Built in the Czech Republic.

  Petrof instruments are exceptional, revealing a round and romantic timbre in the purest European tradition. This Petrof model 131 Concert Upright is a superb piano with remarkable clarity and modern and refined aesthetics. Expressive with a wide dynamic range and a lovely palette of colors, it would be an excellent choice for a Conservatory or a private studio. Petrof pianos are known for their warm, rich European overall tone quality, full of color and a clear singing treble tone. They don’t necessarily have the tonal power and projection American pianos strive for though. But they excel at classical music with their darker, more mellow tone that “stresses the fundamental pitch” and attenuates the overtone structure normally associated with Asian pianos. They are ideal for Mozart and Beethoven. Someone with a “jazzier” taste in music would probably be better off with a different piano.

The model 131 features the high-performance German designed and manufactured Louis Renner piano-action that permits the musician to fulfill themselves passionately and push their pianistic limits. Renner is only available for their larger uprights and larger grand pianos. Whereas nearly every other manufacturer’s strings randomly pass over a rounded Capo d’ astra bar, the model 131 has eighty-eight separate agraffes for permanent, ideal string spacing. The vast majority of pianos built today are in polished ebony, this is a unique polished walnut finish with an interesting vertical grain structure. It is more forgiving of dust, finger prints and minor “cobweb” scratches. The middle pedal is equipped with a Muffler function for quiet practice. The music desk is sturdy for large, heavy music books with a long sheet music lip to spread out musical scores. The original adjustable Artist bench is included. It is an elite bench built by the Italian company, Discacciati for some of the finest European pianos.

At the time this model was built, there was a huge currency advantage for Czech Republic factories in all industries because they were not yet on the Euro currency. However, when fully regulated and prepped Petrof pianos could hold their own in comparison to more well-known high-end German piano manufacturers. At the time, labor rates were very low and there were no duty taxes to pay. The price of these pianos was only a fraction of that of other European instruments and sometimes even less expensive than pianos from Japan. This is no longer the case. Economic conditions have changed dramatically and the current model has a full MSRP of $50,644. Current Petrof model P 131 Concert Upright Piano.

The Petrof Piano Co. was established in 1864 by Antonin Petrof, born at Hrádec Kralové, Czechoslovakia in 1839. Antonin learned piano building from his uncle in Vienna and returned home to build his own pianos. The Czechs have long been known for their musical instrument building skills and vibrant music industry. The company grew and over the years moved into larger facilities and acquired other plants. Upright pianos came along in 1883 followed by player pianos. Family members began participating in the business. Antonin, Jr. joined the firm in 1908; Vladimir in 1914. Antonin, Sr. lived until 1915. Younger Petrofs Ivan and Dimitrij apprenticed in 1928. The company prospered and their pianos consistently earned prizes at international exhibitions. They embraced the advancement of technology and production became more sophisticated.

1939 brought WWII and the factory converted to war production and afterward in 1947 the State Ministry of Industry took over the company. All businesses in Czechoslovakia were nationalized this way and the Petrof family was forced out. Antonin, Jr. passed away in 1964 after his release from Communist imprisonment. With the Velvet Revolution in 1989 and the fall of the Soviet Union afterward, many state-run factories were able to become private businesses again. Fourth-generation Jan, son of Dimitrij, initiated the privatization process in 1991 in order to reclaim the company and in 2001 the factory was successfully passed into the hands of the Petrof family as the fifth generation was also admitted.

Petrof pianos were first imported into the US in 1985 by Geneva International based in Wheeling, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Initially, they had a difficult time convincing piano dealers to carry a piano brand built in a communist country. Geneva’s response was “I’d argue that Czechs were not communists but rather were an invaded nation.” The tumbling of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 resulted in an independent Czech Republic and the Petrof piano began receiving the appreciation as a high-end piano it sorely deserved.

“When properly prepared, they are a very good value.”

Larry Fine

Author, The Piano Book

Sturdy music desk to accommodate large books and long musical scores.

