Music Rooms... Pianos etc.

[saxhorn]

Hello!

I have been lurking long enough ! Time to ask some questions.  I am almost complete building my "Dream" home which includes a very large gothic timberframe music room. It is 20'w by 48' long (inc foyer) by 32' at the peak.  It willl have a pipe organ installed  above the foyer and I will still have a 20' x 30' for a piano. I am looking to find out what types of pianos will not get 'lost'  in that much volume.

  I was trying to find a very good, used, >7ft grand.  I am not completely amoured with Steinway , but do like Bechstein. I have not hear enough Bluthners to make a judgement call on them, but I am curious. I have heard a recording of  a ~ 7' Bluthners and found it somewhat etheral compared to the crispness of a Bechstein.
Does anyone have an MP3 or other sound file of a 9' Bluthner?

I have a link to the house progress website I will add if people are interested

Thanks, 

Dan Rossi (saxhorn)

 Ann Arbor , MI

[iumonito]

What a luxury!!!

First of all, you can (and should) put 2 pianos, 9 feet each, in that space, side by side (interlocking them is lame).

Here are my two suggestions:  Get a rebuilt Chickering from the 1870 to 1920 and a Knabe from 1910 to 1940.  You will spend total likely aroun $40 to $50K (cheaper than one of another brand that shall remain nameless).  You will get plenty of sound.

For comparison, call Jim Laabs and ask what they have in the 9 foot range.

[iumonito]

Oops, one more thing.  Check out www.smartpianos.com to see if you see a 9 foot Bechstein for rebuilding.  What a mighty piano that is!!!

If you want to see how they turn out rebuilt, check out www.luxurypianos.com.  Imre is a really cool guy.

[DarkWind]

Bluthners have aliquot stringing, which is an interesting technique I personally want to hear one day. Basically, instead of the average three strings for each note, there are four. The fourth is raised a bit higher, where the hammers won't hit it. These strings catch vibrations from the other notes being played, and being suspended, can catch vibrations from other notes besides the one it is native to.

[dinosaurtales]

Bluthners have a very dark, rich sound, sometimes described as "dark chocolate".  Truly beautiful sound.  They have a lighter-than-average action.  Alexander Paley is on contract with them and has cut a cd playing a model 1. It really sounds GOOD.  A Bluthner dealer should be able to get you one.

[etudes]

Bravo you have a very great room
well i try once bechstein i dont know model or size (but quite big around 7)and its sound very cool for me (sorry that the time when i played i still very bad at piano)
but i ever try Bluthners
if i have a room like you i would put 2 piano 9 feet each as mentioned
i'm jealous now lol. 
maybe you can drive around piano shop and looking both used and new choose the best for you dont stuck with brand

[saxhorn]

I am going to continue to look at anything instrument wise, including older Knabe, Baldwin, Chickering etc. As well as older Bluthner, Bechstein, Grotian-Steinweg etc.
But probably only one!


BTW---Does anyone have a recording  clip with a 9' Bluthner?


Thanks,
Dan