I grew up in Brazil and the pianos made there are more in line with the sound of European pianos - particularly German ones. As such, they tend to have a softer, warmer sound when compared to American pianos, which to my taste are often too bright, to the point of being annoying.
In the US my wife and I had a Kohler and Campbell (made in the early 70s) that used to drive me nuts with its brightness. We sold it when we moved to Alaska. When we returned to Pennsylvania I started looking for a new piano but the task at hand seemed daunting. There are so many brand names and models out there; we never really know if they are made in Asia or fully made or just assembled in the US or where parts come from. I visited a few piano shops around and had the opportunity to visit Cunningham Piano Co. in Philadelphia. Tim Oliver made my experience truly pleasant and educational as I knew nothing about buying a new piano. He was great at explaining key technical differences among a variety of models and brand names, such as quality, sound, manufacturing process, costs, etc. As I tried different pianos, the sound of a Cunningham upright (50â€) really impressed me. For an upright, it delivered the sound of grand baby and its volume and warmth really stood out. Initially, I was a bit skeptical about buying a piano from a company that ceased its manufacturing process more than 50 years ago. But then, their expertise working with and restoring high quality pianos balanced the equation. I reasoned that if they can restore famous brand names they must be capable of building good quality pianos as well. In the end, Tim offered me a good “birthday gift†deal too, which I could not resist.
It’s been very hot and muggy in Pennsylvania and my daughter and I have been playing the piano a lot. So yesterday I had the piano tuned a second time since it was purchased a few months ago. The piano tuner did a superb job tuning it! This Cunningham sounds full/powerful, yet warm, round and pleasant. I can only imagine that as the wood & strings settle down, the sound will continue to improve. I am happy with it, and I only hope that Tim Oliver and Rich Galassini will continue the process of building better and better pianos at a reasonable price. So, if you are in the East Coast, don’t forget to pay a visit to Cunningham Piano Co. It may be worthwhile.
For those interested - here is a link to a picture:
http://thepawssionatevet.blogspot.com/