Kawai Classic Salon Grand Piano.

  The RX-2 was one of the most popular models of the award-winning RX Series line of grand pianos first introduced in 1995. As a collection, they were chosen “Acoustic Piano Line of the Year” by MMR Magazine in 2003, 2004 and 2005. After a successful 18-year tenure, the RX Series was replaced by the much-anticipated GX BLAK Series in 2013.

Advanced Precision from ABS Stryan

“Kawai has the most advanced piano research and development facilities in the world. Selected action components within this piano are made of high-tech materials including ABS Stryan. High-stress polymer technology has allowed Kawai engineers to scientifically apply this technology in Kawai’s Ultra Responsive™ piano action. The results are improved piano performance, superior musical tone and extended durability. Over a quarter of a century of intense testing has proven these materials to be superior to wood in critical actions areas.”

Taken from the Kawai RX-2 brochure.

This piano was purchased new in Albuquerque at the long-time Kawai and Steinway & Sons authorized representative, Washburn Music in 2000. It is a one-owner and lived its life so far under just one roof. It has been here in this arid climate and it is happily acclimated and well adjusted to the low humidity. These are durable, low-maintenance, well-built pianos and it should give decades of musical enrichment to the next owner. The piano had very little playing time so there is minimal wear in the action and other moving parts. It is in excellent condition – structurally and aesthetically. Only the best technicians have serviced the piano. We are happy to warrant the instrument for two years. We had to do very little to it in the 88 Keys Piano Restoration shop and it was in nearly sell-able condition when we acquired it. The original matching bench with storage is included. Complimentary local, first-floor professional delivery is also included.

Special Features

• Millennium 111 Action™ with Carbon Fiber

• Exclusive Carbon Jack

• Exclusive NEOTEX™ Key Surfaces

• Mahogany Hammer Mouldings

• CORE™ System for superior tone

• Exclusive “Hard Finish” Music Rack

• Steel reinforced Keyslip

• Ultra-Slow Fallboard Closing system

The scale design is is a Full Duplex Scale that enhances the treble tone. The middle pedal is a True Sostenuto for the serious pianist or professional. The RX-2 has three lid props to display your piano the way you like– long, medium and short.

Many schools and universities are All-Kawai Schools so the piano majors will always have a quality instrument to rehearse on during their studies, including New Mexico State University.

The inside rim is finished in a warm red mahogany.

Half lid prop position is a handsome way to display the piano.

Yamaha “Classic Collection” 5’-3” Baby Grand Piano.

  Cheers! A special find so hurry, it won’t last long! This Yamaha model G1 grand piano was purchased here in Albuquerque in 1980 at the authorized Yamaha dealership, Paul Muench Studios on south San Mateo Blvd. SE. As a result, it is happily acclimated and well-adjusted to our unique climate and the piano has had a very stable, serene and peaceful life here in Albuquerque. Pianos that have been moved a lot have more tumultuous lives and it usually shows in their internal anatomy. There is very little wear in the piano’s action and it’s obvious this low mileage piano wasn’t played very much. It is in excellent condition – structurally and aesthetically and the instrument should provide decades of musical pleasure and enjoyment. We will be happy to offer a two-year warranty. The original matching adjustable Artist bench with music storage is included and so is local first-floor delivery.

This instrument has the classic Yamaha tone-quality that the company has made their well-earned reputation on. It has a wide dynamic range and will play very quietly (pianissimo) through very loudly (fortissimo). The harmonic content (timbre) isn’t too bright nor is it too mellow and it is fairly uniform from section to section. Some Yamaha models are thought to be too bright or harmonic rich but this one has more of an American tone-quality, meaning left of center mellow with a strong bass response and a singing treble. Worn hammers are often the culprit with bright Yamaha’s. That certainly isn’t the case here. The duration of tone (sustain) is substantial which lends itself to classical music and standards. The attack isn’t percussive but more of a rounded one that once again, is more of an American quality. The touch is classic Yamaha, as well, very responsive, balanced and even, that will permit the pianist to play emotively and express themselves in their music. It is a wonderful instrument to sit down, relax and enjoy.

