Reliability of recent Petrof uprights ?

[brian313]

I'm looking to buy a Petrof 135 . I'm happy with everything about it. The only thing that bothers me is that many technicians I talked with told me that petrof piano is extremely sensitive to humidity and many showed problems in felt, case, hammers, etc. very soon. My search on other forums also returns similar respones... but my speculation is that those "bad" petrofs are not recently manufactured... as I also heard that Petrof has really improved their quality and reliability in recent years. Can anyone confirm this ?

I live in Hong Kong, where the humidity is around 70 to 95%. Will damp chaser help a lot in making a petrof more reliable? or is there anything else I can do to help, other than air con and dehumidifier ?  and is it too risky to buy a Petrof in such climate ?

[mic2005]

Petrof 135 - it is a beautiful piano. I have tried one in a dealer shop. I wouldn't agree that Petrof is extremely sensitive to humidity. Any piano will have problems if the humidity is not kept in between 45 to 65% within a 10% range. Felt, leather, clothes and wood are natural materials which are sensitive to humidity. They react to humidity which mean when it is humid the natural materials will absord moisture and expand. This result to sluggish action, ribs coming unglue, veneer peeling and so on. On the other hand when it is dry, the natural materials will release and shrink. This result to cracking, loose action parts and so on.
A proper installed damp chaser should do the job. But it would be better if you can maintain the right humidity where the piano is going to be position. This will help the overall stablity of the piano.
Regards

[gutenberg]

I have a Petrof 131 that was built in 2005. It is a wonderful piano that has no greater sensitivity to humidity than any other piano, as far as I am aware. I am surprised there are technicians who have told you otherwise. I would be interested in what other forums that you have consulted where such a claim was made. I did a search of Petrof before purchasing my piano and saw nothing to such effect. I read all references to Petrof in Pianoworld. I'm curious where you saw these claims.

[mic2005]

Oh ya.. I wish to add, there isn't any bad Petrof. Unless owners choose not to care for it. Just because of 1 or 2 pianos that have problem due to the poor caring of the owner. It cannot be said that they are bad pianos. I would say, good piano but badly taken care by ignorance owner. They are good quality built pianos. Only that previous Petrof needed more preparation work before they sound and play nice. Then again, even the best pianos in the world need good preparation work before they can perform at its best in its design. A good prep Petrof can sound just as good if not better than some of the well-known German pianos.
"No matter how expensive a piano is, it will be a sub-standard piano if is poorly maintain"
Regards

[brian313]

Thx for the respones!

I would be interested in what other forums that you have consulted where such a claim was made.

actually I say a person named Piano Guy in the UK Piano Page who seems to hate Petrof with a passon... every topic that has the word "petrof" in it has him bashing petrof. Besides that, every (literally...) technicians that i consulted did not like the quality of Petrof, even a manager in Tom Lee (the official distributor of Petrof in Hong Kong) said that Petrof may need little "extra maintanence"......( I'm starting to think there's a conspiracy behind all these..... )
Is it the piano to be blamed, or the climate of Hong Kong ?

Also, if I cannot use a humidifier or air conditioner to maintain the overall humidity of the room, what else, beside damp chaser, can I use to maintain the humidity in the piano?

[gutenberg]

I wouldn't pay any attention to anyone who bashes any piano. Any piano that you buy is going to have potential issues with your humidity. I don't know what your home conditions are re controlling relative humidity somewhat, but in your area a dampp-chaser is a must. If you like the tone and action of the 135 as you say, and the price is right for you, get it and start enjoying, and forget the people who most likely have agendas. Petrofs are very good pianos.