Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Major model/year changes for Walter Uprights

Hi there....

Buying a used upright (has to be upright due to space). I love the sound on the old Mason and Hamlin uprights (pre WWII), and it seems that Walter has a similar tone (but many years newer).

Used Walters are in my perfect price range...but I am trying to understand the key build differences by year and/or upright models (from say 1990 to present). And/or specific years to stay away from (like post WWII Aeolian pianos).

Is this information available somewhere (I could call Walters, I guess, but hate to waste their time if it's already out there).

Thanks

Techie

The string back design has been the same all along. There is only one. Actions have varied, sometimes by availability, sometimes as options.

Spot on. If the action is Langer (by Herrberger Brooks in older pianos) or Renner you have no worries. At that point condition is king.

Thanks all...playing one tomorrow. Will be my first go-round with a Walter.

I happen to love the sound of the pre-WWII M&H consoles, hoping the Walter has a similar profile in a newer 'body'. I do like a heavier action, hoping that the Walters aren't too light.

Will keep folks posted.

Thanks all. Played one on Saturday and loved it. Rich full tones of a vintage M&H (with solidly weighted keys) but without the old piano worries.

Am now in the hunt for a good condition Queen Anne Walter built with Ribbon Stripe Mahogany

To be honest, I am not even sure that the string back was designed by Walter, since the factory was Janssen before they bought it. I have only tuned one Janssen studio, and only a few Walters, and I could not remember enough about them to be certain. The owner of the Janssen has died, so I probably will not see it again.

The Walter is a totally different design than the Janssen, BDB. I know Del Fandrich was involved on a consultative basis, but I do not know if these are his... at least not totally.

@Rich Galassini

Rich, I think you may have a piano in your shop that fits my parameters. If so, can you PM me?

Thanks

The Company Profile says that Walter bought the Janssen piano company in '69 with the intent to "build an all new console and studio piano of the very finest sound and quality," and that they continued to produce Janssen's until [at least?] '75 when they introduced the new Charles Walter pianos. I think that his major innovation was getting more soundboard into the same space (or something like that), but don't recall where I read that now.