Topic: Injured, but need help/advice on getting a quality Grand (classical). (Read 3313 times)

sunslight · on: October 20, 2004, 11:33:24 AM

Like so many others, I am seeking help to find a very nice Grand, for what little money I have.

My university education is in music. I was a piano major before switching to Theory, some 30 years ago. I've been playing piano for some 48 years.

I play at concert level: Mostly Chopin, Bach, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven; shy away from Listz--too showy for me; --and accompany for art song & some Opera: Schumann to Verdi. Favorite's are Chopin and Bach. Did some study with Gina Bachauer, learned a lot about Rachmaninoff from her.

For more fun, I'll go with Gershwin & Cole Porter--musical's are fun to fiddle around with (pun intended) as I think of "Fiddler on the Roof."

Unfortunately, way back when, my wife wouldn't leave the state (Utah) and my job offer at USC and last chance at being a professional, full-time musican came to an end. Not much work for a classical musician here, so I took a job at the Post Office, in order to support my family. It was a terrible place to work. A literal nightmare.

I faithfully did that though, until I was injured--a ligament in my left wrist was torn. It was operated on, but not repairable--and now am on disability retirement. To put the injury in perspective, lifting/holding a gallon of milk is difficult.

I can still play, but because of the injury, it takes great will. I know it will inflict more pain. The fact is, that will be with me for the rest of my life. An operation revealed that the tear cannot be fixed.

With the dreams of my music gone into sorting mail, my desire for getting a Grand Piano had to be replaced by a now, 120 yr. old upright. It's not too bad for sound. The low bass strings are nearly 6 feet and it's kept in tune & regulated often. I can't make it sing like a nice grand, I can come close; but of course, the action, makes things much harder and without a sostenuto pedal, some pieces just can't be made to work.

I've saved some money and it's time to try and find a decent Grand before I get too old & the pain meds I have to take, stop working. But

the budget is only $10-15K or so.

My dream piano is a Schimmel.

The Renner action is really needed, especially for Chopin and for my technique (and wrist). I like the European sound, although I might have to go with an older Yamaha.

The size should be, I would expect, to equal my old upright, a minimum of 6' 2".

Horror of horrors, I'm even thinking of tyring to find something on eBay!

A friend of mine said he had a friend who got a very nice Grand in LA, which had been rebuilt/factory refurbished. It was about 12K I believe--of course, we're looking at wholesale (real wholesale: cost + $ 500 or so) prices.

The piano will sit in a room that is 24 x 18, with carpet--but that might be taken out to get to the oak floor beneath. A Yamaha would do ok, brightness wise with the carpet, but would take lots of voicing to soften the hammers for a wooden floor.

I really want a Renner action. I think it makes Chopin so much easier.
I need an instrument that sings, with a firm, mellow bass. But compromises, I'm willing to accept.

With the torn writst, the action needs to be a bit on the light side--but not so light that it can't be controlled, nor anything heavier than "standard." I absolutely want to keep the Grand feel, without any sloppiness, lots of acceleration and key depth, but I have to be able to play it too. I guess I am looking for something a few grams down from standard. If it is sluggish, Chopin is gone--if the action is too heavy or uneven, I won't last even 1/2 an hour. (Renner, Renner?)

So, long story.
Now the hard part---I desperately need recommendations of what, & where, to find it?

While a piano with a beautiful case would be nice, it's the insrument that counts. This is not for looks. Furniture is secondary to the music that can be made. I will take care of the case and treat it like a baby, but it is a musical instrument first.

Don't laugh now--I really need help to find an instrument that comes close to the criteria:

1) 6' 2" or more;
2) fast, smooth, even action--want Renner, want Renner; or as close as I can get;
3) tone quality that will sing for Chopin, be solid enough and quick to change, for Rachmaninoff; crispness to play Bach. A tone full of sparkle when needed and the sweetest pp--no brassiness in tone (I know that can be voiced out--but there's only so much you can do to a Yamaha--however, I'm thinking I might have to go with a Yamaha C6 if I can find one?).
4) be able to control the tone quality, loudness, quickness from loud to soft and acceleration of the action.
5) The piano's build, soundboard, crown, must be able to withstand very arid/dry conditions. -- Because it's so dry in Utah at 4800 ft., the humidity is almost always less than 18%, if the wood has been in a damp climate, a humidifier will not help much to keep things from splitting. I do try to keep the humidity in the house at about 30%. But even that's low, especially if the instrument is use to 40-50% or more. (I lost two, wonderful recorders bought in Germany--which split just four months after being here.)
6) And the budget--$10-15K, closer to 12-13. It will be a miricale, I know. Is there a benevalent piano society out there?

I've gone 34 years giving up my musical dreams and need for a grand, in order to support my family.

Now, can I get part of that back?

I can't play like I used to, but I can still manage for an hour or so, the Chopin Etudes. At that point, I have to stop (will probably hurt badly for at least 8 hours) but it will have been worth it. Can we as musicians live very well without being able to create music?

I hope there will be many responses of help to this. As I mentioned, I'm even considering eBay $:-\$
I do need much help here to find a piano--not help because I'm thinking of eBay. that's desperation

Thank you,
Bob

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