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 Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 696
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For the past several months I've been questing for a seven- to nine-foot "piano to die for" (new or used) in the greater Chicago area. I've spent the past 40 years playing mostly NY S&S Bs and Ds, which have thus figured prominently in my current search. That said, the comments on this forum convinced me to cast my net a little wider and I've looked at some remarkable non-Astorian pianos. Too many to catalog here, and no slight to the other makes I've seen, but I have to comment that I recently played for the first time both a Steingraeber C-212 and a Bösendorfer 225. What remarkable pianos. Thanks for the tips and keep 'em coming.
Larry.
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 402
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If they haven't sold it yet, Pianoforte has an F212 that is stunning as well. If I recall correctly, it's voiced warmer than the typical Fazioli sound, and benefits greatly. They've also got an F278 and a Schimmel concert grand for quite a steal, comparatively speaking.
Pianoforte in general is a must visit if you're in the market for a large grand. They take excellent care of their pianos, too.
Last edited by adamp88; 01/30/14 06:04 PM.
Adam Schulte-Bukowinski, RPT Piano Technician, University of Nebraska-Lincoln ASB Piano Service
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 696
500 Post Club Member
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500 Post Club Member
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Yes, I played the F212; the F278 was temporarily unavailable (a recital going on upstairs). The salesman also told me that they had just received a Shigeru (SK-7 I believe), but it wasn't even uncrated yet, so I have to get back down to PianoForte. Perhaps this Saturday.
The Schimmel is gone, I suspect. I specifically asked to look at a Schimmel (I'd especially like to try a K219 and K230), but he told me they had none in stock.
Larry.
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,614
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
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Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jul 2001
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It's impossible to give advice on hot 7' grands available in Chicago right now. Unless one is there and tries each one of them... Recommending some of the top makes and aim at those would make sense. The easy way out....ha Norbert 
Last edited by Norbert; 01/30/14 06:58 PM.
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,965
3000 Post Club Member
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3000 Post Club Member
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I have a deep love the the Bösie 225.  A few more suggestions... Grotrian 225 Estonia L225 Seiler SE-242 Blüthner model 2 Sauter 220 Omega Steinway C (if you can find one) Mason & Hamlin BB
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,268
6000 Post Club Member
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6000 Post Club Member
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Here's a 1961 NY D for $59K http://livingpianos.com/pianos/steinway-concert-grand-piano-model-d-370730/It's out here in LA, but may be worth shipping. The same company just sold a 1935 Baldwin 9 Ft. for under $20K. Used concert grands may be few and far between, but bear in mind that buyers like you are fewer and farther between. So, give it time, and let all the local dealers know what you're looking for. They'll call you the instant something good comes in.
-- J.S. ![[Linked Image]](http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/gallery/42/thumbs/7588.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/gallery/42/thumbs/7589.jpg) Knabe Grand # 10927 Yamaha CP33 Kawai FS690
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 7,439
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Have you given a call to Farley's Pianos up in Madison, WI?
Tim does truly fine rebuilding and you might ask what he has on the floor.
Marty in Minnesota
It's much easier to bash a Steinway than it is to play one.
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,542
3000 Post Club Member
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So, give it time, and let all the local dealers know what you're looking for. They'll call you the instant something good comes in.
That is good advice.
Poetry is rhythm
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Apr 2011
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iLaw:
If you look as far afield as Madison, WI, I would most certainly consult Mr. Reeder in Lansing, MI. He almost always has a concert grand and other large grands, and they are all well prepped.
There is an easy train connection.
Karl Watson
Staten Island, NY
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,107
3000 Post Club Member
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3000 Post Club Member
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For the past several months I've been questing for a seven- to nine-foot "piano to die for" (new or used) in the greater Chicago area. I've spent the past 40 years playing mostly NY S&S Bs and Ds, which have thus figured prominently in my current search. That said, the comments on this forum convinced me to cast my net a little wider and I've looked at some remarkable non-Astorian pianos. Too many to catalog here, and no slight to the other makes I've seen, but I have to comment that I recently played for the first time both a Steingraeber C-212 and a Bösendorfer 225. What remarkable pianos. Thanks for the tips and keep 'em coming.
Larry.
Try the Steingraeber D-232 if you can. Both it and the 212 are amazing instruments, but they are different.
