My first post. I am 56 and have finally decided to learn what I always loved to listen to. So I needed a piano. For a few weeks I have lurked on this and another board, I have visited all of the six piano dealers within 40 miles of my home, and I was looking at new and used uprights in the $3-8K range, with a desired target around $3K. A close friend who plays piano well has tried hard to make me aware of differences. Sound? Yes, I could sort of tell. Feel and action? I was never sure, and not being able to play, how could I tell from just hammering on some keys.
Obviously, time and practice helped. While I really wanted a Charles Walter (after reading about them, their philosophy is an exact mirror of mine), I never liked their sound nor was I ever convinced of their action feel. The more I tried Yamahas, the more I liked them, and I think that is no shame. It was going to be a used U1 or U3.
Today, I visited the last three dealers. One of them another CW dealer, to try again, hoping I would find one that called my name. Actually, they had an upright with Charles' signature on it, and I thougth that is a sign. But no, it didn't call my name. The action felt like there was chewing gum in it somewhere (like all the other CWs I tried), and the sound was just as muffled as the others. I was about to settle on Yamaha, when I finally allowed the owner to talk to me and suggest something that I might like. He guided me to an upright I had seen in his store but didn't even touch because the name was unknown to me. It was a Gebrüder Perzina 48". I asked my friend to play it. She loved it. And she is Japanese! I really liked the sound, the best I had heard yet from the pianos I was looking at. I liked the action, for the first time I could feel a difference. It felt so precise, crispy. (excuse my wording, English is not my first language).
Anyway, the price was very right for what I saw, felt and heard. If I had only at least heard of the name before (and I am German!). Enter the salesman. He raved about their philosophy of German quality materials and design, built in low-cost China under German supervision and QC. I listened. I wanted to find reasons why this would be a good choice. I'm still not convinced but I have not found a better piano than this one, at any price within my range (including Boston, Petrof, Yamaha, Kawai, CW, to name the ones that come to mind now).
Of course, I came straight to PF to find confirmation that this brand is good and trustworthy, and I found--nothing. Is Gebr. Prezina too new to be evaluated? Has anybody actually played one? Is it taboo? I would appreciate any help, pointers, hints you could give me, and I would love to find support that Prezina is a good choice
I found you all a very warm and friendly bunch and I look forward to becoming a welcome member here. Thank you.
Topic: Is my search over? Please say it is!