Mason & Hamlin Grand 5'4" ?

[Roger]

Does anybody know about the Mason & Hamlin Grand 5'4", built in the late 60's?

I have heard the 5'8" and love the sound and feeling, but I have never heard of their 5'4".  Any feedback is appreciated.  The asking price is about $13000...

Thanks,
Roger

[iumonito]

This must be a Model B (I believe they are actually 5'2").  Unless it is pristine, $13K sounds high.  If it has just been rebuilt, though, the price is right and the only question is did they do a good job (brand of new hammers and strings, etc.)

Mason was not making their best pianos in the 60's.  The good ones stop around the late 30s and do not resume until the 90.  Was it AMPICO that owned in the 60's?  There must be a book out there with that info.

[wynnbear]

This would be a model B.  I've read comments that they have a nice sound considering their size.

In this period, M & H was owned and produced by Aeolian and were not at their best.  The lack of build quality would primarily affect the action.  If you like the piano when you see and play it, I'd definitely hire an independent technician to check out the condition and tell you how much work ($) it would take to make it the best it can be.

By the way, that price seems quite high for a small grand that's almost forty years old.