Yamaha pianos are well-known for their excellent engineering and design plus rigid quality controls in manufacturing. The G-series models (G1, G2 and G3) were built in the main factory in Hamamatsu, Japan where their more desirable models are built. Based on sales, this line of pianos is arguably among the most popular in the long history of grand piano building worldwide. The Yamaha piano-action is universally praised by musicians and technicians alike. Artists endorsements are numerous with Elton John coming to mind. Many colleges and universities have become “All-Yamaha Schools” as an attraction to potential students desiring quality pianos to practice and perform on during their studies. Yamaha pianos are well-known for being reliable low maintenance instruments requiring fewer tunings, repairs and regulation. This appeals to music department budgets. Current new Yamaha models have become very expensive for a variety of reasons including rising labor rates, costs of materials and unfavorable currency exchange rates so that makes this piano an excellent value comparatively, with other Japanese-built Yamaha pianos.

Beautiful piano tone-quality in a small 5′-3″ cabinet.

The Yamaha model G1 is built in the main factory in Japan.

Boston – Family of Steinway & Sons Pianos.

5’-4” Baby Grand Piano.

Steinway & Sons officials say that the Boston piano represents an entirely new concept in piano design. They launched their Boston line of pianos in 1992 with the stated goal of providing their dealer network a quality, moderately priced piano for those customers “who were not yet ready for a Steinway”. In keeping with this philosophy, Steinway offers a full trade-up value to upgrade to a new Steinway piano at any time in the future. They are designed by Steinway engineers and built in the main Kawai piano factory in Hamamatsu, Japan. Five models of grand pianos have been available. This Boston model GP-163 II grand piano and the other models are sold only through select Steinway & Sons dealerships. Having them built in Japan, Steinway takes advantage of the efficiency and high technology of the manufacturing process there, while utilizing its own prodigious design skills to build a piano with more musicality than is normally found in that part of the world. There is a natural inclination for consumers to compare the Kawai piano to the Boston, but most listeners believe Boston’s have a bit more tonal color and a warmer, more mellow sound with a little less attack. Though the piano was built to spec by Kawai factory employees the final custom voicing at the factory was done by Boston’s own piano technicians.

The most obvious design element in the Boston is its wide grand piano tail. The bass bridge is permitted to be located closer to the lively, central part of the solid Sitka spruce soundboard. It is larger too, in that area, enhancing the bass response. It also serves to smooth out the break between the bass and tenor/treble strings, which can be noticeable in smaller grands. Like the Steinway, a Boston soundboard is thinner and tapered for a greater freedom of movement. It’s thickness varies from 8mm in the treble to 6mm in the bass. The GP-163 is 5’-4” so it has longer strings (47” – #1 string speaking length) and once again, additional soundboard area (1776 square-inches) than the average baby grand of 5’. The Boston has a low-tension scale design in order to improve its duration of tone or sustain time, and bass clarity. This also permits the “singing treble” that Steinway & Sons pianos are well-known for.

Several design elements are similar or identical to the Steinway piano. Both use beams underneath that have radial bracing to reinforce the rim and contributes to the longevity of the soundboard crown. Their vertically laminated bridges provide better tonal transmission. Boston piano-actions incorporate many of Steinway’s refinements and their patents issued by the US Patent Office. Hammer flanges are rosette-shaped to match the hammer rail in both pianos to promote better hammer spacing, and their duplex-scale design with agraffes that are tuned enhances the treble tone quality. The middle pedal is a true Sostenuto function, another Steinway patent. Boston pianos are used exclusively by a number of prestigious music schools and festivals including Aspen, Bowdoin, Brevard, Ravinia and Tanglewood.

Steinway & Sons Living Room Grand Piano.

