Personally, I'll stick to my Bösendorfer 290, thanks, except that, as it's such a pity that it exists only in my imagination, I'll more than gladly put up with my 1896 Steinway in the interim and hope that I can eventually manage to afford to have it fully and lovingly restored (it badly needs it, poor thing!). If a Falcone can be found, this, too, could be a good possibility (if my limited experience of them is anything to go by), although I believe that none were ever sold outside USA and they went to the wall several years ago after only a short production period on the premises also occupied (I think) by Mason & Hamlin in their second or third manifestation (what about one of those? - not that I've any idea what their modern instruments are like - I only have one that's about 75 years old and used to have another one older than that). Subject to budgetary considerations (as 'soliloquy' mentions), it would indeed be remiss to overlook Faziolis - or even the Australian Stuarts (although I think that these can turn out to be pretty expensive). Schimmel Pianos is a German company that makes some of the best instruments in the world. This requires, time, patience and a real empathy for the craft. This all sounds to be sensible advice on the instruments so far considered. Schimmel grand and upright pianos are handcrafted according to a tradition of craftsmanship handed down over generations - with loving attention to every detail. Pianos made by: Wilhelm Schimmel Pianofortefabrik GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany (Schimmel) and Kalisz, Poland (Wilhelm Schimmel) The Schimmel Piano Co.

Schimmel piano