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Newbie here. Haven’t played piano since I was in my 20s, have retired and resumed playing/taking lessons. Still have my Everett (1979 by serial number). It’s action is mushy and slow, dynamic range limited. I’ve maintained it well, it’s just old. Yesterday, tried a Charles Walter console, 12 years old. The action was great, the sound amazing. It’s a little under $8k, fully reconditioned, respectable dealer.

Suggestions: new used piano vs trying to make the Everett into a good instrument? Thoughts on a 12 year old Walter?

Any and all guidance is greatly appreciated. Thanks

If you like the Charles Walter sound, I think you'll find Boston to be quite similar. I just think that you could get a better value for money. Here's something to give you an idea - the price seems below market, but that's probably because of cosmetic dings, which the seller acknowledges. But I realize availability in your vicinity is paramount.

https://www.pianomart.com/buy-a-piano/view?id=45889

In the past month we've sold two Chas. Walter decorator consoles.

They are outstanding pianos.

If you have done nothing but tune your Everett for the past 40 years, undoubtedly there is a lot that can be done with it relatively inexpensively.

The Charles Walter sounds like a very nice instrument.Have it checked out by an independent technician.Does it have a Renner action or the the latest action?

Even fully restored I don't think Everett is in the same league as a Charles Walter. That's too high a price for the Charles Walter, IMO, but the shop may have done extension work on it. It should be between $5,000 to $6,000. Check their website for new prices to compare.

Googled this

Year Details Price
Lightly Used Charles Walter Handcrafted Upright Piano $4,545
Orig purchased in 1987 Charles Walter Riviera piano and bench $3,000
Purchased new in 1999 Charles R. Walter Polished Mahogany Console Player Piano $3,500

Are these dealer Or a private owner price? It does make a big difference. And without knowing what work was done and the current condition of the pianos, it is difficult to compare

I play a well-maintained Walter console occasionally that's 20+ years old and it's terrific.

Here are a couple of less expensive options:

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org...-walter-upright-piano-in/7380243033.html

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/msg/d/forest-hill-charles-walters-studio/7375920010.html


$3k (+/-) seems to be the sweet spot for second hand Walters in my area (Northern VA/DC Metro). They don't come up for sale very often, but tend to languish until the price gets to about 3k. I once went to look at one when the asking price dropped to $1500, and the guy selling it told me I was the first person to even inquire about it! That was a couple years ago.

I didn't buy it, but often wish I had. (I was looking for a junker upright to experiment on, so it wasn't what I was looking for, but it was a nice piano, esp. at that price)

That's the only Walter I've ever played. IIRC, it was a '97. Anecdotal observations here recently seem to be that the older ones were better. ???

Yes - but this one is only 12 years old and is being sold by a dealer. If it is in excellent condition, $8K doesn't seem too high. New CW verticals sell in the mid to high teens. You can always try negotiating a lower price.

I own a 1976 Everett studio upright. While it is a solid piano, it is 45 years old and absolutely no way can it compare to a 12 year old CW.

Just curious - how tall is the Walter? That certainly would have some bearing on the price.

If the website is anything to go by, their offerings are quite streamlined: grand pianos at 5'9" and 6'4", console at 43 3/8", studio at 45", in various cabinetry

You are correct - only two vertical sizes (I originally thought there were more). Cabinetry varies in the smaller console model. The taller studio model only has one cabinet with different finishes. All prices seem to be in the same ballpark - $18K to $20K SMP.

I respectfully disagree with the above statement. There is a big difference between Boston pianos and Charles Walter. The Walter has a superior scale design e.g. - 3" longer bass string in the 45" model and almost 200 more sq. inches of soundboard area (when compared to Boston 118). It has upgraded components (Renner action, white spruce soundboard, sand cast plate, solid hardwood cabinet for starters (also when compared to the Boston 118). I also like the way they play better.

The Walter is IMHO a very nice choice. Have the piano examined by an independent technician and ask about a warranty. I think if the piano is in good shape and it has been properly reconditioned, a 5 year warranty is not unfair.

My 2 cents,

But I was talking about how the sound is similar, not how the specs are similar. I happened to have played both a Charles Walter 45" and a Boston 118, granted it was awhile ago but my recollection was the sound, e.g. the tone was similar.
You could disagree if you could attest to the sounds as you have heard them.

But FWIW, the piano that OP referenced is the 43 3/8"

There are no internal differences between the two Walter verticals, according to their website.

I understand. I guess in comparison to bright or thin sounds, yes they are closer, but when it comes to nuance of response and the colors available to the player, they are far apart IMHO.


I quoted the specs. from the 45" Walter because they are the SAME as the 43" Walter (and the same size as the Boston). I should have shared that.

Cheers,

I played many pianos on my journey and after playing on the Charles Walter I knew it was the upright piano for me. That rich, warm sound was and is unlike any other I have played. This is a completely subjective sentiment, but I love my Walter. Mine is a 1997, so it is older than the one you are looking at, but 12 years is relatively young for a piano.

The Walter uprights are apparently built to very high standards of quality and craftsmanship, a bonus feature that I discovered when I had it checked out by a tech--he told me they are a pleasure to work on and built in such a way that they will last generations if properly cared for. Other knowledgeable folks here, like Rich above, have confirmed this for me.

$8k is perhaps a mite steep on the price, but that price point depends heavily on the particulars of the instrument you are looking at. If you are patient and shop around, you might can find one from the 1990s for ~$3k. But at that price it will probably be from a private seller, and you won't get the same prep work and assurances that you will get from a reputable dealer.

IMO, if you can afford it and the instrument speaks to you, you can't go wrong.

And that's of course totally fine. I used to play the Charles Walter in choir practice, and some years later I almost bought a Boston UP-118S. Although my recollection is from way back, I must have decided that I would have been happy with it, hence my recommendation.

WOW! Thank you everyone!!! An update, which makes for more questions. The local dealer (the owner of the shop) told me the piano was 12 years old, however his website says it was built in 1983. As I have attempted to educate myself on used pianos, it seems that there can be age limits? I’m really asking here—I’m retirement age (!), so plan to get hopefully 20 years out of this piano, and since I’m an adult beginner, I’m unlikely to ever need to move up to a better instrument.

I’ve been listening to YouTube videos comparing various uprights, and I really do the the CW sound.

As another aside, is particle board common in piano construction now? I do like the actual wood in the CW (husband makes handmade custom furniture, I have a prejudice here)

I’m hoping this is allowed: here’s a video of the piano that I played and liked. Any educational comments greatly appreciated!