Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Best prepped brands ex-factory?

This question may sound idiot as I suppose many piano professionals (dealers and techs) will probably reply any brand needs sufficient regulation and minimal voicing (to make it sound even) before it is put in the showroom.

Still is it possible to make a shortlist of brands which from experience need the less prep work done when uncrating and puting it in the showroom?

schwammerl.

Well, in general the more you pay, the more likely its going to be in some kind of shape in the showroom, i.e. Steinway-Yamaha-Kawai etc.

Half price models from Asia need more setup, but they can be good pianos in many cases once this is completed.

Good luck...RPD

I'd agree about the Yamaha and Kawai brands being factory prepped pretty well. Many European brands are as well. However, I would not include Steinways in that grouping. Not that they can't be great pianos, but much of that is left up to the dealers and the skill of the techs who prep the pianos. Out of the box, they usually need some hours of attention.

Additional question.

Could their be TWO factors involved?

1. The time a manufacturer spends on prepping at the factory.

2. The way that prep holds till the piano arrives at the dealers shop (involving stocking and transport).

schwammerl.

[I'd agree about the Yamaha and Kawai brands being factory prepped pretty well. Many European brands are as well. However, I would not include Steinways in that grouping. Not that they can't be great pianos, but much of that is left up to the dealers and the skill of the techs who prep the pianos. Out of the box, they usually need some hours of attention. [/QB][/QUOTE]

Interestingly, I ran across a 75K Steinway B a client purchased recently...and IT had a substantial need for a fair amount of action work. I had attributed that to it being a floor model (hammers all over the place, corrosion on strings etc). I raised it as a concern and the store sent out another tech. Last I heard, the client was happy, but I haven't seen the piano yet.

Awkward moment, that. Finding problems with a new Steinway piano for clients. So, if this piano was any indicator, that particular dealer didn't prep too well.

(and I'm not talking about geting out my pocket ruler for a fine technical issue...it was obvious..the hammers were resting ALL over the place!)

RPD