J. Strauss & Son Pianos

[David Swift]

I'm looking for opinions on this manufacturer of pianos.  I found a web site that rates them 4.5 out of 6, but there's almost no mention of them anywhere on the web.

[wynnbear]

I'm at work right now, so I don't have the Larry Fine book available.  I found the website for the brand.  My impression is that these are made in China, or someplace with very low labor costs.  The site continually emphasizes all the high quality parts from the U.S., Germany, etc. that are used, but never mentions where the instruments themselves are assembled.  That's usually a clue. 

I'd be wary, very wary.  Also, I wouldn't pay any attention to brand ratings you find on the web.  Folks who put up ratings usually have an agenda.  Like maybe the site that rated J. Strauss at 4.5 is actually owned by East Coast Piano, the major US dealer for this brand? 

Get the Larry Fine book and read it.  If I were considering the purchase of a Chinese (or Indonesian, or Russian or...) piano, I'd have a technician, who is independent of the piano dealer, inspect the instrument before I pulled out my check-book.

[dalegaspi]

i almost got suckered into buying one of these pianos (during my research)...but since they are not even mentioned in the Larry Fine book, i wouldn't touch one with a 100-foot pole...

[rich_galassini]

They used to be Russian, but they MAY be Chinese now. They are cheap pianos - period.

I hope that was helpful - BTW, I think they are only available at one or two locations - period.

Do you live in NJ or Pa. ??

[jphillips321]

HI,

      I don't know why you think these pianos are cheap.  I just played one in a church in Plainfield NJ.  It was about a 5'7" piano it had a great sound and a nice quick action.  I liked it so much I was planning on checking them out at their retailer.  I didn't know where they had bought it so thanks for the information and letting me know it was East Coast Piano.  If they are cheap (in price) and they sound and play this nice maybe I should buy one. 

John

[CJ Quinn]

HI,

      I don't know why you think these pianos are cheap.  I just played one in a church in Plainfield NJ.  It was about a 5'7" piano it had a great sound and a nice quick action.  I liked it so much I was planning on checking them out at their retailer.  I didn't know where they had bought it so thanks for the information and letting me know it was East Coast Piano.  If they are cheap (in price) and they sound and play this nice maybe I should buy one. 

John

It's the store brand of East Coast Piano, coming to a Costco near you...


Also, post the link to the site that rated that piano so high.  I wonder who runs that site? 

[jphillips321]

I don't care about someone else's ratings of a piano. If some technician likes a certain brand or not doesn't really matter to me,  what I like is what I like.  I have played piano for many years and have played many different pianos.  That is all i really need to find a piano for me.   I really liked what I played i thought it sounded good.  The action was nice too.  I didn't know you could buy them at Costco too.  Would I get a better deal and selection at Costco or East Coast piano?

John

[CJ Quinn]

I don't care about someone else's ratings of a piano. If some technician likes a certain brand or not doesn't really matter to me,  what I like is what I like.  I have played piano for many years and have played many different pianos.  That is all i really need to find a piano for me.   I really liked what I played i thought it sounded good.  The action was nice too.  I didn't know you could buy them at Costco too.  Would I get a better deal and selection at Costco or East Coast piano?

John

East Coast sells them at Costco.  East Coast owns the brand name.
Just keep this in mind: the piano you played may have been built in a different factory to a different spec and/or in a different country than the one you buy at East Coast.  It is the nature of stencil pianos, the supplier can change. I don;t  know the pianos, so I can;t say a thing about them, but it is the nature of store brands that the suppliers and specs can change often.   Just make sure you like what you are about to buy, don;t be influenced by other pianos of the same brand that you have played.

[jphillips321]

Thank you for your advise.  I will make sure that the piano I play at the store I like.  I will ask them if it is built to the same specs as the piano I saw that I really liked.  I hope they are still using the same specs.  I would assume that a manufacturer could change specs as well at any time.  No?  So I guess no matter what piano brand you buy it would be wise to make sure specs haven't changed rather than just buying a particular brand that you have heard of?  Right?

Thanks for your help
John

[CJ Quinn]

Thank you for your advise.  I will make sure that the piano I play at the store I like.  I will ask them if it is built to the same specs as the piano I saw that I really liked.  I hope they are still using the same specs.  I would assume that a manufacturer could change specs as well at any time.  No?  So I guess no matter what piano brand you buy it would be wise to make sure specs haven't changed rather than just buying a particular brand that you have heard of?  Right?

Thanks for your help
John

Uh, right.  Yes, play and assess the one you will buy.