Conrad, Hmmmm - Newton's suggestion sounds entirely too, err, suggestive... Anway, At 02:13 PM 2/9/1999 -0600, you wrote: > >I just finished a conversation with the department head/piano prof. >regarding the acquisition of a new concert instrument for the planned new >recital hall. He is completely enamoured of Hamburg Steinways and would >dearly love to see one in the new hall. Folks who are madly in love with these things should simply be allowed to buy them, as nothing else will convince them otherwise. Having been in on this kind of disaster, ah, purchase, several times - I would urgently suggest simply smiling politely, nodding occaisionally, and making pleasant murmurings as necessary. Moving on, if the hall is not too large - say, less than 800 seats or so, and it's built-in acoustics are bright enough, almost anything can be made to work. While no one likes to hear it, that is where all of those fancy- pants European pianos sound best. (They really aren't designed to drive the volume extant in most American theaters, but, that's the subject of another discussion, and long, hot debate.) >Any on this list been in on the purchase of one? Yes, several dozen, over a 30 year period. >Would it's selection be handled by a visit to Hamburg? Depends. They have the occasional Hamburger in NY, as well as at other "retail" locations. Selection, under these circumstances, is (virtually) nonexistant. Going to Hamburg is a trial in itself. Sure, you can make a date, etc. Problem is, unless you are set up with an artist for whom the folks in Hamburg have respect, you might as well go to the selection room at the factory in NY. Plenty-O-Pianos. Not many that are what I think of as being truly "concert" quality. On the other hand, this is a place where the reasonably prudent technician (hmm, do I know any of these?), is simply going to behave as outlined above. If your piano person is hot to go "select" - let 'em. If the board isn't falling out, and the frame isn't separating, you'll at least have the warranty on which to rely. >Would arrangements for such a visit be made through NY or direct? The local dealers, and NY, will probably tell you that you can't get a date without going through them. As Gershwin wrote: "It ain't necessarily so". On the other hand, some clients have discovered that going through NY makes dealing with little problems like payment and customs simply _ever_ so much easier. I think it depends on if someone has the pull with some major European artist. However, even if you have that, you might wind up with a piano from, say, Paris, instead of directly from Hamburg... So, part of the question becomes: "And to whom do you wish to pay how much commission?" >Would there be any financial advantage to euro-selection? None. Zero. Zip. In fact, it might well turn out to cost more, after transportation, etc. Oh, yes, I'll take the half-pounder, medium rare, cheddar, and thick red onion... Best. Horace Horace Greeley, CNA, MCP, RPT Systems Analyst/Engineer Controller's Office Stanford University email: hgreeley@leland.stanford.edu voice mail: 650.725.9062 fax: 650.725.8014
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