Hi All,  I really like the thread that has been going on here about
the older pianos verses the newer pianos.  I want to say that I agree
with Craig Brougher on the Aeolian piano point, here is why.

About 7 years ago I wanted a player piano.  There was a place in
Nashville, TN, called L.C. Tillers, that sold them new.  Andy told
me that I would be better off getting an older one and restoring it.
I wanted a new one because I didn't think it would take up as much room
as the older one would.  I figured that with it being a new piano that
it would sound better than the old one would. I figured that the newer
it was, the better piano it would be.  Boy, was I wrong.

Andy & I went to L.C.'s to look at the pianos; I liked the looks of
them and wanted one.  Then Andy sat down and started to pump them.
After just a few seconds he got this look of dismay on his face.
When I asked what was wrong he said the piano was "a piece of junk."
I could not understand at the time why he would say that about a "new"
piano.  We had just got a Baldwin Monarch Manualo that needed to be
restored.  When the sales man asked, "How do you like this new player
piano," Andy replied, I don't!  It's a piece of junk!"

Needless to say we did not buy the player.  But we did buy some QRS
and Play-Rite rolls for the Baldwin.  We went ahead and restored the
old Baldwin.  After it was all finished I could not believe the
difference in the two pianos.  The Aeolian was very harsh in the
tone, and had no power for a new piano.  On the other hand I could
not believe my ears, the older piano sounded three times better.
I will go as far as to say that it would have peeled the wallpaper
off the walls had there been any on them! :-)

This was 7 years ago, and if I were going to by a piano (like we really
need more) it would be the older ones, hands down.

The older Aeolian pianos were not too bad, but in the later years they
just seemed to go from bad to worst.  I guess in my opinion they took
the name Aeolian right down the tubes.

Chris Taylor