Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum NAMM 2014 thread

HA!!!!

I love Peach Ptie



I also love Hula-Hoop pianos!

Yesterday, this time:
68 degrees, riding a bicycle on Hermosa Beach.
Today:
-14, and a rather crowded office hour.

Gotta figure out how to afford to live out there!! Nice to see a lot of you again at the show…

Keep an eye on next issue's "staff picks" for a few new choices.

Having said that it wasn't excactly Parson's fault that Baldwin went under. There's also no law that someone couldn't start up a new U.S. made production again.

Same as with the Chinese made Heintzmans, we live at different times. It's not comfortable for a lot of folks.

But provides tremendous opportunity for buyers.

In fact there "are" newly designed pianos coming from China today.

IMHO these are the most "dangerous", i.e. noteworthy ones to watch for those obviously begruging China its current success.

We blew it out the door - can anybody blame the Chinese?

Somebody's gotta do it - somebody will.

Norbert

But - but - but

In the USA, the Baldwin name and sound are revered.

If the new 'baldwin' is nothing like the original, that is good info to have. A small b Baldwin leaves me flat.

When M&H was 'reborn,' the goal was to emulate the classic pianos carrying the logo.

This is true and MH is a wonderful piano.

But their actions is not same the way they were and also not made "where" they used to.

The whole world is changing around us: that's why I enjoy selling our Sauters and Estonias.

Norbert

I really had high hope for the new Baldwin. I miss the sound a lot. Guess I would have to look for used one in the future.

Anybody had more info regarding the new Kawai line?

"...I looked at them as well. As far as I could tell none of the traditional Baldwin features were present. They looked like generic Parson's-built pianos with a Baldwin label.... ddf"

Alas, Baldwin Babylon; "Sic transit gloria mundi."

"...Not for those experienced with a great deal of different pianos. It's actually easy to size up a piano in fairly short time..."

Maybe it depends on what "a short time" means to the tester. I would say that it is possible to discard outright dogs by playing a few keys: a short test will reveal pianos with an ugly tone which is not likely able to be made acceptable, and a bad touch, bad pedal, bad fit-and-finish, etc. But there is a broad middling range--- or even good pianos which are not in good shape--- with which it takes a good try-out to discover their strengths, and their deficiencies. Is there a voice and touch in there, which a good tech could rescue? It is not so easy to be fair, and even less easy to know if they will become loveable in time, or grate on every sense.

There is no doubt that Norbert knows a lot more than I do, about a lot more pianos. And playing to your strength by carrying lines that you believe in and feel comfortable recommending, is a good move. More of us should be doing what we believe in; we would sleep better at night. So to be sure, he knows more than I. But at least I know better than to 'straighten out' Don and Del. Probably, they don't mind much.

But there it is: what has happened to Baldwin is a crime, which started when they vandalized their cases with those God-awful cartoon (or pinball machine) finishes. And now, they're like those shelves you buy in a box at Costco or Office Max. No, "some people don't feel comfortable with it." Gibson, how could you?

Rich,

That Bosie was incredible! I was disappointed in the Bluthner Digital in both looks and the keyboard touch. The sound was very good.

I was impressed by the new Kawai K series, the Kayserbergs, and the Yamaha Tyros.

The Baldwins underwhelmed.

Overall, really good show.

Why do I get the feeling that the Westboro Baptist group will be there next year?

Is the Less-Than-Reverent Fred Phelps now building pianos, or are they now the work of the devil?

The answer to that question depends on what will give them the most money and attention.

"made in China" I suppose.

What the poor Germans have to do these days to be allowed selling there...

Norbert

The Bluthner digital piano is made in the Leipzig factory. Please visit the Bluthner facebook page to see production photos confirming this.

Did you attend the show?

Ha! No, there was church there warning us of heck and there were Guitar Center protesters there. I just think the Phelps must feel left out.

Norbert, they are made in Germany and, IMO, have tremendous potential. The real question is: How much are they?

Hmmm -- what were they protesting about?

I thought the Blüthner stage piano was seriously neat looking and played and sounded pretty good for that segment. I'd consider getting one to upgrade my Casio, though I may also try the software piano route after visiting the VI Labs booth at the show.

Stealing an idea from an inventor. Allegedly.

Some kind of pedal design. Google "Guitar Center protest" if you are curious.