Can you believe it? The family and I took a trip to San Diego (about three hours south), where we stopped off at Artistic Pianos and Raphaelle Piano Gallery, both in Encinitas. It's so amazing that this small beach town would have two of the best dealers in California (and believe me, I should know!).

Drum roll please ............

(spoiler space)


The Schulze Pollmann, and depending on price, maybe the 6'6". It's weird that they make a 6'6". I'm not sure anyone else does. But when people ask me how large a piano I can fit, I've always said, 6'6". So it must be fate, right? Anyway, the mahogany briar is red enough for the hubby and the sound is "right enough" for me. The bass on the 6'6" was particularly good (and the treble on the 6'3" was particularly good).

I had never played the 6'6" before. Maybe someone here can tell me about the plate differences. The 6'3" has a skeleton like plate (for lack of a better phrase -- you can see it under products, 190 at the SP website) while the 6'6" plate fills the case and has round holes in it. Why are these pianos so different and what are the advantages, disadvantages to the different designs?

BTW, Laura at Raphaelle Piano Gallery has a pretty amazing 9-foot Estonia and a very good sounding 6'3" Estonia, better prepped than most I've played. She told me Estonia will soon stop making babinga, for all you babinga fans.

bye for now,
penny

Congratulations, but we're going to miss the odyssey. It really was very interesting.

Wow Penny. Congratulations.[/b]

Andrew, are you reading this?

Will you be taking delivery soon? We might go check out your new piano at this end!

Splendid choice, lovely to look at too. And yeah, both stores -- and both dealers -- are great. It was cloudy all weekend in San Diego. Perfect for piano shopping.

Joy

[ May 29, 2001: Message edited by: Joy ]

Penny,

Congratulations on your new purchase. May you have many years of enjoyment with it. Please let us know when you receive it. Maybe you could have Jodi post a picture of it on her piano pictures site.

Regards,
Mike

Well, we haven't signed on the bottom line yet. We still want to pay "in full." But hopefully, it will be soon. Joy, if we order a 6'6" in mahogany, it will pretty much go straight to our home from the Port of Los Angeles. If we buy the 6'3", it MAY be the one in the shop (it's dreadful, really, all you piano shoppers out there will just HATE it!) but it depends on when we get the money and if anyone buys it out from under us. If that happens, we may wait for Art to get another one in to examine it first ... or we may just order one. Right now, we're waiting on the price for the 6'6".

It's nice to have some finality. As Niles said, I guess I'm going to have to get a new hobby. Oh, I know. Maybe I can actually PLAY the piano!

penny

Awesome, Penny! Do send some pics. (Although I am a bit behind, I still have some pictures to post for Kathleen - and am in the middle of trying to finish some paintings for a show - and trying to clean house for visitors - and the kids only have another 8 days of school - ACK!!- Now I understand why parents send them to summer camp for two months - sorry for the rambling)Anyway, major congratualations, and may you have many years of wonderful music! Jodi

[ May 29, 2001: Message edited by: jodi ]

Penny:
Major congrats!!
Did you buy it at Art's?
He's a great guy. You are like me, I shopped all over and bought from far away.
May you have many years of happy playing.

P.S. So far, we have 9 people comming to the LA piano party

[ May 29, 2001: Message edited by: kenny ]

Nine people? As my 24-year-old brother would say -- kewl! Do we have a date yet?

Yes, we will definitely buy it from Art. He's just as you all have described him. He hangs low in the background, answers questions when asked and has great prices because it's only he and room full of pianos (no obnoxious salesforce to pay).

penny

Yes, Joy!

I just had a 'hands-on' experience with a 6'3". I was more than IMPRESSED. I asked about the price. Onofrio owner quoted me at $27,000 which I thought too high. What's the price at Artistic, if I may, of that 6'6"? Penny? Maybe I really need to try very HARD to squeeze time for a visit to Artistic next month!

BTW, Congratulations to Penny!

Penny:
How exciting! But, I have to admit it was just a little bit disappointing when I first saw your RE: line because I so enjoy your posts. After reading your message I was relieved that the story isn't completely over. Keep us informed, I love vicarious shopping with you! Kathleen

Andrew,
$27K for a 6'3" is too much. Are you looking at the mahogany briar as well? Even Scott A. of Forshey Pianos (now, don't go throwing vegetables at your computers!) quoted me a price of $25k for his last 6'3" in stock (Forshey Pianos in Houston is no longer an authorized SP dealer). Art from Artistic Pianos said he could do much better, though I haven't pushed him yet on an exact price. Larry in Atlanta told me that the 6'6" is about 4-5K more than the 6'3", so that should keep us under our $30k budget -- yes, we finally established a budget.

Hope this helps. I'm sure some dealers are cringing now that we're talking pricing. But after learning by how much my local dealer over charges, I believe those who take the time to do their homework should be rewarded!

penny

Congratulations!

You have made an excellent choice. Congratulations! I knew you'd like the Schulze Pollmann 6' 7" if you ever got to try one.

Now you can work on finding a red artist bench, a red metronome, a red music storage cabinet, and red caster cups. So, you'll have more to obcess about!

Those light green Edition Peters scores will look good piled on a red piano.

Hahaha! No, we'll leave the piano as the only major "splash" of red in the house. That way, it captures all the attention it so aptly deserves!

penny

You've made it!!!