  A Steinway is built to be your last piano or an excellent reason to buy your last piano first. Few things you will buy in your lifetime will serve you so long, give you so much pleasure and at the same time maintain its value. A Steinway is a lasting investment. The Steinway model L ebony grand piano is a piano that offers abundant volume yet needs little more space than the smaller models. This instrument was purchased originally in 1982 at the Albuquerque Steinway & Sons authorized dealership, Riedling Music. It lived in a lovely home in Santa Fe surrounded by fine art and furnishings for many years, then came to us eight years ago and we placed it in another lovely home. The second owner is relocating now and sadly, can’t take the piano with them to the east coast so we are offering it for sale. Alexander Boggs is the owner of 88 Keys Piano Warehouse. He is a Steinway & Sons certified technician and has trained at the factory in New York twice and has also been the sole tech to service this piano for well over a decade. Alexander would be honored to continue his service with the next owner after the complimentary home tuning takes place. It is in excellent condition – structurally and aesthetically, and we will be happy to offer a two-year warranty. Because it has lived its entire life in this unique climate it is happily acclimated and well-adjusted. The new owner will enjoy decades of musical joy and gratification with this stately Steinway & Sons piano.

“Strive always to improve the piano.” Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg

This model L features the classic “Steinway sound”, having a strong, singing treble with a clear bell-like tone, a resonant tenor mid-range and a robust bass, rich in high harmonics. It radiates plenty of tonal color with richness, depth and power. It is due to their combination of harmonics that distinguishes a Steinway from other piano makers. The duration of tone (sustain time) is lengthy, enabling legato phrases to be performed more musically. The dynamic range of volume is wide, allowing the pianist to play more expressively and emotively with feeling. The tone quality (timbre) is neither overly mellow and dull or overly bright and tinny. The mid-treble where most of the melodies are played is lively and “sings” and doesn’t disappear under the background of an accompaniment. It has the raw power that most pianos aspire to but not the brash “loudness” that often results. And these are, above all, the reasons why only a Steinway sounds and performs like a Steinway.

2023 model O MSRP – $103,500

2022 model O MSRP – $95,800.

2021 model O MSRP – $90,300.

2020 model O MSRP – $87,600.

The instrument of the Immortals.

All models of Steinway and Sons grand pianos offer a Diaphragmatic Soundboard™ (Patented 1936) where during manufacturing, far more fine Sitka spruce is left on the floor than actually makes it into the soundboard. The craftsmen expertly locate the very best cuts and discard the rest. The Steinway wood-buyer travels across the country to the mills and with an expert eye, selects the very best lumber himself. The soundboard is considered to be the soul of the piano. They also feature the Hexagrip Pinblock™ (Patented 1963). They are constructed by laminating seven layers of Canadian hardrock maple in a staggered grain formation. Each subsequent layer of the lamination offsets the grain angle by 45 to 90 degrees. The result is an even distribution of grain direction throughout the pinblock. This ensures that at least one layer has its grain directly in line with the stress acting on the pin. This technique allows the tuner to place the pin in the exact optimal location for a true “Concert Tuning”. That is the secret to how Steinway’s are able to maintain their world-renowned sound far beyond their last tuning.

The grands also feature the Steinway patented Accelerated Action™ (Patented 1936), enhancing the action to respond to the touch instead of being forced into action. Laboratory tests have proven that the keys on a Steinway can repeat 13% more quickly than any other piano. The same features that allow this faster repeat also provide a much more sensitive, responsive keyboard, an aspect that can be appreciated even by beginning pianists. The keys are made of Bavarian spruce. The quarter-sawn maple action parts are mounted on a Steinway Metallic Action Frame™ (Patented 1868 and 1875), which consists of a seamless brass tube with rosette-shaped contours, force fitted with maple dowels and brass hangers to assure the stability of the regulation. The Steinway grand also features the true Sostenuto™ pedal (Patented 1874). It is the middle pedal and it allows the pianists to determine which keys they want to resonate and sound, and those they want to dampen and not sound.

The early history of Steinway & Sons is fascinating and is intimately connected to the history of New York City.