Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum NY/ CT grand piano shopping...any store recommendations?

I'm going to drive through CT to get to NYC to do some piano shopping. I know Beethoven Pianos is a place to go. Any suggestions of other piano stores to visit while I'm there? I'm looking to try new Estonia, Charles Walter, Hailun and also try to find a good inventory of vintage rebuilt Mason and Hamlin and Steinway pianos.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My budget is between 15k and 20k so I'm probably going to try to find a great used grand piano.

Thanks.

The only Estonia dealer in the northeast is right off the Merrit Parkway in Stamford, Allegro Pianos. You should call ahead to make an appointment and plan to spend a while there. Their selection includes Estonia, Bosendorfer, Bluthner and Steingraeber, also some Kawai and August Forster. The opportunity to play Estonias and Steingraebers should be enough to warrant a visit. They also have a NYC showroom. I can't stress too much call ahead and make an appointment.

On Piano Row along with Beethoven Pianos is Faust Harrison Pianos, Allegro Pianos, and Klavierhaus. Unfortunately, you cannot really get a rebuilt Mason or Steinway within your budget on Piano Row. Same for a new Estonia or Charles Walter.

But Beethoven, Allegro, and Faust Harrison have other new pianos that may be in your price range: Hailun, Brodmann, Yamaha(not sure about the price on the small models but I'm guessing they might be OK) and maybe some others.

Also consider going to Cunningham in Philadelphia to look at their Cunningham pianos and probably a few others in your price range. Also consider looking for rebuilt Knabe grands where it may be possible to find ones in your price range. Try Lindeblad Pianos in New Jersey or Cunningham Pianos for those. Because the Knabe name is a little less glorious than Steinway or Mason Hamlin I think dealers often price rebuilt Knabes less than those two makes.

There are no Walter dealers in NYC that I know of but I think Cunningham has them. It may be possible to find lightly used Walters or other used pianos you're interested in closer to your price range at all of the dealers.

You should call all these dealers ahead of time to make sure they have some pianos that fit your budget and desires.

Forte Piano in Paramus NJ has Bosendorfers, Schimmels, and Shigerus. They are about 10 miles from NYC. They had a decent used Steinway B there a few months ago, if you don't mind 85 keys.

dcb:

It sounds like you are heading out to do some serious piano shopping, which is a wonderful and exciting process. Philadelphia is not that far from New York City, so I am going to take the liberty of recommending that you visit Cunningham Piano Company here in Philly. Rich Galassini, a highly respected poster here, is knowledgeable and hospitable, and I know would welcome a visit from you. He will give you a tour of the factory, and he has glorious pianos in his showroom.

A visit to Cunningham would be well worth your time! Google him on this site for more information as well as rave reviews of the factory tour.

Cunningham carries new Estonias. And Schimmels and etc.