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In regards to DP's, I was forced into getting one partly because of price, partly because with thin walls and floors and ceilings bordering on 4 neighbours, "silent practice" some of the time was the only guarantee of being able to practice at all. I got an instrument that comes as close as possible to allowing me to develop the technique which will transfer over to a good acoustic at some point.

The arrangement that I have been given is that I will be able to trade this DP in, possibly at full value, toward an acoustic piano. I would pay on top of it to get an instrument that is superior - again my priorities are function. I am mentioning it because this goes into the "DP encroachment factor". Maybe there is something useful in that.

What we see is that high quality piano builders focus on technology that will improve sound. It sounds like newgeneration is bent on convincing the uneducated buyer that pianos are all the same quality and you might as well go for bling. Minimizing advancements that affect sound and stability and durability of pianos.

The bling set focus on looks of a piano. The builders who get teachers respect focus on sound.

newgeneration's response was well rehearsed, but he ignored the content and tried to minimize my points. I'm still unconvinced.

We piano teachers are interested in sound. Your piano cases do not impress us. Perhaps your "product" is what some call a PSO. Piano shaped object. When you only focus on the shape/look of your piano, I'm guessing that your disguising a thin, tinny sound that will not hold a candle to a rich resonant sound of a better instrument. It does not take an advanced pianist to hear the difference. Shoppers just need to listen. Play some arpeggios and listen to what you hear.

Just a comment on piano improvements the past century. My son is a professional violinist. As far as I can ascertain, there have been no improvements in violin making since Cremona in the 1600s. Strangely, no violinist seems upset with this sad state of affairs.

There were actually some changes, John, but most of them had a reason involving music itself. The music that was written changed, standard pitch was raised, and performances were in larger halls/orchestras requiring greater volume. They were not frivolous reasons, and I think they were probably suggested by musicians, and made for musicians. The changes were not made to attract lay people or their children.
See middle section: Baroque to Modern Form

That's a good point, John. Takes the debate away from proving advancements and returns it to the real issue which is quality.

All the OP can say about his product is "Polly has a pretty case. Polly has a pretty case. Polly has a pretty case".

The whole sales pitch is based on trying to convince buyers that all pianos are alike other than case. And he will do alright. Someone will believe him.

My parent used to believe that about cars...that they're all the same and it's just bad luck if you get a lemon. In the 70's they had Chryslers that wouldn't start...forever etched in my memory is the sound of igh yigh yigh yigh yigh...and Mom turns the ignition trying to start the car. After many attempts and swearing it would start.

Then it was trouble with Dodge Horizon. As a teenager I tried to convince them to at least buy a Japanese car. Nope. Back out and traded one lemon Dodge Horizon for another Dodge Horizon (which also turned out to be a lemon). By the early 80's they went for Japanese cars and have mostly had a carefree time of it ever since.

KS, not to nit pick, but aren't these all changes to meet changing performance requirements, not "improvements" in the sense of better tone, etc. In the piano world, we went from wooden frames to iron, for the same reason luthiers used heavier bass bars. We went to a wider keyboard compass for the same reason they extended the neck and fingerboard.

Oh, and as he lives and performs in Austin, he took his mom's old fiddle, added a pickup of some kind, and amps it for most of the live nightclub performances. It's not a better violin now, but darn sure louder!

I think that we're on the same page, John. Whatever changes were made to the violin were made for solid reasons because of what was happening in music. They were fueled by the requirements of musicians who knew what they were doing, and the luthiers, who also understood music, responded to them. They were not done for the sake of sales to attract lay people who did not know where the needs were.

We seem to be forgetting strings. There have been many, many changes to the making of violin strings, and with the exception of violinists who specialize in baroque performance practice, they all take advantage of modern string technology.

Also, there are changes made in piano construction all the time. They just tend to be minor and invisible. These Lomence pianos have a radical change on the outside, but I'm assuming much of the action, pinblock, and soundboard (in other words, everything that actually matters where the sound and feel are concerned) aren't that new at all.

The pitch for these Lomence pianos seems about the same as those Pearl River butterfly pianos of several years back (and, prior to that, Baldwin custom Artist Grands). I think all you really have to do is look at how well those pianos sold, and who they appealed to, and you'll have a good idea of how the Lomence will do.

I am still very appreciative of everyone's input.

Ann in Kentucky - You are bent on making the assumption that the Lomence piano is not at all a decent instrument. I started this thread not at all trying to sell the piano to you.
I am interested on the discussion regarding specifically the look and I am receiving excellent feedback on it.
But, please don't make any suggestive comments regarding its quality as that is definitely a case for libel. I was not seeking anyone's input on quality for the OBVIOUS reason that these pianos are so new, hardly anyone can go anywhere to try one. (They debuted in the USA this past January for the first time ever).

