I am shopping around for a piano for my son and came across this W.Hoffman upright H120 in Cristofori, selling at below 10K singapore dollars (US$1=S$1.7). However from the catalogue and Bechstein's website, W.Hoffmann produces only 2 models of uprights--World 116 and 125.
Can any one tell me whether there is any problem with the H120 i saw in Cristofori? Is it an older model or something else?
Also, I have read in The Piano Book by Larry Fine that W.Hoffmann is a 2nd tier piano. i liked the touch and tone of the instrument I saw (though the Seidler beside it is obviously better). Can anyone here who owns a W.Hoffmann or at least had close encounter with W.Hoffmann tel me more about it?

The only W. Hoffman I came across was nearly 4 years ago on one of my business trips. I believe it was the 125 but could have been the 120, I'm just not sure. I was really impressed with the tone of the instrument and the action was very light and even. For the money it seemed to be a great deal. I don't think they sell them anymore in the US which is a shame.

Rich

Yes, I went through the archive of this forum and read only praises and recommendations for W.Hoffmann. But need to know more before making a decision especially on why this model is neither published in the catalogue or on the Bechstein website. It may be our family piano for the next 10-20years and I really don't want to spend my money on some defect product or a piano of unknown origin. The sales girl(and a very young and green one) can answer almost none of my enquiries. (perhaps I should "blame" Larry Fine's book for making me so inquisitive)
Are there "pirated" pianos in this world? Can the W.Hoffmann I saw be one of them? (Sure hope I get a negative answer--how tragic man is if the answer is yes)
went to see perzina today. utter dissapointment. I expect Perzina to be at least a close fight with W.Hoffmann. but then, to be fair, the pianos were not well prepped. the dealer (who was not in the showroom during my visit) called to apologise and invited me to his other showroom where the pianos are well maintained. Sure hope the second visit will put perzina back into the race.
BTW, Rich, thanks for responding.

To anyone out there who may be interested in W.Hoffmann 120, Here is the reply I got from Bechstein Manager International Sales:

Country of Origin - Bechstein Berlin gets the W. Hoffmann instruments from its subsidiary C. Bechstein CZ s.r.l. in the Czech Republic where the instruments are manufactured. So the product is always fully compliant to the Bechstein quality standard.

W. Hoffmann-Model: W120 - Referring to your second email please accept our apologies that we have confused you with different piano models. The current model is the W. Hoffmann W120. The pianos shown in our product brochure on the internet are the previous models. We are in the process of completely rebuilding our website which will also include new product catalogues, both for Grands and Uprights. We expect to launch our new site, incl. new product brochures, latest by April this year.

I know what you meant by "the sales girl is young and green". Like you, I have read the Larry Fine book and I have visited Fazioli, Bluethner and Steinway's Hamburg factories. Unfortunately most of the Singapore piano shopkeepers are either young and green, or they are old and tell lies. Piano teachers are not necessarily knowledgeable lots when it comes to piano constructions, some piano teachers that I have spoken to do not even know about voicing and regulating, they only knew tuning!

Unlike used cars, pianos are usually housed in sheltered environment and if it has been well looked after, a 20 year-old piano can look as good as new, and probably even sound better than new, as it aged.

Have your considered used piano? you could probably buy a better used piano with the budget. But do beware of unscrupulous used piano dealers trying to pass off a 50/60 year-old heavily used pianos as a 5 to 10 year-old used pianos. I even heard of the serial number being altered! I trust that you are knowledgeable after reading the Larry Fine book and getting lots of good advice here on this forum that you can discern truths from lies. I usually pretend to be naive and ignorant and listen to what the dealers tell me to find out if they are honest or dishonest dealers.

Happy shopping!

Get away from story telling - or listening to.

Compare it to another German great you have in Singapore: Sauter.

Then decide.

Norbert

Norbert,
Sauter is actually my dream piano. too bad it is too expensive.
but trying to source for a used one. do you have any to offer? Seriously(because I really hope I can have a Sauter) kidding(think the freight charge will cost a bomb.)

Norbert, can you offer your professional advice on whether a 13yr old Feurich(118) is worth buying? (because i heard not all Feurich pianos are built equal)

music@Singapore,

" serial number being altered!"--this is outrageous--you mean in Singapore?! but before I get any used piano, i will ask Alvin ( the Sauter dealer )to do the checking first.

Perhaps Alvin can help you to source a Sauter that fits your budget from his German contacts and ship it to Singapore together with the rest of his shipment, it may be feasible? From what I recalled from Larry Fine's book, all Sauter pianos are tropicalized?

Have you tried Bluethner? A music school at the west (bukit batok/clementi/teck whye/??? area) used to carry Bluethner during the late 90s but the distributorship was terminated around 2000. They may still have some old stock of Bluethner which they probably did not pay too much for when the Euro was low. I am struggling to recall the name and location of the school but age has gotten better of me

I believe you're talking about Sonata Music House. The owner is Chin Kai. He is also the dealer for Perzina and Grotrain, as well as August Forster and Feurich. Might be worth taking a look

You are right Wzkit! It was Sonata Music. Any idea who sells Nordiska in Singapore?

No idea, I've never heard of Nordiska being sold here. Besides Perzina, the only Chinese piano that I liked was the Wilhelm Tell at Gramercy. Nordiska might be carried by some of the smaller shops which I did not check out