Please give me your advise...

I've been looking for a piano for a LONG TIME. I am moving into a new house next month and finally ready to get a piano.

My budget is about $18,000. I saw the ad for Brand New 2002 Petrof III for $16,500.

I have no idea about Petrof pianos. I want to get around a 6ft piano. I was also thinking about Boston or Schulze Polleman. But they are a lot more than I can spend If I stick with 6ft size.

Someone, please give me advise/suggestions and recommendation for my piano search?

Thank you. I will check Estonia, but am afraid to get it since a lot of things(not good things) have been talked about the pianos in this news group. I am not a big fun of Kawai pianos. Anyway, I will go to the Steinway dealder in my town. They also sells Boston and Estonia.

I am also piano shopping. I played a Boston GP-178 (5'8' and it sounded and felt great. This was just 15 min. after playing a Steinway L (5'10-1/2). Granted, the Boston wasn't a L *but* it was satisfying enough after playing a piano I couldn't afford. I especially liked the bass because. . . it sounded like a Steinway! And best of all, I *felt* like I was playing a Steinway. I may look that one up again.

The only other grand under 6 ft. that I've tried was a M&H A (5' 8-1/2''. But that was soley to enable me to compare a new M&H to a rebuilt one. I can no more afford the M&H than the Steinway.

FWIW, I *thought* I wasn't crazy about Kawai either. But I played a 6'7' 13 yo Kawai and a 6'7'' new Kawai and was pleasantly surprized. Of course that size is bound to impress somewhat with power after playing the short ones, regardless of the quality.

Good luck on your search, Gene. Hopefully you live where you have a bigger selection than where I am. In the back of my mind I keep calculating drive time to Chicago. If anyone else besides Gene (or even Gene) reads this far: What what be the shipping be on a grand from a dealer in Chicago to Memphis? TIA

Marsha

I liked both the Boston and Petrof, nice instruments. The Petrof 6'4' especially. Have you looked at Charles Walter?

I am a great fan of the Petrof 6'4'. When I used to sell these, this was the piano that I played my Brahms, Chopin and Schubert on everyday.

I am going to Nashville area this week fo my piano search. Boston, Petrof......

Gene, since you are going to be in the area, you might stop over at Schuff's Music in Franklin. Good prices, nice people, and VERY nice pianos.

Best Wishes,

I think he asked for advice how to safely get to Nashville...in one

*snicker* In that case, I recommend an armored personnel carrier!

If I can find a Petrof here I'd like to try one. I heard a concert Petrof in Prague a number of years ago and it sounded good. 6'3-6'4 is the largest I could fit in my current space. If I can't find one here I'll have to think about Nashville or perhaps Atlanta.

Everything I've read about the Walters sounds impressive but fat chance I'll find one at any dealer here. Maybe an individual might have one in this area.

Would you say that both would be suitable for most classical periods? Which of the two could handle Bach and Prokofiev with equal ease?

Thanks,

West-Tennesseans are as different from Middle-Tennesseans as night is from day but perhaps we agree one one thing; The Hummer is the wheels of choice! I've seen more than I care to on the I-240 loop around Memphis.