As some of you may be aware, I have been engaged in the search for a piano for my church.

Our choice is the Mason & Hamlin BB!

You probably guessed from previous posts that this was the piano that we fell in love with. The decision was unanimous among committee members, 2 of whom play and one who is an excellent string musician but does't play piano. I was fearful at first that we would not agree! What then? But we did. Actually, it was easy for us all to arrive at the same conclusion. We knew it when we first played it. We played others afterward, but the rest paled in comparison.

Upon embarking on the search, we didn't have enough money in the piano fund to buy a M&H BB! We were frantically trying to find ways to justify and sell church members on making additional funds available to purchase the piano we wanted the church to buy. To make a long story short, manna fell from heaven in the form of an infusion of capital that more than doubled our funds allowing us to buy the BB! We promtly deemed this as a sign of Devine intervention! It was meant to be.

These were the reasons for our choice:

We loved the complex tone, rich bass, and bell-like treble. We felt it would compliment the varity of music played in our church.

The action and touch was a dream to play.

We felt we are getting a premium piano that the church can be proud to own.

We believe this piano is built strongly enough to withstand the abuse it might (but hope will not) get in a church setting.

Value. We expect with good care for this instrument to last many years, and that it would be a candidate for a rebuild later.

The dealer. The owners were wonderful to deal with. No high pressure at all. The fact that they are a small family operation, had a great selection of well-prepped pianos, that the owner was also a RPT that is often called upon for his voicing skills, and that they are also rebuilders factored into our decision. These things made us feel we would get good support when we needed it.

We felt we negotiated a fair price for the piano.

Last, the best part. It will reside only a 7 minute drive from my home. I can play it almost any time I want to! Can't wait!

Wow, even He has good taste!

Congratulations, welcome to the family of Mason & Hamlin owners.

Great piano! Great choice! I wish more churches had given more thought to the piano they place in their sanctuary (piano snob that I am!). I bet it will be ... heavenly!

penny

Congrats!! M&H have been my favorite piano for over 35 years.

I am sure you'll be delighted with your choice.

The best piano I played during my piano safari was a BB. I think that one would be an asset to any sacred music service.

May it play long and well, in service to Him, and your church!

The best piano Steinway ever built is a Mason & Hamlin!

(Maybe I should change that to the best piano Steinway "never" built is a Mason & Hamlin.)

Congrats! :p

I'm sure the entire congregation will be happy with the new BB! I am happy for all of you that Divine Providence has made it possible.

I know you wanted to leave the dealers' names out when you were recounting the adventures of your safari, but would you be willing to disclose which dealer will be supplying the M&H for your church? Just curious.

I had little doubt that the BB would be your ultimate choice. A hearty congratulations!

(now where is that envy icon?)

Just wish more people out here on the west coast would have that sort of taste. What I've termed "fallboard fixation" for the S&S seems all too common.

Mark Mandell
www.pianosource.com

Congratulations!

P.S. How to become member of your church.....

norbert

From your original post "We were frantically trying to find ways to justify and sell church members on making additional funds available to purchase the piano we wanted the church to buy."

It could be read you are putting members of the congrgation up for sale! I open the bid at the pastor at $1000.... yes, your bid sir....

oh, and choice with a C

Brian,

Didn't word that exactly right did I?

The thousand dollar bid wont get our minister! Thank goodness. We really like him.

reblder,

I have seen that S&S fixation exhibited in churches, schools, performing arts centers. Sadly, once there, all you have is the name. They haven't been cared for. I particularly noticed very heavy action. Some were a bear to play. I must admit that the D I played was very good, just not as good as the M&H. Considering the price, it was no contest.

Steve Cohen,

Wow! Was that a "hybrid" comment?

Teasing aside. We did play the YC's and the Prambergers. In the long run the M&H BB won our hearts.

Norbert,

Pick up your family, your business, the dogs and cats and move to NC. We would love to have you. Everyone, even piano salesmen, are welcome. If you tune too, you could save us lots of money!

On the other hand, forget that. I would be out of a job if you play better than me.

Shantinik,

I too have always thought that "The best piano Steinway ever built is a Mason & Hamlin"!

I was careful to let the other committee members arrive at the same conclusion without voicing my opinion first. I was afraid I was too biased. After we played it, I had to force them to keep shopping. They liked it that much.

Kenny,

"Wow, even He has good taste!" What a perfect line!

Now if He would just send some Devine intervention to inspire my playing.

Ed,

Think everyone else guessed it was our choice too.

Penny,

Yes, it will be heavenly to have this instrument in our church. It's the churches first grand piano.

Matt G.

Thanks for the words of congratulations.

Regarding posting the dealer. I feel you should have someone's permission before doing this. I don't have that at this time.

Jolly,

Thank you so much for saying "May it play long and well, in service to Him, and your church!"

I could ask for nothing better.

Maybe that I play better, but I guess that's up to me, not Him!

Just in case I haven't broken the record for the most consecutive posts, one last post and a very big:

THANK YOU ALL!

You will never know how much help this board has been. I am truly grateful to every one of you.

Congratulations! It sounds like you've made a great choice. It's wonderful that your church went to so much effort to make a wise decision in finding the right piano for them. It's a shame that so many churches don't. Our church is looking to replace their worn out 1961 Hammond A-100 organ/leslie with what I hope will be an Allen/Rodgers digital or comparable.(we've only just started our fund). I hope that when the time comes, we can go about it as wisely as you & your church has done. Congratulations again--I'm sure the M&H will bring your church years of enjoyment & spiritually uplifting music. It's a wonderful instrument!

Lyn

Lyn,

Thanks for the message. Basically once the funds were there for the piano we wanted, the decision was left up to the committee as to what to purchase. We consulted with the choir director and minister, neither of whom really know anything about pianos about the reasons for choosing the M&H BB but the decision was left to us. Two of us play. The other is a musician. That's the way it should be.

Can sympathize with having to play the Hammond. I've too have played an old one and its not my favorite organ. We have a Rogers, much nicer, at our church, an old non-digital one but it's a good one. We don't dare mention replacing it now! That will have to come later down the road. By the way, although I have played organs from time to time, I don't pretend to be an organist. I'm much better at piano. Perhaps, in the musicians forum, we can share ideas about piano/organ duet music or piano solo music for church. I would like that.

So would we! April and I do a lot of piano & organ duets, some out of books and some we've arranged ourselves. We would love to share ideas and we're always looking for new things to do. I can imagine that the Rodgers organ must sound heavenly in comparison to our A-100. I love playing the organ, but the Hammond is really a nightmare. The low G bass pedal sometimes continues to sound after it's released, it loves to go 'snap, crackle, pop' at the most inopportune moment of the service and it's overall pretty static sounding. April & I did a beautiful piano & organ duet during one service that the old Hammond totally ruined--embarrassing for me, because people don't realize that it's not me making all the 'klunkers'! :rolleyes: I can't wait until our organ fund grows enough to replace it! Anyway, enjoy the new piano!! I'm sure the M&H is really going to enhance your worship services. I wish I lived nearby so I could come to your church and hear those lovely instruments!

Lyn

Hoooray bcarey!!! Great choice.

One of the best things about having an excellent piano in a church is that so many people will get to hear it. And perhaps play it. Alot of churches allow their facilities to be used for concerts and musical gatherings, even student recitals. May many be blessed by this wonderful piano.

Great choice! I personally love this particular piano, I just find the sound so rich and powerful, it is an instrument that inspires!