" tales. While today's Perzina uprights share a few unique design characteristics with the old pianos from Germany with the same name, this is different in their grands. For sure the parts they use are not the the same ones used 100 years ago, which were definitely not the same ones used by Steinway. There are good qualities of Austrian spruce available, but it is not necessarily better than North American or any other spruce. It's not like it can yodel or anything. What is much more important in making the piano than which country the wood grew in is what you do with it and how.

If you like the piano, that is a very good sign! A good piano technician can keep a piano you like the way you like it better than he or she could make a piano you do not like into one you do like, even if the latter piano is supposed to be a much better piano.

I have heard salespeople say things about Steinway parts and that pianos use the same parts as Steinway,, but of course it is not true, as only Steinway uses steinway parts. However, they are (when saying that) usually referring to Renner action parts, which is what Hamburg Steinway uses. But the only similarity is that the parts made by the same company, the design of the parts is different to each company.

@rotom I seem to remember him referring to the Renner action parts being the parts that are the same.

All in all one thing I've heard a few sales folk say is that every piano has to stand on it's own and from what I can tell this one seems to do just that. To play it safe I'm going to ask my friend who is a tuner to come out with me to give it a once over. Thank you all for your feedback.

Just a thought. "Same parts that Steinway uses"
In what? Their Steinway, Boston or Essex.