I am a second generation technician, having done plenty of piano rebuilding myself. I am an instructor to various accomplished technicians across North America at various piano conventions. My company J.D. Grandt is regarded as the best (sorry for the lack of modesty but I am trying to offer some credibility), again, the best source for quality, accuracy and tone regarding the piano bass strings we supply for technicians around the WORLD. We service all of Yamaha Canada's bass string warranty claims as well as Yamaha Corp USA and Bosendorfer USA.
I have a very complete understanding of tone, and the vast dynamics that contribute to creating good tone in a piano.

I refuse to make this an advertisement for Lomence, except to say that if there were any deficiencies in tonal abilities or mechanical performance of the Lomence piano, you can be assured I would be the first to stay away. The fascinating thing is that they do perform at the same level as any Yamaha or piano in this category.

So please, restrain yourself from addressing anything regarding the quality of Lomence, at least until you have touched one or more and had the chance to justly address any of these concerns you might have.

There are hundreds of viewers of this thread. Are there none that think maybe it is ok to bring some fun to the world of acoustic pianos? I will stand beside you, ok in front of you, as the stones continue to be hurled from those that insist the diminishing interest in pianos cannot be because the piano as we know it appears to children like everything they otherwise are scolded for touching (fine dining room, fancy dishes and glassware, valuable household electronics, etc).
Is there any market for a piano that children might be proud of in front of their peers and be the cause for envy? Is this wrong?

At this point I don't think Ann will believe me, but for the record, the latest 'improvement' by the better piano manufacturer's of today - is actually reverting back to the hammer felt that was used 100 years ago. I acknowledge the piano engineers are seeking to improve sound quality, but very little on the side of innovation that will create 'new' interest for the piano industry is occurring.

Regarding pianos, yes, there is a demand for a stronger bass then a century and more ago, and piano manufacturer's have adjusted to provide for this modern taste. But that is no innovation or evolution.

And again, there is SO MUCH that differentiates a good quality instrument from one that is not. But this thread is not about that.

UNEDUCATED BUYERS, please, please, do your due diligence before purchasing a piano, but speak to piano technician's - they are the ones who work in the trenches, they are the 'pit crew' so to speak who know the mechanics and performance of a piano better than anyone. (A race car driver can do things with their car that amaze people, but they don't know how or why they are able to do it. The pit crew does though). A technician can give you the pros and cons of a piano, what the capabilities are of a piano. A teacher is an excellent resource also but they will only comment on a piano with regards to how competent the technician was that set the piano up. Take for example the very cheapest of cheap pianos (whatever it is) knowing a teacher is coming in to evaluate a piano for their student, a dealer can have this piano prepped to the hilt and it sounds wonderful an hour later when the teacher arrives. Little does anyone know (except the technician) that there is no way it will stay in tune for any length of time, there is no way it will stay regulated for any length of time, and the amount of voicing on the hammers to make it sound half decent has essentially destroyed the hammers in that it sounds great today, but within a few months the brand new hammers will be shot and the piano will sound like a tin box.

Please with all sincerity - teachers forgive me and don't get on my case. You are wonderful and vital and offer MUCH resources for your students and contacts. My last paragraph recognizes your gift of piano teaching and playing. This is different from someone whose gift is not teaching and playing, but repairing and rebuilding - two very different vocations.

I almost said something about this, and bows as well, but as violins are normally considered separately from strings and bows, I kept silent about it. Of course, $280 for a set of premium strings on a violin is one thing, it's many thousands of dollars on a piano, so isn't lightly exchanged!

Actually, it's not. We're in the USA, as is the server. We enjoy freedom of speech and the right to express our opinion. Something which I understand has been severely curtailed in Canada. If true, that's regretful. But Ann has a right to her opinion and to express it. FWIW, in the USA, to prove libel, you have to prove intention to inflict harm. There is nothing in Ann's comments which remotely suggests that's her motive, at least, IMO.

If freedom of speech has been curtailed in Canada, then it's news to me. And in my experience, we don't usually go around threatening potential customers. It's sort of bad for business.

Haven't you heard about Ann Coulter? While I seldom find common areas of agreement with her, I understand the provincial government is trying to convict her of "insult" or some such nonsense because she spoke out on an university campus against a number of Sharia practices.

Actually no, there is something called 'defamation per se' strictly within American law.

...just saying, no comments should be made regarding quality if you've never personally been in contact with it, or heard any feedback with regards to it.
If your definition of American Freedom of Speech and the right to express your opinion disagrees, then we will have to agree to disagree. I will be pleased to be called Canadian, travel the world with my Canadian flag, and you can do the same as an American with your American flag proudly displayed.

We're back to the case yet again.

Aww, now he's Dorothy with those trees throwing rotten apples at him.

Ahh yes, the emoticons have begun.