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Title: The Piano Book: Buying & Owning a New or Used Piano by Larry Fine, Douglas R. Gilbert, Keith Jarrett ISBN: 1-929145-01-2 Publisher: Brookside Pr Pub. Date: November, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.81 (26 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: The new fourth edition is the best one yet!
Comment: 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!
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent Must-Read
Comment: 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.
Rating: 5
Summary: influences salespeople
Comment: 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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Title: 2003-2004 Annual Supplement to The Piano Book by Larry Fine ISBN: 1929145136 Publisher: Brookside Pr Pub. Date: 01 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: The Piano Book Supplement 2002-2003 by Larry Fine ISBN: 192914508X Publisher: Brookside Pr Pub. Date: September, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title:2003-2004 Annual Supplement to The Piano Book by Larry Fine ASIN: B0000APYMJ Publisher: Brookside Press List Price(USD): $14.95 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $10.47 |
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Title: Pianos and Their Makers by Alfred Dolge ISBN: 0486228568 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 June, 1972 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Piano by David Crombie ISBN: 0879303727 Publisher: Backbeat Books Pub. Date: September, 1995 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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