Hi all,

Just had my lunchtime recital confirmed - Wed 6th Dec at the Richard Attenborough centre in Leicester Must confirm repertoire by the end of the week.

Anyway, as this has come up, plus another concert in the Midlands in Spring and then hopefully more, I feel it's time again to purchase a new piano. I used to have a new Bechstein upright but alas no longer - all to do with coming to Spain. I've had to practice for the LRSM on my Kemble, the piano Mum and Dad brought for me when I was 5. It has taken quite a battering for a small piano over the last 25 yrs.

I wonder if you might comment on my potential shortlist of pianos, all of which are for sale by dealers and private individuals on the net:

I've removed the links posted previously as I thought it might be giving away free advertising to the seller


1) Bechstein L boudoir grand. 1928 but fully restored in 1992. (Pianostreet)

2) Bosendorfer baby grand 1937 restored in 1999 (Ebay)

3) Grotrian Steinweg 160, 5ft 4' Original condition (Ebay)

I will be going to view these when I return to the UK in a couple of days.

The Bechstein looks in fantastic condition.

The Bosendorfer, well, to own a Bosendorfer would be wonderful - like a dream

The Grotrian - i've heard they are excellent pianos. This one looks pretty good as well.


I'd be interested to know what you all think

Andrew

Afraid I'm no expert on piano makes, we only got one last year (my babeeeey!)
The only advice I can think of is to play on them all, decide which one you like the sound/feel of better and see if that helps decide more.

The Bechstein and Bosendorfer are quite old. Did their 1990s restoration equip them to deal with life in a modern centrally-heated home?

That's an interesting point. I'll have to find out about that.

Personally, I would need to play a piano before I bought it, but they're really good makes, so you could probably trust that they'll be good!

[/quote]I will be going to view these when I return to the UK in a couple of days[quote]

My advice would be to view and then to take a very competent piano tuner/ technician along to make a condition report on any that you are considering. Then you will not only have an instrument that you are happy with, but one in good health!