Superb service and an amazing, over-the-top experience for me!
Never did I anticipate what was in store when I finally decided it was time to purchase a real piano. For over twenty years, I only used electronic, digital pianos in our home, and that seemed to be fine. Occasionally, I'd have a yearning for the real thing, but hadn't done anything about it until recently when a dear friend offered me her spinet piano. It was lovely, but I wanted more.
Off to the showroom we go! When we arrived, we were pleasantly greeted by Andrew, who guided us to the area where upright pianos were arranged. I thought an upright was all I needed, and after all, it wouldn't take up too much space in our already semi-crowded "living room turned music room". Shawn, the owner, joined us within a few minutes and asked questions to find out more about the sound and feel I wanted. I felt a full upright would give me the resonance and tone I wanted. As I continued playing, now trying a Yamaha, I started to realize this was not like previous experiences I've had in piano showrooms. Shawn described some of his years of experience in the industry, and it turns out that he's more than what I thought he'd be. Sure, he can sell pianos, but he does so much more. He has many years of experience as a skilled technician who loves his pianos. Furthermore, his staff learn from him and add their skillset to the mix. So, not only am I playing and determining if I like this or that upright, but I am starting to get excited about discovering much more here than I imagined!
After listening to me for a bit, Shawn suggested that my level of expertise demanded more than what an upright could offer. He demonstrated the differences between the action on an upright piano versus that on a grand. I hadn't given that much thought, but the better responsiveness on a grand was readily apparent as I compared an upright and grand side-by-side.
I didn't think we could fit a baby grand in our living room, but I wasn't going to let that stop me. We walked over to an area of small grands, the smallest of which was a Pearl River at a little under 5 feet. It had a lovely sound for its size, but still didn't have the low-end resonance I wanted.
Then, I tried a Baldwin Model M grand, at 5'2". Mmm, I was liking this one. It was very expressive and the action exquisitely smooth and even.
Finally, he introduced me to the Otto Altenburg grand, which was a little larger. It, too, had a beautiful and resonant sound. It was time to make a decision and I felt stuck.
I narrowed my choices down to the Baldwin and Otto Altenburg. Shawn moved the pianos so that their keyboards faced each other with a bench separating them. I could sit and easily alternate between the two. He left us for a while, giving us the opportunity to privately discuss matters and for me to simply play. I decided the Baldwin would be the piano to welcome into our home.
Shawn provided us with some easy paperwork to complete, found an agreeable time slot with the movers with whom he regularly works, and within a few days, the piano was delivered! Never have I seen such an expedient, courteous, and professional piano delivery.
I can't thank Shawn's Pianos enough for the lasting joy that meeting him and his staff and this beautiful Baldwin grand will bring. It has been a month and a half and I am still playing this piano as if it just got here. read more