Our piano display is open to welcome visitors 12 hours per day 7 days per week.  We invite serious buyers to come by appointment. This enables us to ensure that they can try pianos without interruption.   We can if required provide demonstrators, but our normal practice is to spend a few minutes showing clients the available instruments and describing their features.  We then leave them to play and experiment without the pressure of a salesman in attendance.

 

We do not stock mass produced or cheap imported pianos. Our display is principally Steingraeber,  Phoenix, Stuart, Boesendorfer, Steinway (Hamburg only), Bechstein and Bluthner.  We aim to offer only the finest instruments, prepared to highest standards, but at competitive prices well below those sought almost anywhere else.  This is not inconsistent with viable trading because by doing this and thus gaining trust and respect in the market we have been able to achieve a uniquely high turnover and are able to run a modestly profitable company with our resources focussed on giving efficient and professional service rather than spending on a flashy façade in expensive premises.  The fact we are located on a picturesque farm enables us to attract top grade staff who would be unwilling to work in the rat race of urban business.

 

We are able to offer Stuart Pianos. Stuart pianos is a new make from Australia.  Our display, the first in Europe, opened in 2005  Stuart pianos have been designed by a talented entrepreneur who sought and has found the ultimate in piano sound by applying state of the art scientific technology and some interesting innovation.  When first heard in public, these pianos created a huge stir in the market and not least, apprehension amongst competitor builders.  The dynamic range of the Stuart is massive, the power is all any artist could seek with great reserves available (by internal adjustments) for extra large venues. The sustain is substantially longer than any other instrument we know and the warm colourful sound is equal to or better than the best.  The Stuart has a fourth pedal controlling blow distance for soft playing.  The piano is built using 100% hand crafting and from traditionally seasoned timbers some of which ...for example in the sound board... are selected from wood up to 1000 years old.   Two sizes are available, 7 foot and 9 foot 6 inches.  Stuart is slightly more expensive than factory built instruments but for the discerning amateur or professional who wants the best piano of all, it is an imperative choice.

 

Unlike most other piano outlets we have fixed and published prices, which are reviewed monthly to take account of currency fluctuation.  Visitors to Hurstwood Farm Pianos Studios know what they will be asked to pay because prices are published on our website.  We do not give discounts (except for multiple sales).  All our clients pay the same for the same product, because as with traditional practice, our prices are not negotiable because they are already at the lowest level we can manage consistent with keeping a viable business.  Hurstwood Farm Piano Studios may on occasion give small introductory commissions for genuine business opportunity which would not otherwise be open to us, but in contrast to most other piano dealer’s practices, this is paid from our margins and is not offset by hidden subsidy from clients.  

 

Selection, set-up and maintenance are three key aspects in achieving performance from any piano.  Set- up is the process in which each instrument is adjusted to its optimum performance within the artists preferred feel and to the environment in which it will be played.  All new pianos which come to us from the factory are only partially voiced and may sound a little harsh or strident.  The reason for this is that it is possible to soften the tone of a piano but it is difficult to restore brightness once this is done.  Final voicing is therefore always done in the place where the piano will be kept after sale.  Voicing is a highly skilled job.

 

The best pianos are not necessarily the most expensive.  The ex factory cost of all the leading quality makers is roughly the same.  Trading practice generally is such that there are wide differences in the relationship between factory cost and the recommended retail price.  Retail price is often inflated to allow for “subsidy” or other sales promotion devices at the expense of the private buyer.  We set our prices by the same margin on factory cost for all makes.  Special build pianos such as Stuart are produced in small numbers and are craftsman made from traditional materials of exceptional specification. Exclusive production of this kind is costly, but in our opinion these pianos are even better value for money for the most discerning client who seeks the ultimate piano.

Phoenix,our own concept of ultimate performance piano, is made under licenece by Steingraeber.  We also offer an upgrade service for customer's own pianos which are suitable for fitting with the Phoenix sound enhancing system.  (This service is not available for Steinway instruments.)