Congrats, Penny - I am really happy for you!
Now, I am sure you can't wait until the piano finally will have moved in - and then,when it sits in your living room you will be checking every morning if it is still there and you haven't dreamed all about it - that's what I did for the first weeks.
Keep us up to date!
Ruth

Congrats! I'm sure you will be pleased. I alway recommend going for the larger size.

Congratulations Penny. I'd love to see a
picture of the piano.!!

Steve

[ May 30, 2001: Message edited by: Steve ]

Funny you should ask. Hit the link below.

But here's a dilemma, gang. I knew that Art would make the 6'3" (190) desirable, because that's the one he's got in his shop and he wants to move it. But I got the prices today, and there's a $7K difference! For three inches! Without going into the specifics, I don't think the 6'6" (197) is priced too high. I think he offered an incredible deal on the 6'3". What to do??? (the 190 had an amazing treble and is also a very lovely piece of furniture, while the 197 is in a warehouse and would come straight to my home without our being able to preview it). Help!

S-P picture

Penny,

Given the price difference, I'd take the 190. In a similar situation, I opted for the larger piano for $8,000 more than the smaller, but the difference in size was 17 inches (6'4" vs. 7'9"), not 3 or 4.

It would be a rare pianist indeed who would not love to have a S-P 190 gracing their home.

Just my humble (?) opinion.

Cork

Hi Penny,

Agree with Cork. One more reason to consider the 6'3" is that you've played this piano...no surprises! You wouldn't want to be surprised by a different "red" shade on the cabinet, would you?

Congrats, so far.

Mat D

Penny
All things considered I would go for the 190.

I would be nervous about taking a piano sight unseen, although SP quality reputation is top notch, and I'm sure Art will work out the prep.
The individual personality and prep of a piano is very important to me.

Is this piano already on its way to Art's showroom? Or is it a "to be ordered" deal?

If it is on its way to his showroom, let it go there and get set up. Play it, and take it from there. If you don't like it you are out nothing but time, and can still take the 190.

By the way it is beautiful. Very classy!

[ May 31, 2001: Message edited by: kenny ]

No, if I were to buy the 197, it would come straight to my house. Art said he wouldn't buy it on spec with the hopes that I would like it because it would be hard for him to sell if I declined (actually, this is something I have heard time and time again as I've talked to various dealers about special ordering a piano that is red enough).
So the piano would come to my house after purchasing it and all the prep would be done there.

Yes, it is a beauty! When I first saw a picture of it in January, I thought for sure it would be the one that we would want (based on looks alone). But unfortunately, my first introduction was nothing special. But since then I've played six more and now know that first one to be the exception, not the rule.

BTW, for anyone interested in that 6'6" in his shop, it's ebony and fully prepped and a really great price. Email me if you're serious and I'll give the details.

penny

[ May 31, 2001: Message edited by: Penny ]

Penny, I'm entering into the discussion late, but congratulations! FWIW, I'd take the 190 for the $7K cost difference. I looked at the picture, and it's beautiful.

Dwain

Penny, As usual I've been traveling and got the news late about your decision on the SP! Congratulations. Would have to agree with the advice already given about staying with the 6'3" vs. buying the 6'6" sight unseen and unplayed.

Rich

Penny, you need to ask the dealer to get in a 6' 7" that he *can* sell, such as a black one. He ought to be stocking one anyway. That way you can try one out to get an idea of how it plays and sounds.

The first one of the big SP's we got in was uncrated right about closing time. I decided to give it a quick test play before heading out the door. I stayed til midnight. I really like the 6' 3". It is one sweet piano. But that first encounter with the SP 6'7" in the after hours quiet of the store was almost a religious experience.

And then of course - silly me - right after I make my last post I read the one that says you've already played one because he already has one in stock.

Don't pay any attention to me. Sometimes I get my tongue wrapped around my eye teeth and can't see what I'm saying.............

See Larry, this is my dilemma. Like you, Art doesn't want to carry a 6'7' mahogany S-P on spec. Now apparently, there is one in being warehoused in NY. But I probably would get a better price from someone who has one IN STOCK. Again, I don't find Art's price on the 197 outrageous (though it always could be lower!), but his price on the 190 to exceptional.
penny

Hello Penny!

I haven't been around for a while-----but I'm glad to see you have almost purchased that piano you have been looking for!

I just finished a huge recital, and am ready to start trying out some pianos again. My budget is still slushy so I am just taking my time and playing a lot of pianos.

Glad to see so many are still around!
I'm needing to figure out this new format now too!
Regards. Teri

[ June 12, 2001: Message edited by: Teri ]

Teri! It's been so long! Good to see you back.

Well, all, I clinched the deal today!!! Yea!!!! Delivery will hopefully be next week (needs some voicing first).

So weird how I ended up with the S-P. It was among the first pianos I looked up after getting input here, and the photos were so beautiful, I was in love. But when I finally played it, that first one wasn't impressive. But others I played put it back on the short list. I still love the Grotrian best. And I like the Sauters, but I'm paying $11k less and getting a longer piano that is EQUAL to the Sauter to my ears. Also on my short list is the Mason & Hamlin BB and a well prepped Pleyel.

But I love my S-P and I can't wait!!!!
penny
now busy shopping for a rug and a whole room humidifier. Someone wrote a long time ago about getting an industrial-strength one that only needed to be filled every other day. Anyone remember where it came from? I also remember Sears being mentioned for a smaller one.