Hello,can someone provide me with feedback regarding these:

1.Has anybony had personal experience with the Chinese-made Irmler pianos? Would you consider the quality of workmanship similar to the Chinese-made Yamahas?

2.Does anybody have any experience with the Ronisch brand (purchased by Bluethner a few years ago)?
Thank you very much.

My mother had an almost 20 year old Ronisch till early last year when she bought a new piano. The new piano dealer was not prepared to trade the piano - mentioned "a couple of hundred at the most", and suggested she give it away. She gave it to a friend who had a much worse piano.

The hammers were gradually delaminating - about a dozen had gone, and the technician said it would need a new set, "plus dampers while I'm at it", and indicated he didn't think it was worth fixing. The piano looked immaculate, though.

Don't they both have some connection with bluthner?

I think I remember playing an irmler in the bluthner showroom whilst visiting London a while back. Nothing wrong with it in particular but most of the various Chinese built pianos I played were very similar, not sure if this has changed in more recent years.

Ronisch is not a name I've heard of for a long time but from a bit of Internet research it looks like its placed slightly lower down the range from irmler.

Actually I think I'm wrong about that last bit. There is a shop not far from me that stock bluthner, irmler and ronisch. On their website the ronisch pianos are considerably more expensive with the smallest 175 grand listed at 33k (uk pounds). It doesn't look like irmler make grands, or at least they don't have them listed. I might go and have a look next week.

Thanks for the help, Chris and Backtostudypiano Yes, both brands are associated with Bluethner. Isn't there any professional out there who has some more info. I am considering to start representing those brands, and want to get as much info as possible.

If you are considering making such an investment and commitment, bringing in those brands, it might be a good idea to take a little trip to the Frankfurt MusikMesse in March. See the pianos first hand in direct comparison to the competition. Talk to the manufacturers directly. From there, take a train to Leipzig to visit the Blüthner plant.

PS: Personally I am a huge Rönisch fan, currently owning two.... but the new ones are different than the old ones, of course.

Dimiter, plan a trip to Leipzig for a factory tour. It´s very interesting anyway.

As far I know: Rönisch went insolvent a few years ago, but there was a taking over by Blüthner. Now the former Rönisch workers produce the Rönisch brand in the Blüthner plant.

Irmler: there are 2 production lines: Irmler (China) and Irmler Professional (Poland, I think). I never tuned a Chinese Irmler, but a Irmler Europe. At least very decent instruments.

Gregor

I don't think so. I had 2 grands and 5 uprights a while back here.

>It doesn't look like irmler make grands

I did play a few Irmler grands about 3 years ago. One was really good but I thought it was a bit too expensive and it was white . Good action, good sound. I remember it well because they had a professional giving demos and he liked the piano and played Rachmaninoff prelude op32 no.12 for me on it.

Irmler professionals do use some polish cabinetry.

Ron, please clarify what you are intimating with your post.

BTW I think I even have a recording of that irmler/rach somewhere very deep in the archives

Mr. Hernandez,

Since you are on the thread, could you provide the information asked for? It seems to me that Rod has intimated nothing more than his observation that the models he had in his inventory did not appear to be from Poland, and that he no longer is involved with the brand.

A few years ago you posted that the contract for Irmler had passed to SMC. You wrote that the work done at SMC ranged from completed bellies to completed instruments.

As I recall, there had been earlier Irmler outsourcing to the Czech Republic and then ito Poland (The Calisia factory I believe).

If the Irmler contract is no longer with SMC, could you update? Surely you don't think that the request for information in this thread is limited to "some Polish cabinetry"..