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| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity  |
I am really curious about the action, because I know a lot of people have Kawai grands w/ the carbon fiber action and like them a lot. I just may not be "flexible" enough (for lack of a better work) and the carbon fiber action felt different from the all-wood action of the other pianos I've played lately. Maybe. Nevertheless, my reaction to those grands was very clear, I did not like them. So I have to think it's something about that action. Either that or something about the way those grands were prepped because I played 4 different new Kawai grands in the same shop, so I'm assuming the same tech prepped them. I wonder if the carbon fiber actions change very much as they get played in. Also, I wonder how I would felt if I played one for several days in a row, would I start to like it or not. I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to find out though!
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| knitterati Beatification Candidate  |
Well, don’t rule them out yet. If all 4 that you played were prepped by the same person, try one somewhere else and see if that makes a difference.
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| Pinta & the Santa Maria Has Achieved Nirvana  |
Based on my reaction to the S Kawai I played, I agree with AdagioM. Also, the piano would have your online initials! That's gotta be worth something....  | |||
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| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity |
AdagioM,I will definitely not rule out Kawai completely. Although this experience does make me less keen to drive two+ hours to check out a Kawau grand being sold by a private seller.... We'll see. I'm putting that one off because this weekend we're going to a piano dealer who sort of puts off warehouse-type vibe, they only have used grands (they have new inventory for uprights though) and they do have a Kawai or two I believe, so I'll certainly try them!
Nina, unfortunately, I don't have a *Shigeru* Kawai budget. I was looking at the GL and GX models, so there's no S on those! 
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| knitterati Beatification Candidate |
Oh, BTW, I see that you’ve liked the Bostons that you’ve played. Me, too. At Sonata camp, there were two Bostons in the living room. The mahogany one had a particularly bell-like tone that just made me happy to play it. The black piano was nice, too, just not as nice as the mahogany. And when I listen to them on a recording, I don’t notice the difference, but playing? Oooooohhhhhh, baby!
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| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity |
Adagio, I take it those were Boston grands? I don't suppose you have an idea on the length? I really liked the ones I've played. But they've been new instruments and I can't afford that. There may be some that pop up used, but so far I've only played new ones.
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| knitterati Beatification Candidate |
I had to go look in my journal from 2000/2001. Man, I used to think a LOT about piano. Like I do now about knitting! Anyway, the mahogany Boston was 5’10”. I didn’t note the size of the black one because I wasn’t in love with it. I don’t think it was bigger, though.
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| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity |
I haven't come across a Boston of that size yet. It seems like I don't seem them as much in the used market around here, either being sold by dealers or by individuals. Of course, I haven't been looking that long, so we'll see. But unless my financial situation changes, I won't be able to consider a new Boston grand, so hopefully I can find some used ones to consider. I wonder if Boston grands don't come on the used market as much because of the profile of who buys them. For example, I'm thinking about the fact that smaller Yamaha grands are all over the used market down here, and then the next most common ones are Kawai and Young Chang. Those are the kinds of instruments I can imagine people getting for their children, or themselves because they want to learn, and Yamaha especially will be seen as a safe bet. So could it be the case that Boston grands are more likely to be purchased by people who already play themselves, and thus are less likely to sell only a few years after purchase? I'm probably overthinking this though...
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| knitterati Beatification Candidate |
Maybe not overthinking, you may have a point. And if the Boston purchaser was a high end purchaser, they would have bought a Steinway. And if they were highly influenced by price, or buying for the kids, they would have bought an Essex!
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Has Achieved Nirvana |
My K Kawai does not feel like the Shigerus I have played. Wish it did, but I like my piano.
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Minor Deity |
I also just think there are vastly more Yamahas, Kawais, and Young Changs sold, particularly in your area. It may be regional. I've never piano shopped outside the South and I think I've never played a Boston. (I can't remember if I played any when I went recreational piano shopping with Pacific Northwet WTFers several years ago, but I do remember that I played some brands I'd never played before. One of them was Estonia.)
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Beatification Candidate |
I just tuned a smaller (5'1") Weber that had a really nice scale design so that the breaks between stringing sections were very smooth. It seemed to be pretty stable from season to season as well... Not sure if there are any available in your area, but the price point should be lower than Kawai or Yamaha pianos.
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Minor Deity |
Boston branded grand pianos go up to 215cm, just a bit over 7 ft. Steinway allows a Boston purchaser who later upgrades to a Steinway to apply the entire purchase price of the Boston towards to purchase of a Steinway, subject to a 10 year limit. So I figure many used Bostons would be reabsorbed by Steinway stores, and that's where you are more likely to find used Boston pianos.  | |||
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Has Achieved Nirvana |
Sounds like Ax may have the answer regarding the dearth of Bostons on the used market.
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| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity |
Hey Ron, thanks for that comment. I have kind of completely ignored Webers
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well-temperedforum.groupee.net The Well-Tempered Forum Off Key Piano shopping update -- my life is ruined now