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We put a deposit on a Palatino piano today to lock in a sales price. We have until Sunday to make a final decision. The piano looks great and has a nice sound, but we can't find any information, ratings, or reviews on this new brand. What can anyone tell us?

What model? grand or upright.

kkohl,

To my knowledge, in thie Forum, there is only one dealer-member who represents the Palatino brand. Do a " search " on this Forum for the "Palatino" keyword for posts by "Paul Y" and you might find some writing about Palatino. "Paul Y" is the only dealer here who sells the Palatino brand and is so far the only one who seems to have experience with it and have written about it here.

Generally, the common advise is for people to take their time to comparison-shop, play many different pianos before deciding, and not plunge into a purchase too quickly.

Good luck.

We are looking at the upright - no room for a grand.

kkohl,

Ax is correct in suggesting my company represents Palatino. It is fairly new to us and we took it on as a replacement for Pearl River.

It represents a lot of piano for the money in our estimation! We have primarily featured the 48" "professional upright" as an alternative to those who do not wish to spend many thousands above their pricing but want the volume and bigger sound of, let's say, the Yamaha U1.

A plus: the polished mahogany (normally $1,000 extra on a Yamaha) is the same price as the polished ebony.

Thanks to those who have replied so far. To me, the Palatino (yes, mahogany) had a richer sound than the Baldwin/Hamilton. I don't want to jump into anything too quickly, but we have tried many brands I believe, and this one seems to stand out.
WE HAVE UNTIL TOMORROW, SO PLEASE KEEP RESPONDING!

Kkohl,

You are right not to jump into anything too quickly. But you have already decided that you like the sound better than the Baldwin sound, so it doesn't matter what name appears on the fallboard! Besides, choosing Palatino over Baldwin saves you literally thousands of dollars!

Is it a Yamaha? Certainly not. Is it a Steinway? Certainly not. But it is not priced like those pianos either! As I said before, for the money, it must be rated as a "best buy"!

kkohl

If it looks like a piano and sounds like a piano, then it is a piano. If you like the sound and the finish and the service you get form the dealer, then do not hesitate.

Well, I tested both the Palatino and Pearl River, and liked the Pearl River much better. But I have to add, that while the Pearl River was prepared well, the palatino wasn't. That way it's hard to make an objective picture of the piano.

Good luck!

k kohl

I have found in my experience that the way the piano is prepped before you receive it is the key.
If the technician in the store adopts the piano as his own and loves what he does then, then the piano belongs to you. Don't we buy pianos for what is sounds like and what it looks like? Before we get into too much information overload, try not to become too analytical. Isn't the Palatino considered to be one of the up and coming Chinese brands, according to Mr. Fine?

I wonder if the Palatino can be superior to Pearl River....or others..

Palatino is made from components from around the world, by an old instrument maker, I think in shanghai...soundboard,case,strings,action...etc..all coming from somewhere else, and assembled at Palatino...

Short list of some Chinese pianos...:

Steigerman. Maddison, Taishan, Saganhaft, Brentwood, Pearl River, Strauss, Ritmuller, Kranach, Bach, Fandrich,Steck, Eavestaff....

John Cont

Just ran a check...

Palatino...Made in Shanghai. Growing reputation.

Regards, John Cont

There are two pianos with the name hamilton. The first being BALDWIN HAMILTON- this piano will say Baldwin on the fall board (Hamilton is the series) this line is the old Baldwin Standard(45" Studios) model 243, and the 5000 series(designer cabinets) these are made in Truman Arkansas.
The other being HAMILTON (inside says: a product of Baldwin), this piano is made in China.

A month ago I made a list of Chinese piano manufacturers (not "house brands") - I am however not sure of from which of the 4 Shanghai factories Palatino comes from.. (Artfield, maybe..?)
http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/1/10810.html#000000

Indeed,

Thanks, Tyrri, for the update, sorry, that as a new poster I missed it...It does well to help me identify some of the factory locations, which seem to be "all over..."

John

To "lock in the price?" Is somebody implying that if you don't sign up by Sunday you might have to pay more? I've heard of this sales ploy being used with really high turnover products (like down at Uncle Joe's SuperDuper Used Cars) but on a piano????

Sigh.

Del

Make that "Fandrich & Sons" if you don't mind. We're working on the new Fandrich grand piano and it won't be made in China. Fandrich & Sons and Fandrich Piano Co. are two different organizations.

Del

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