Where to try a Bluthner?

[thalberg]

These things are impossible to find.  Any advice on where to locate one in Minnesota, USA?

[iumonito]

Well of course, in Lansing.

Lovely pianos.  My favorite brand (it used to be Steingraeber, which are of course fabulous, but there is something warm in my heart for Bluthner).

There is a happy face in front of every Bluthner. 

http://www.bluthnerpiano.com/

Model 1 and model 2 are my favorites.  Model 4 is lovely, but you can't teach tall.

[kamike]

On the west coast you can currently get Bluthner at Classic Grands in Seattle, Washington.  Check out:

http://www.classicalgrands.com/home.html

I bought my model 2 Bluthner at Classic Pianos in Portland, Oregon two years ago.  I do not know if they (the Portland store) still carry Bluthner.  Believe it or not they had great difficulty selling them for reasons that defy me.  The Sherman Clay store across town sells dozens of Steinways but nobody could move a Bluthner.   Go figure.  My model 2 was about the same price as a Steinway A at that time.  Bottom line is that the money is in uprights for families starting their kids with piano lessons, not big grands.

The model 2 is a thrill to use.  I couldn't say enough.  For the quality of materials and workmanship,  scale design, and magnificent sound (unbelievable sustain, bell-like clarity in the treble) these are hard to compare.  The tone is warm, deep, slightly dark, and has a perfect singing quality.

Good luck.  IMHO a Bluthner is well worth traveling for, even if you have to go to Leipzig.

[timland]

I was in Jim Laabs pianos a few years ago and he said he could get them.
If you're serious about purchasing one they could probably find one for you to check out.

[gerry]

I don't know much about Bluthner but the dean at my music school had a beautiful older one (grand) that had a unique extra open string above the other three that vibrated sympathetically and created a beautiful bell-like quality to the tone. Is this standard on Bluthners?

[thalberg]

Oh yes and it has a name.......that extra string.....called an aliquot.

[gerry]

Aliquot - hmmm - I'll have to add that to my already cluttered syntax. Thanks for the info.