I spent 3 hours with this incredible guy, here, on Saturday morning. The questions I didn't even know to ask--mind blowing. He has a studio on the bottom level of his house, and when you walk in there's a sea of amazing pianos waiting. All new--right out of the box from the manufacturer--and assembled/tuned/voiced by him. And so you can move from Steinway to Estonia to Bosendorfer to Bluthner, and you begin to get a clearer sense of the instrument that pairs best with the way you play. Family business. Thing is, I didn't feel for one minute that he was trying to sell me something: pure information flow. How are they made and by whom, what are their various strengths, what is their life span, how do you calculate their value, etc. I walked in thinking I wanted a Steinway or Bosendorfer, and walked out dying to be able to afford a Steingraeber, but knowing the best value for the dollar is the Estonia. And when I say those words now, I have a clearer sense of what they mean: of what sound your fingers can pull from the keys. (The Steingraeber--honest to God--I was blinking back tears; the sound that comes up from it feels like a direct extension of your body--a fresh, delicate, new human sound. Chilling.)
If you know anyone who might every want to buy a piano, I can't recommend this fellow highly enough. I'm buying mine from him. Done. Decided.
Now we just have to figure out what gets sacrificed to make room for the thing: the sofa or the dining table.
(Only kidding a little bit...)
If you know anyone who might every want to buy a piano, I can't recommend this fellow highly enough. I'm buying mine from him. Done. Decided.
Now we just have to figure out what gets sacrificed to make room for the thing: the sofa or the dining table.
(Only kidding a little bit...)
3 comments:
the dining table...that's what i did, anyway...and now if i have company i use an old antique french door that i took from my old house set on a coupla saw horses...i had a piece of plexi glass made to go on top of it...it works...i'd take the piano over the table any day...i'm sooo happy for you =)
peace...
~ n
xoxox
When I was in my teens we had the 1923 Kimball that my mom and her sister had learned on in the basement, and I spent hours transferring what I had learned playing accordion when I was small to it.
When my cousins children were small it went back to that side of the family; I miss it!
Not pretty, but I loved it's sound!
alan
Tickle those ivories!
When I was knee-high to a grasshopper, at family parties we'd gather around the piano and Uncle Marvin would play, and we would sing showtunes. MY family watches "American Idol." "...and the glory of Europe is extinguished forever."
If I had a strapless gown, I'd offer to lie across the piano and sing "Melancholy Baby." Fortunately, the item is missing from my wardrobe.
Enjoy!
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