Pianotech

  • 1.  Petrof IV / 3A

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-17-2021 00:41
    I have a client looking at a Petrof IV / 3A 5'7". I haven't encountered any of their grands but I've been impressed by the verticals.
    This instrument was built '89-'90. Does anyone have input on this model from that era?
    They revamped their models in the early 2000's so this IV was at the end of the run.
    Any information about their quality, the actions, and how they've held up would be appreciated.

    Thanks in advance.

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    Steven Rosenthal
    Honolulu HI
    808-521-7129
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  • 2.  RE: Petrof IV / 3A

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-17-2021 09:16
    Hi Steve

    I used to sell Petrof piano when I was in St Louis. I also worked on them in Tuscaloosa where a local dealer sold them. I also had some customers with Petrofs in Hawaii.

    Overall they were very nice pianos. I liked the tone and they stayed in tune. They are not spectacular pianos but for the average home player I think they are very serviceable.

    Wim.



    Sent from my iPhone


    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Petrof IV / 3A

    Posted 10-17-2021 09:24
    Take a close look at the action geometry. Pay particular attention to action elevations.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Petrof IV / 3A

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-17-2021 19:24
    Jon, did you have a specific problem with one of these?


  • 5.  RE: Petrof IV / 3A

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-17-2021 19:42
    Hi Steve

    The only Petrof grand I had in my files is at the Korean Christian Church down the street from you on Liliha. But never the less, it is a very nice instrument. (Yoshi sold them the piano before he died). 

    $15K seems kind of high for a 30 year Petrof. Maybe Alan took care of ti and has refurbished the action.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    St. Augustine, FL 32095
    Tnrwim@aol.com
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Petrof IV / 3A

    Member
    Posted 10-17-2021 20:35
    i worked for th Petrof dealer here on the coast of South Carolina and we carried and sold many Petrofs but they where built after 2002 . I had dealer prep training at Geneva International taught by the late Joe Swenson. I recall mention of some issues at the factory because of the government take over of the company but it went back to private family control. The Petrofs I saw all where great instruments and because of some type of tariff deal they where cheaper and a great value. the pianos needed very little out of the box however the hammers tended to be on the hard side and joe was an expert on voicing Petrof hammers. I had to repair a lid lock on an older petrof that would give off a buzz when notes in the 5th octave where played. because i could not  find a replacement mechanism i ended up taking out the lock and coating the mechanism with liquid rubber. i would have to look up the serial number but i think it was from the 90s. the piano had a number of issues with very brittle/glass sounding hammers in the high treble, after lots of questioning the owner admitted she bough it from a piano puppy mill in nc where they juiced pianos and polished them up . she had been saying it was a lemon she wanted Petrof to give her a new piano. BTW it was a twofer deal they gave her another free grand .  if the price is $15 k it sounds high for a 30 year old

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    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Petrof IV / 3A

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-18-2021 08:32
    Hello all.

    I can provide a definitive answer here having been an authorized dealer and been to the factory on Hradec Krolova, CZ. 

    Petrof pianos were good pianos prior to 2009 and many techs are familiar with the brand. 

    In 2009 (not the early 2000's), the entire line was revamped and they became much improved. The Petrof family had by
    then fully paid Russia back and now owned the factory and set to work investing in modernizing not only the equipment
    but completely redesigning and rescaling every piano, with emphasis going to the pianos 194cm and greater along with
    the introduction of Ant. Petrof, which has 3 models and is a separate line intended to compete with Fazioli, Bluthner and
    other elite offerings. I also have experience with other European brands and the new generation Petrofs compare favorably
    if not superior. 

    So there is a very clear distinction between pre- and post- 2009, consequently you can't make side-by-side comparisons. 

    It's like comparing Toyota and Lexus. 

    This was the hardest part of offering the brand. When older Petrofs could be had at a price relative to other middle line products to the price
    jump that came with the improvements in 2009. It is almost impossible to convey to the purse-watching public how much difference
    these things make, while they are no-brainers to technicians. 


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    Dave Conte

    University of Tennessee
    Knoxville TN
    817-307-5656
    Owner: Rocky Top Piano
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Petrof IV / 3A

    Posted 10-18-2021 10:54
    Hello Steven.
    I have 5 customers with this model and as far as can tell, they have performed and aged very well without much change in regulation and only little wear.
    These are all residential customers, some with kids and each of them gets played a regular basis (maybe 1 hour a day).
    Well built, good materials and they have aged very well.
    Only one had issues with hammer flanges being too tight butthat most likely was caused by the fact that it had been in a "climate controlled" storage unit for about one year.
    Peter

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    Petrus Janssen
    Peachtree City GA
    678-416-8055
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    Original Message