Sowhere right here is August Foerster (watch out for the ones made in the Czech republic).
How funny. I barely know of good pianos not made in Germany (Fazioli, Mason and Overs, that's really it).
If the budget is still hurting, skip the Schimmel and go directly to Irmler (which is actually Polish). This is what I have and couldn't be happier.
Steinway happens to make pianos in Hamburg. If you have a lot of money and don't need to get a really good instrument you can buy one of these.
But now you've thrown me. What's wrong with the ones made in the Czech Republic?
Don't get hung up by which piano is made where. If your goal is to get a good musical instrument, then play the pianos and decide. No point developing a prejudice based on country of origin before playing the pianos. (Don't think any new August Förster is made in the Czech republic anymore, and hasn't been for years, so it's unlikely you'll run into a Czech-made Förster if you're buying new anyway.)
playing is the only true test, but I'd like to know if there was some fundamental problem with the way the Czechs produces Foersters back in the day.
The best pianos in the world do not come from the country the greatest music originated in...sad.
The Forster's action stiffens like an old man on the blue pill so stay away from that one. I purchased one in Frankfurt three years ago and had three technicians working on it for well over a year to try and even the bastard out. We poured and poured for the voice and readjusted and readjusted the action...it was a nightmare. I've never been so outraged by any single instrument. N.
Yes, they do! Austria
BTW, the German made AFs have an elaborate casting in the plate, this from my 190:
Irmler is like a coquette, sweet and fun but you know she is cheap.
Nice photo, Chris, but if you had panned back a bit you could have shown off the single-hitch stringing...
iumonito wrote:"There is nothing cheap about that piano except for its price."