Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Played a Charles Walter Console today

Oh MAN was this thing PERFECT!!

I wanted to sign over the $10k for the thing there and then.

It was so beautiful.

Perfectly stiff action with a secure feel under the fingers, responsiveness, cushioning at the end of the keypress, and fast repetition . . . maybe even better than that of my teacher's Yamaha C7!

The tone was dark and "clean" in the sense that I heard each note clearly, with not a lot of "bloom". I'd say it was somewhere between "bell-like" and "complex/blooming". Honestly it could have used a little tuning, too, but nothing major needed to be done.

Anyway, I've never played an upright that I really liked, of any make and size, so this 44" Walter is on my short-list of dream pianos.

I also tried a bigger Grotrian upright, and while its action was also pretty nice, it wasn't responsive in the same way. And it felt significantly lighter, which felt "off" to me. Plus the tone was only so-so. A nice piano, but not $15k nice . . . .

As crazy as it sounds, the playing experience ties with playing my old school's Hamburg Steinway B. (But I'll happily take both .)

Way to go, Walter family, on building a stellar piano!

Walters are fantastic pianos, both verticals and grands. The company is fabulous to deal as well. I bought my studio model from a dealer who had briefly rented it to a local university for an artist-in-residence program, so I got it as a demo piano. While it was there the school's tech decided to reshape the hammers; there was a lot going on the day I went to buy it, and I failed to notice at the store how bad a job he had done. I called the Walter factory and explained the situation, and a new set of hammers arrived at my door within a week.

My 20-year-old son is now learning to tune, and the Walter is serving him well!

A friend of mine has owned a cherry-finish Walter 1500 studio model (Renner action) for many years. She has moved away, but she still owns it, and still loves it. I played it a few times some years ago, and I enjoyed playing it and it sounded very nice. I remember the fit, finish and materials of that piano being excellent as well.

I absolutely LOVE my Walter. I wouldn't even think of owning any other brand.

Dwscamel: im assuming you were playing a new one?

i just got a 80's walter console delivered today. when i inspected it, the action parts looked brand new to my amazement. just not a lot of usage on the piano.

anyways..anyone have experiencing with playing on a renner action walter console and a pratt reed? what are the differences, if any? also, any significant changes besides action to earlier model consoles and newer ones. (80s,90s,2000's)

The discernible difference, if one can call it that, is negligible and more subject to how regulated it is.

thx for the information!

interesting.. i thought all Walters had the "Charles Walter" signature on the top portion of the pinblock.. mine doesn't.. just thought about this right now after watching a few videos of the 1520. is that just on newer ones?

I *think* I was playing a new piano, but I'm not 100% sure. It looked to be in pristine condition.

I didn't check out the pinblock, either, so I can't tell you. Sorry!

Charles R. Walter might be the head of Walter Piano, but a son, a daughter, and three sons-in-law also work for the company. One of these Walter family members inspects each Walter piano and affix his or her signature on the pinblock when it has passed inspection. I guess any of the following names could appear on the pinblock:

Charles R. Walter
Kevin Charles Walter
Rachel Walter DeMercurio
Stephen P. DeMercurio
Richard A. Counsellor
Virgil W. Weso

I don't have any sigs on my pinblock..

I found out from walter company that it may be a "2nd" piano. Meaning there are very minor things that did not make it perfect and apparently they were sold to dealers still. hmm, probably reason why I purchased it next to nothing. but the case in is in very good condition and it plays well.. action is firm as described above.. ill just have to wait until tech gets here to see what he thinks. but I was told by company that its nothing I should worry about.

"Kevin C. Walter" on our pinblock.

I got my new Charles Walter 1520 back in October and love it! Mine has the Walter action, what is also referred to as the Chinese action. I believe it is made by Detoa (The piano dealer I bought it from sometimes referred to the action of mine as Detoa action and sometimes chinese action.) Not sure how this action compares to the Renner or other actions Walter's has used, but I am happy with it.

As far as signatures, mine has Charles Walter's signature, but any member of the family inspects and signs the pianos.

Gatsbee, I never knew they sold any of their piano's without a signature, but signature or not... if it is playing well for you, that's what really counts.

While there are many other great piano's out there to consider; with the Walter I feel like I got a piano that has a sound I love, responsiveness, a well built and beautiful cabinet, and at a price that I could afford.