Piano shopping...

[Axtremus]

@klaus said in Piano shopping...:

OK, I've now boiled it down to two pianos.

It's either going to be a 2009 Bechstein Classic 124, or a 2012 Grotrian Classic 124.

I like the sound of the Grotrian a little better - it has a cleaner more delicate tone - but the Bechstein would be significantly cheaper, and it's also a killer piano. My brain says Bechstein but my gut says Grotrian.

I suspect affordability is not really an issue for you in this case, so go with your gut. Your brain is smart enough to amortize the price difference over the N number of years you expect to hear the piano and come up with a "it's only x Euro per day" argument to rationalize the gut's choice.

[jon-nyc]

Interesting takes, Klaus.

I’m with Ax on this.

[Klaus]

It's about a 4K prize difference between the Bechstein and the Grotrian. I've managed to rationalize about half of that prize difference with considerations that are still somewhat rational (age of the instruments, amount of required prep work, differences in list prize when new etc.). For the remaining 2K, I'd have to resort Orwellian self-deception measures. I'll read the "How many fingers am I holding up" scene again for some inspiration.

[Mik]

For 2K get the one that speaks to you.

[mark]

@mik said in Piano shopping...:

For 2K get the one that speaks to you.

I agree.

[Klaus]

OK, the dealer managed to bridge another 1K of the gap, and I pulled the trigger.

This is the baby.

[Axtremus]

Next, you are expected to post piano moving videos and your performance recorded with that piano. Congratulations!

[Mik]

Beautiful. Enjoy!!!

[LuFins Dad]

@klaus said in Piano shopping...:

OK, the dealer managed to bridge another 1K of the gap, and I pulled the trigger.

This is the baby.

Nice!

[mark]

Beautiful! Congratulations.

[George K]

Very nice, @Klaus !

[Jolly]

Congrats!

[Klaus]

Thanks! I'm not sure whether congratulations are appropriate, but I figured that life is too short for suboptimal pianos

My family will regret this. They'll soon have to endure more of my strumming it in the living room.

[kluurs]

Can't wait to hear that. Now, if you only dedicated as much attention on that piano as you do for the kazoo...

[Horace]

Beautiful piano, Klaus.

[jon-nyc]

Very nice.

[Klaus]

I find it interesting that, if you look at the Grotrian website, depending on whether one chooses the English language option or not, the decal changes.

I personally prefer the "Grotrian-Steinweg" decal.

[kluurs]

I believe that Steinway had issues with Grotrian-Stenweg back in the day, alleging that Steinweg was an attempt to confuse the US audience into thinking they were getting a German Steinway. As I understood it, as a result of a settlement, Grotrian agreed to not use the Steinweg name in North America. At least that's the story I was told. Larry or one of our other pros would know if that's true.

[Klaus]

@kluurs I think you are correct. In my opinion, they are justified in using the Steinweg name. Henry Steinweg co-founded the brand (before founding Steinway) and the naming rights were properly transferred and maintained.

[taiwan_girl]

That is awesome @klaus. Hope you have many hours of happy playing!