Hi,
I've enjoyed browsing through the posts in this forum (oh dear it's 3 a.m). This looks like a good place to get some opinions on comparisons between grand pianos that are in our price range (<$15,000).

We've visited a couple of dealers; one has a Baldwin 5'8" (I think he said it was an "R") for 15,900. I didn't really like the way it felt, it sounded ok. The other has a Samick World (I can't remember the size) for $15,000. Another has a used, I think it's Yamaha, G3 6'1" for 7,995.

Please, I'd be interested in hearing opinions. I played all of them (except the G3- got info over the phone) as well as a couple of others (one of them had a man's name, I think it was Walter something) which I loved, but they were out of our price range. The other I liked was a Steinway.

Thanks,
Karen

Welcome, Karen! You are looking in a good price range, and if you liked the Charles Walter grand you certainly have good taste in pianos.

Given the amount of money you are contemplating spending, you should arm yourself with as much information as possible. Here's some standard advice on your search: 1. Get a copy of "The Piano Book" fourth edition, by Larry Fine -- this is a consumer's guide to buying a new or used piano; and 2. Plan on taking your time before actually making a purchase -- play as many instruments as you can, go back and compare the ones you liked and didn't like, take notes on what you liked and didn't like, etc. Come back here to ask questions and have us debunk the hype.

As for the pianos you've played, the Baldwin R is a nice scale. Baldwin is going through some difficulties at the moment, but the quality of the grands seems to be pretty good again.

Used pianos can offer the best value, but you must be careful in making such a purchase. Do not hand over any money until you've had an independent technician inspect the piano.

I am not yet willing to say anything about the new Samick World Series Grands; I've only encountered one, and though it seemed a nice piano I'd hesitate to recommend them based on a sample size of one. Again, you'll get some good comments both here and in "The Piano Book" to help guide you.

I suggest you look for a few other brands that offer terrific tone at a very good price: Estonia, Petrof, and Schulze-Pollmann. These European brands can compete with pianos costing significantly more.

Hope this helps!

Cork

Thank you, Cork. You have provided me with some concrete tools with which to pursue this expensive purchase!

Karen

Hi Karen, me again,

I can vouch for the Samick WFG 185 (6' -1"). I really liked it. The tone is a bit bright, and the plate is actually orange! But it felt really good, and I liked the evenness of tone. Another piano of this ilk worth a look is the Young Chang Pramberger series of the same length. I much prefer the Baldwin L scale to the R, but the R is a nice piano, the L being much more expensive.

Is there anybody in your area selling any of the Chinese made pianos? I recently read on another Piano Technician's forum (PTG's Pianotech Archive www.ptg.org) that an old but venerated Canadian piano design - Heintzman - has been resurrected by the Bejing Heintzman Piano Co. They bought the design, tools etc. from Heintzman interests in Canada and are building Grands as well as uprights to the old scales using chinese materials. While they were said to have come out a little rough on the edges, initial reports are that overall they are quite nice, and quite cheap. Off course, QC with any new piano co. is a concern, so tread lightly. The one Chinese piano I have actually played is a Pearl River, and although it was a small grand 5'-3" I think, I was impressed by the tone and the quality.

Follow Cork's advice and bone up as much as you can. Take your sweet time, and play as much of anything - irregardless of price - that you can possibly get your hands on before you start narrowing the field. Play the steinway, play the walter again, and all other good pianos, just so that you can really have in mind what a good piano sounds and feels like. Then buy the one that as closely resembles that feeling as you can afford.

Good luck, and have alot of fun with this experience.

Jamie

I too can vouch for the Samick WFG 185 (6' -1"). I played one in New York at Piano Piano (yes, that's really the name of the company) in Midtown Manhattan. I was very impressed with the way it played and sounded. I closed my eyes so as not to see the word SAMICK staring me in the face and tried to imagine what I was really playing. Something European and much more expensive came to mind. Doubtless the quality of the preparation this piano went through at this particular store has something to do with it. I doubt I'd buy this piano from just any dealer. Yes it was a tad bright, but this piano sounded as though it could be voiced down a bit and retain it's voice which I expect, based on the quality of the parts used in them, will stand up over time. A small conservatory on Long Island recently stocked their school with a bunch of them and they expect relentless use out of them. Shocking as it sounds this piano is a real competitor and deserves serious consideration.