![[Linked Image]](http://www.pianoworld.com/Uploads/files/TSxsm.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](http://www.pianoworld.com/Uploads/files/RS-xsml.jpg) ![[Linked Image]]( http://forum.pianoworld.com//gallery/42/medium/12289.png) "People may say I can't sing, but no one can ever say I didn't sing." -- Florence Foster Jenkins
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 626
500 Post Club Member
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500 Post Club Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 626 |
iLaw:
If you look as far afield as Madison, WI, I would most certainly consult Mr. Reeder in Lansing, MI. He almost always has a concert grand and other large grands, and they are all well prepped.
There is an easy train connection.
Karl Watson
Staten Island, NY I was going to suggest Reeder's, also.
Patty
A tired dog is a good dog.
Perzina GP-187
Kawai CP209
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 696
500 Post Club Member
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OP
500 Post Club Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 696 |
A few more suggestions...
Grotrian 225
Estonia L225
Seiler SE-242
Blüthner model 2
Sauter 220 Omega
Steinway C (if you can find one)
Mason & Hamlin BB
Lots of good ideas there. PianoForte showed me the Grotrian 208 (Charis) but unfortunately they did not have a 225, which is definitely on my list. The Mason & Hamlin dealer had lots of smaller M&Hs, new and used, but no BB. He said the holiday season cleaned him out of larger pianos (I guess the economy is looking up on Chicago's north side!). Seiler, Blüthner, Sauter so far are nowhere to be found. Larry.
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,562
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
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Big fan of the Grotrian 225 so glad that is on your list. The C.Bechstein 234 I recommend should be as well. Good luck.
Rich
Retired at the beach
Anton Rubinstein said about the piano: "You think it is one instrument? It is a hundred instruments!"
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,590
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
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Posts: 1,590 |
I suggest you try them all because a piano you would die for is not necessarily one I or anyone else would die for. I do know that Allegro Pianos in CT has a Bosie Imperial, a Blutnner concert grand and a used NY S&S concert grand with new action parts in stock. All three are good representatives of these models. Call Ori if you are wiling to travel.
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,590
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
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Posts: 1,590 |
PS. Rich of Cunningham's in Phily most probably has a BB or two.
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 206
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Posts: 206 |
Boy Larry, I'm so jealous!  Those piano's are drop dead gorgeous, esp, the Steingraeber D-232! I can only imagine how it sounds! Good Luck in your quest I live also in Chicago's N. side and surprising to hear the market got sold out of larger pianos, really surprising. I don't see much impr. of the economy with the number of closed businesses. I just started playing, and sure wish I had the funds to buy a grand piano. I've played several and they, imo, are much more emotionally connecting to the music. Something about an acoustic piano vs a dp. No comparison. Anyway, I just wanted to wish you luck Larry. Chris
Yamaha P105, Ravenscroft275, Ivory II Am Concert D, Sennheiser HD650.
New sound setup: Midi out to macbook, FW 800 to Metric Halo LIO 8 DAC to HD650's. Very Nice.
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 696
500 Post Club Member
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OP
500 Post Club Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 696 |
PS. Rich of Cunningham's in Phily most probably has a BB or two.
I was told here in Chicago that the Milwaukee M&H dealer had a BB as well, but the only Milwaukee dealer I can find on the internet appears to be Hartland, which does not list a BB in stock on its web page. Which reminds me, dealers. I'm occasionally encountering some fairly 20th Century web presence out there! Larry.
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,376
6000 Post Club Member
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6000 Post Club Member
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Sometimes I've found it helpful to call the phone numbers for the US distributors (we list 'em in the Piano Buyer) and ask who has what. When I've written or coordinated reviews in the past, they often know what the dealer inventories are related to their brands - at least the "new" inventory.
I'm pretty sure Hartland is the M&H dealer for the Milwaukee area. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
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Re: Searching for a 7'-9' "piano to die for" in Chicago
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 696
500 Post Club Member
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... esp, the Steingraeber D-232! I can only imagine how it sounds!
Chris, No need to imagine. If you're on Chicago's north side you're within walking distance of one. Dust off your playing before you go, though, because they have it up on a stage so you may get an audience. Thanks for the good wishes, and hang on to that digital. You'll want it for late-night practicing or when everybody else in the house is watching the Super Bowl. Larry.
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