Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum I made a decision today...

We tried several grand piano's over the past 3 weeks. We found 2 that really spoke to us, but one in particular really sung to us!! So I called up and put in an offer... it was totally accepted. But then we saw the sales price on the SF10! HAHA So We will go on Friday and make our final decision.

Baldwin L, you are coming home soon!! You will be a great older brother to your little sister, Schulze Pollman 126/E Classico. I feel some two piano duets coming on soon!!

:-)

Congratulations!! Can't wait to see pics/hear it/see the duets!

Congratulations, Denise! Your Piano World threads and piano search saga were interesting and intriguing. Glad you have narrowed it down even more!

All the best,

Rick

Awesome! Congratulations. I always say you can't beat a nice older Baldwin (but I'm biased).

Here are photos of the new grand... can't wait for delivery!













I am in love and can't wait til delivery!! :-)

Congrats on your new piano! Thanks for sharing pics.

Those are great pianos.

Many congratulations to you! -- from another thrilled L fan. Piano love is out-of-this-world magnificent.

Denise,

I haven't quite kept up with your travels. Did your new piano come from Bob Estrin/Living Pianos? If so, did you enjoy shopping there and did you feel the pianos were pretty much ready to go off the floor?

TIA,

Kurt

Kurt,

We did indeed. We were planning on making a second trip to Fields and Hollywood Pianos this weekend, but after reflecting and discussion, and sleeping and dreaming... we knew the 1965 L was the one. The cabinet is refreshed to a near new beautiful ebony, it has been restrung, new keytops... the action is so even and buttery smooth. We both have a light touch, so the action is perfect for both of us.

One thing we did find notable about Living Pianos, there wasn't a "BAD" piano in the store. We worked with Shon, although I did see Robert in the back. He was not intrusive, he was not pushy, and he was a delight to speak with. We have been to about 6 stores, and this one, besides the SoCal Piano (Steinway dealer) had the best prepped floor pianos. Some may not have been "perfectly" in tune, but they were all decent sounding. Solid pianos for the beginner to the seasoned professional... I did find the prices to be a bit high, but it is So. CA, and they are all prepped and regulated well. Price includes delivery anywhere in the US. I called up an offer, before their "Black Friday" pricing appeared on the website yesterday. My offer was on par with the sale pricing, so it was obviously accepted. We highly recommend visiting. You can tell they care about each and every piano in the store, and they pretty much know the history of each.

Hope that helped!!

How nice. I always liked L's from Baldwin's glory days.

Wow! Piano looks beautiful. Vintage Baldwins are amazing instruments!


Enjoy

Thank you. I reread my 1 year search for my first acoustic piano as an adult (not my Kimball Spinet that my mom promptly sold when I moved out and joined the Navy in 1989!). This was much easier and faster! Fewer factors like moving from VA to CA... not knowing what size apartment/house etc.. And Jason, my boyfriend, was an amazing help (professional pianist). We both lusted after the brand new Steinway B. But reality as it may be, brought me back down to earth. We tried used Bs, As and Os with varying degrees of suitability. Finally, we found the Baldwins and it was a tough decision between the L and the SF10 at Living Piano's in Santa Ana. He preferred the SF10, but I couldn't justify the 10k extra. The L has new strings, bushings, key tops and the case has been refinished. IT honestly plays like new. Sounds fantastic, and the feel actually rivaled that new B (just a little ;-) ) I am confident that we have a great piano that will see many hours of playing. Between the two of us, I'd say 4-6 hours a day of practice, lately. I've been playing a lot more than I normally do lately.

Cant wait to go see it tomorrow and pay the balance! I wonder how long it will take them to deliver it... we need to start figuring out placement in the living room! LOL (minor details!!)

Thank you! I can't wait til it gets here!

Congratulations FYI Del Fandrich who is a well known and highly respected piano designer and who posts on this forum has said that the Baldwin L is one of his favorite designs.

Rich

It did. I like Baldwins so I'll have to trot down there (from westside L.A.) eventually. I'm glad to hear it was a successful and pleasant experience.

Kurt

Denise,

[hands thrust up in the air] Saweeeeeeet!!!

So when's delivery??!! My Yamaha was delivered from NY to NC and arrived at 12:45am on a Saturday morning, but I didn't care! After it was setup and placed to my liking, I then played it until a little after 4am :^)

Best wishes with it, and post up lots of pictures!

Regards,
Andy

I seem to remember Del when I was buying my piano 10 years ago! I haven't seen posts from him on this quest. I remember him being quite knowledgeable. :-)

Jealous much?! Congratulations and may you have many happy years of sweet tunes.

Tell Shon or Robert I said Hi!! :-) It's so worth the trip. Jason starts subbing at Disney soon, and he already said he will stop by once in a while just to see whats in stock. Good thing about that... they offer lifetime 100% trade up!! :-) So if ever, and I doubt we will, we find a better piano... (Slapping myself and saying, "SHUT UP DENISE!")

Holy carp! That's a late delivery!! They were going to try to get it delivered today, but I didn't think it would work... They thought it might! HAHA!! That's ok, we spent the day decorating for Christmas! It comes Monday!! Jason is home, and I figured that would be fine. But he told me I had to take a day off of work. He said, you got yourself a grand, you should be here when it gets here. I felt bad telling my principal that I wasn't going to be in Monday, but you know!! PRIORITIES!! :-) The window is between 9 and 11 am. I can't wait!

I just hope I don't fall too in love with it and ignore my gorgeous upright!! We spent last night figuring out layout, and we still haven't come to consensus. I think we are going to corner it, so that while you play you have view of the upright (for duet sake). Unfortunately, although I have a great music room, there are only 2 outer walls... one wall has the grand staircase upstairs and the other is open to the living room... SO we either center it in the room, or angle it. Good thing the casters will have felt on the bottom. Still deciding on putting an area rug in before it gets here (I have hardwood floors) but, with 2 cats and a dog... hairballs and accidents tend to be on the carpeted areas.

So much planning!!

When did you get your Yam? I remember when I bought my new SP 126/E in Virginia, they said a week for delivery. The day after I bought it they called and asked if they could deliver it that evening. I was like, ummm... duh? LOL Granted the Baldwin is a 50 year old beauty and not brand spanking new, but I am even more excited!! Funny thing, it was only a few thousand more than my upright!! hehe