Shopping for ~6 footer in NYC

After playing an old M&H A a few weeks ago, I decided to start shopping for a 'new' piano. My current piano is a nice 1993 (purchased new in late 1994) Baldwin M (5'2' smallest 'Artist Grand'. I'll be selling this piano to make room for a larger one.

Though I loved the M&H A (in my brief encounter with it), I realized that I should take this opportunity to play as many pianos as possible before I make a purchase which I'll have to live with for quite some time. So the usually quandary comes up with respect to good pianos: Golden Age vs. New or Relatively New. Perhaps I'd be just as happy, and have fewer maintenance issues with a newer Baldwin L than I would with an 80 year old M&H? What about the Petrof and Estonia? etc.

So I started where everyone shopping for a piano should start - which is right here, searching the archives. GOt the Larry Fine book, Piano in America and the Pierce Atlas.

So after a bit research, I decided to make the daunting trip uptown (20 minutes!!) to 57th and 58th street in Manhattan. I went to Frank And Camille's on 57th street, primarily to play a Baldwin L. They did not have any. They had an R (5-8) which was out of tune and had at least one sticky key. Roughly a $30k piano. Out of tune. With a sticky key. Gibson, do you hear me?

SO as to not make the trip a total waste, I played a couple of Yamaha C3s. Out of tune. NEXT!

Oh, wait, there's a PEtrof. Which model is that? 'Hmm, I don;t know, we just got it in, let me get a tape measure', says the salesperson (very polite, by the way). It's about 5'7' or 8. I sit down and play it and I am impressed with it. Do you have the larger model, I asked? Not right now. Ok..., so I'm leaving and I see a Seiler, so I sit down. Beautiful, beautiful treble. Which model is this? 'I 'm not sure...' says the salesperson. Oh well...

So I leave and wonder to myself if you can;t get answers at a piano store 1000 feet away from Carnegie Hall, where can you get answers?

I had time for one more stop. Faust Harrison. A different world. I was treated like gold, and they knew the answers to all my questions. I played a new MH A, 2 different Estonias (190 model) a very nice S%S M and my favorite of the day, an early S&S L. I was not as impressed with the Estonia 190 as I was with the smaller Petrof, though again these were very brief encounters, in different environments. I;d love to hear them side by side in smaller rooms.

They didn;t have a vintage M&H AA in the showroom, which is one piano I definitely need to play before I make a decision.

As far as bargain for the buck, I was very impressed with the Petrof, and will seek to play the larger model.

Anyone in the NYC area have either an Estonia 190 or Petrof III in there homes? I'd be curious hear about the decision making process from anyone who shopped both brands.

From the subject line it sounds like an ad in the personals section.

It sounds as thought your budget, size restriction and taste are worlds apart. You're looking for a $20,000-$30,000 piano that sounds like a $60,000-$100,000 piano. There are several options if you're looking for a high end piano. F&H is one of them as you saw. Right next door is my favorite, KlavierHaus. They have Faziolis and the best rebuilt Steinways I've ever played. Down the street is Beethoven Piano, also ever good and may have more choices in your size and price range. AC Pianocraft, I think on 54th, is also worth a look. If you would be content with a Yamaha, Petrof etc, you might want to consider Jersey or Philadelphia. Cunninghams in Germantown (Phili) is probably your best bet.

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How did I imply that? My favorite piano of the day was ~$40,000 Vintage S&S L and I was very favorably impressed with the ~$15,000 Petrof. I didn't even play any $60,000+ pianos.

Thanks for the tips on other stops in the area, I'll be going up there again this week.

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I probably incorrectly assumed you did if you went to Faust Harrison. Whatever you do, don't play one if you can't fit one in your home or wont put out the money. Once you play a good Steinway B or C or a Fazioli, it will be very hard to be happy with a Petrof or Yamaha or whatever. At least it was for me. After going through literally half a dozon pianos over many years, I finally bought a S&S B and had it rebuilt by a good rebuilder using the hammers and strings I prefer. I should have done it from day one and saved me a lot of time and money.

Gotchya. Though in some sense this oddessy for me may well end up with discovering that the only thing that REALLY sends me is something for which I can't justify the expense, or that the size is too large.

Thanks Again!

Don't forget AC Pianocraft, a great rebuilding firm. Try a Steinway model A.

At my last visit, Cunningham did NOT carry Yamaha and Petrof, at least I don't think. I know they carry Boesendorfer, Charles Walters, Mason, and Estonia. They also have vintage Steinways that rival the best restorations in the country. Good people!

Christopher,

Hi. I believe we had some piano talk a couple of years ago.

Anyway, also try Altenburg's in downtown Elizabeth, NJ. There's probably a train to there from Manhattan. Years ago when I was piano shopping, they had Forsters and Petrofs

Hi Joe:

Yes, you recommended Mike Miccio RPT to me and I can;t thank you enough. His regulation of my piano extended its useful life for me by a couple of years (I was considering Stanwood as well at the time), though I'm ready to move up now.

Altenburg is on my list of places to visit, I have transportation so it's easy for me to get there.

I saw, but did not play the rosewood D, which is the most incredible piano I have seen. Didn't get to play any As though.

Weren't you supposed to come visit me in Brooklyn and bring the M&H?

chris

Heh. No, I thought you'd bring your trusty bike on the Ferry and come see it here. Or was I supposed to put it in my bike trailer and take it over there? Now I'm confused.

Hey, great that Mike kept your piano going. Good man.