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Summary: The Piano Book
Review: Never wrote a review before, but this book was so helpful that I felt compelled to let others know. I didn't know the first thing about pianos, but our family wanted to get one for our young children - oldest soon to be 5 years old. This book saved the day. Some stores are honest - we had good luck with Yamaha and Kawai dealerships - but others play the price game by increasing the MSRP to unrealistic levels - The Piano Book changes the game and puts you in control - make sure you buy the supplement as well - that is where the prices are - and yes you can get to 20% to 30% off the standard prices listed in the supplement - as The Piano Book says. There is no way to figure out the leading brand names from the also rans or wanna bees if you are new to pianos without The Piano Book. With The Piano Book it is easy - see a brand in the store - and take the book with you - look it up and you will know if it is made in Germany - some great pianos, US, Japan - great quality control from Yamaha and Kawai, Korea - up and coming brands like Samick, or China and Indonesia (be careful). We ended up buying a 4-year old used piano that a neighbor found in the local newspaper - and yes we followed the The Piano Book's guidance and had the piano inspected by a qualified piano technician and moved by a specialized piano mover. Buy The Piano Book and the Supplement - with delivery the two books - money incredibly well spent. Good luck.
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Summary: The new fourth edition is the best one yet!
Review: The new fourth edition of Larry Fine's Piano Book is the most informative one yet. I have enjoyed the three preceding editions immensely, but the fourth surpasses them all.To me, the most valuable part of Larry Fine's book is the information on new pianos (although he supplies lavish information on piano mechanics,used pianos, piano care, and piano shopping as well as the information on new pianos). His book is unique in its effort to describe and explain the different brands and what sets them apart from each other. While the first three editions were all packed with useful information, the fourth edition adds an informal (but enlightening) rating system that ranks the new piano brands. This new rating system represents an extraordinary effort at an unbiased review of the different new brands, and it provides an extremely useful comparison among brands. The rating system breaks new pianos down into general categories, providing a basis for the reader to use in comparing pianos within categories as well as between categories. Within each broad category, the rating system ranks the various brands. While many of the brands end up with similar ratings, this highly useful fact in itself provides the reader with enough knowledge for an educated evaluation of claims made by dealers in rival brands. The dealers should note: as Larry Fine points out, it is poor selling technique to try to sell pianos by criticizing the competition! Larry Fine's rating system highlights the unwisdom of this critical approach. Educated by Larry Fine, a piano shopper will have a much more enjoyable experience than he or she might otherwise have had. You may agree with what he says, or disagree with it. You may find an individual piano that transcends the category into which the average piano of that brand seems to fall, or one which does the opposite. But at least you will be in a position of greater knowledge when you shop. Moreover, the book is well written and fun to read. A truly remarkable collection of attributes!
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Summary: Excellent Must-Read
Review: The Piano Book by Larry Fine (not the same of 3-Stooges fame, I take it), is a must-read if you are thinking of buying a piano. Fine names names--the skinny on all available modern pianos you are apt to find in a dealers' showroom, new and used. Reviewed are servicability, construction quality,tone, and street prices. Armed with this book, a consumer takes a big step towards getting the most piano for his or her money and, most important, reduces the likelyhood of being stuck with an overpriced dog. To put it another way, I have not met a piano salesperson or dealer who had anything really bad to say about any piece in his or her inventory. Tone quality is something you can distinguish after hearing a few good pianos, but the actual quality of the instrument and how it will hold up over time is known only by those who regulary service them in the field. This is good to know, especially with so many asian-made pianos of questionable quality floating around on the used market. If you're looking for an entry-level practice piano or a full 9' concert grand, this book will help you cut through all the manufacturers' and dealer hype. Fine's knowledge of the instrument is great.
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Summary: research power
Review: The salesperson in the piano store assured me that NONE of the pianos in their store were shipped with parts and actions that the Piano Book warned against. So I had them remove the wooden cover plate of a beautiful floor model piano to prove it. And there was the name of the "less confidence" action I had been warned by the Piano Book to avoid. The salespeople were shocked. Another piano of the same brand in the same store had the "higher confidence" brand name parts/action I had been told by the Piano Book to look for. I bought that piano, which was at a lower price than the first one (less fancy cabinet). The salespeople had assumed they were otherwise the same! They were not the same...on the inside. Thank you Larry Fine!
Rating:
Summary: research power
Review: The salesperson in the piano store assured me that NONE of the pianos in their store were shipped with parts and actions that the Piano Book warned against. So I had them remove the wooden cover plate of a beautiful floor model piano to prove it. And there was the name of the "less confidence" action I had been warned by the Piano Book to avoid. The salespeople were shocked. Another piano of the same brand in the same store had the "higher confidence" brand name parts/action I had been told by the Piano Book to look for. I bought that piano, which was at a lower price than the first one (less fancy cabinet). The salespeople had assumed they were otherwise the same! They were not the same...on the inside. Thank you Larry Fine!
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Summary: influences salespeople
Review: There's not much to add to the superlatives written about this book except to note that simply having it in your possession can influence salespeople! I took this book with me in Sept. 2003 to buy a "nearly new" piano at the annual sale of the prestigious Peabody Institute in Baltimore. The salewoman noticed it and said, "I see you have Larry Fine's book. I bet you'll leave here with a good piano at a great price." Throughout our tour of the many pianos on sale, I felt as though she was being more factual because I had the book! And, because I had read parts of it, I was able to ask more questions about the types of materials used in construction of the various parts. I bought a 2 month old Kawai GM-10 for about 2/3 list price! Not only did the book give me independent in-depth information on the Kawai, but several paragraphs (p.118) to read comparing it to other brands in terms of sound, feel, durability, warranty, etc. Now, every time I sit at my piano, I feel an added confidence that I'm playing the finest instrument I could afford.
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Summary: Great Book
Review: This book has everything you need to know about how to buy and maintain a piano plus a lot of entertaining information about piano industry and piano mechanics.
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Summary: Buy this book before you buy a piano!
Review: This book is a valuable resource for anyone shopping for a piano! It's chock full of in-depth information and informed evaluations and opinions, organized in an easy to use format. Thanks to Mr. Fine, I found an obscure but "marvelous piano" for purchase, instead of an inferior but well-known brand
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Summary: This book is essential for anyone looking to buy a piano.
Review: This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in buying a piano. The book explains the components of a piano, dispells many salesperson "myths" about different pianos, and provides objective advice in selection, inspection, and care. The book discusses the piano industry in detail, allowing the reader to verify the various claims of sales persons and see past brand warfare. The book is well written and very readable. Whatever you do, buy this book BEFORE you go shopping for a piano.
Rating:
Summary: Salvation for the piano buyer
Review: This book is informative, educational, and unbiased. It is very easy to follow, and provides information you would otherwise pay thousands to get, in a piano technician's course.
It empowers the piano buyer and piano lover. With this book, buying a piano is no longer like buying a used car!
It also makes one more appreciative of the miraculous inventions that make up this most exquisite of musical instruments.
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