piano finishes

[eventemp]

I am currently shopping for a steinway model L, and have found one that sounds just the way I want it to sound.  When my wife and I went back to the store, the piano was supposed to have had minor surface mars rubbed out.  However, there was now a new, very noticable, mar (not a scratch) that the salesman told us was caused by a child rubbing his finger across the top of the piano.  Since I currently have a Yamaha C-3 in white, and have never had to be very careful about kids touching the piano, is this true about Steinway pianos with the ebony satin finish?? ie, kids must not be allowed to touch the piano?  The salesman then went on to demonstrate how you need to rub the mar out using a slightly damp cloth, followed by a dry cloth.  He demonstrated how to do this on a finger mark that I had made;  the mar caused by the child, however, would have to be rubbed out by a steinway technician.  (at $100/hour)  
Comments anyone???
Jack

[wynnbear]

I chose a gloss (cherry) finish on my piano [not a Steinway, not in that price range at all ] .  

A satin was on an alternative instrument.  The salesman admitted that minor dings and scratches would not show up as well on the satin, but that body oils (fingerprints) show up very easily and are hard to get off.  They show up as glossier spots on the satin finish.

[dinosaurtales]

The high gloss polyester finishes are generally considered to be much easier to maintain and keep looking good, however, I had no idea the satin finish was THAT touchy!  They will show fingerprints over time because the oils will discolor.  I guess if your kids will be touching the wood finish a lot, the high gloss finishes might be better.  That's kind of weird, though.  ouch!

[Bosendorfer_214]

Unless the kid used his fingernails, that excuse is a lie.  I have used many Steinways in the past and have never had that problem, they scratch easily, but not that easily.

Another thing, most technicians don't know jack about maintaining the cases of pianos, if he said that the tech would have to rub it out, that menas that there would be sanding and some sort of refinishing work that would need to be done.  If you truly love the piano, ask that the price is lowered, and leave the case alone.  Often times repaired spots do not wear consistently with the rest of the piano and leave ugly spots that are more unshightly than the original blemish.  

There have been many complaints in the past about Steinway's satin finishes though.

Believe 50% of what the Steinway people tell you.  My expierence with them is that, because they sell Steinway, they think that they are god's gift to pianists.

My appoligies but I felt that it was absolutely necessary to be blunt.

Nic

[tosca1]

On any piano finish, damage can be caused  by too much pressure with a duster when dusting as the dust particles when rubbed on the surface will become abrasive.  In this way, a resplendent, glossy black finish can be dulled and covered with tiny dust scratches.  
I would recommend that before polishing the finish, the dust is removed by very light dusting and use a new, clean cloth for polishing.
Unsupervised, young children can wreak havoc on a piano by banging hard objects on the piano finish and even the keys which are easily chipped.
When the lid is open children will often want to run their fingers along the strings leaving residues which cause rust.

Greetings,
Robert.  

[Brian Lawson, RPT]

 the mar caused by the child, however, would have to be rubbed out by a steinway technician.  (at $100/hour)  
Comments anyone???
Jack

Well, the piano still belongs to the store? have them pay the $100/hour to sort it out.

The other thing is disipline "a : control gained by enforcing obedience or order b : orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior "  ie the store should not have kids running around causing such and any kid in you house should know your piano is not a toy.

[dinosaurtales]

Seems to me you'd have a piano technician called in to repair a technical problem with the piano, and a furniture refinisher (different speciatly entirely) to fix a flaw in the finish, eh?