What Others are Saying

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Letters From Our Customers

...Many, many thanks for giving us the privilege of renting your beautiful piano fo our fundraising event last Thursday, May 6th, 2010. It added so much to our program. Naturally, our accompanist and singers were so glad and grateful to have such a beautiful instrument accompany them, especially Marcello Giordani, who was our honoree and who surprisingly graced us with an opera selection. We are deeply grateful fo your kind generosity, and if we can do anything in our way to show our appreciation, please let us know.
- Camille Coppola, Executive/Artistic Director, New Rochelle Opera, New Rochelle, NY

...Thank you so much for having my antique Shovenhut toy piano restored at a price I could afford. It looks lovely in the 'living room' of the armoire doll house and it sound charming. I had a bench made and look forward to draping a 'shawl' from son's old tie) across the top and then placing a tiny piano baby there, too. The Shoenhut has the place of honor in this mini-home! Again, many thanks

- Rona, Jackson, MS

....I just want to commend you on your wonderful [movers]. All three of them were polite, professional and wonderful....I just wanted to tell you that you are very fortunate to have such terrific employees. It was very hard for me to sell that piano. It was my mother's and she passed away last October. I am very happy that it is going to a wonderful company that will take great pride in its restoration. I gave Shane my business card and email address in hopes that he will send me a photo or two of the piano when you complete your work on it. Thanks again for your exceptional employees and a very nice experience under sad circumstances.
- Joanne P. Gregory, Cranston, RI

I just want to say how pleased I was with the piano move this past weekend. Your movers were incredibly careful and knowledgeable about moving my grand piano through some incredibly tight spaces. Everything went flawlessly. I was told by other movers that the piano would not fit up our stairs to the second floor, but you proved them wrong....please let the workers know how appreciative I was of their work. This has not been an easy year as I mentioned to you during our phone conversation, and it was nice to have this somewhat nerve-wracking task go smoothly. Thanks again.
- John Kupiec, Neighborhood Roots, Brooklyn, NY

Bravo! You are the most professional group of people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing since moving to New York. Linda, Andrew, Shane, and Joel--thank you from the bottom of my heart. Linda called me back "when she said she would." She had the most wonderful group of guys (very professional and pleasant) arrive right when she said they would. Andrew, Shane, and Joel orchestrated that move as if they done it a thousand times, which they probably have and it shows....Thank you again for solving my problem. These other guys had been working on it for two hours. It took you 20 minutes. You ARE The Best.
- May B., New York, NY

I am writing to thank you for the wonderful experience we had with your company today. We had a family piano (priceless in terms of emotional value) moved from Long Island to New York City, and the process was easier than we had ever dreamed it could be. We had originally scheduled our move with another company that had been recommended to us. After three weeks of anticipation, the week arrived and we found out the day before the scheduled move that the company had cancelled our appointment without notifying us....After doing some regional searching, we came upon your company and called to inquire. Kaoru was as pleasant as could be and said she'd try to fit us into an already crammed schedule....The movers were friendly, careful, and efficient--all we could ask for.
- Stacey & Ron I., New York, NY

Your staff did a wonderful job moving the Grotrian upright up a narrow flight 7 steps. The job was so difficult I thought about leaving the piano on the ground floor at one point.
- J. David R., New York, NY

I'm writing to express my deep thanks and appreciation for the restoration you did on my Steinway. Having spent the last 20 years at the Plaza Hotel left it something of a faded dowager--a fine instrument to be sure, but in need of serious care and rehabilitation. When it was delivered to my house a few weeks ago it was tempting to think you have replaced mine with a brand new piano. As you said, it looks better than when it was new. Not only is the new finish clear and lustrous, but all the piano's hidden nooks and crannies were treated no less importantly than the lid or the music stand. You and your craftspeople are truly artists at what you do. Do I even need to comment on the sound? it is nothing short of magnificent. I would also like to commend the entire staff at the store on 58th Street. All my e-mails and phone calls were returned promptly and I was given all the information I requested. Both moving crews I dealt with were professional and thoughtful. Knowing this was probably a once-in-a- lifetime experience for me, I could not be happier that it was Beethoven Pianos who did the work.
- Tom J., New York, NY

I think my piano technician fell in love with you when he tuned my piano several weeks ago. He had been highly recommended by our local dealer in Poughkeepsie, who had been for decades a Mason & Hamlin dealer, and whose own home instrument is a Mason & Hamlin BB. According to my piano tuner, the dealer...was totally unprepared to hear in my BB the equal of [his own] magnificent instrument. He added that in his experience, no more than one in a hundred instruments are ever so painstakingly reconditioned. He made me feel good and I think you should too.
- Jay B., Hopewell Junction, NY

I have been improvising on my beautiful Kroeger upright (even before it gets tuned) thanks to you and your amazing assemblage of gifted, caring movers of music. From Renan's expert "move with me brother" calls and sheer dynamo energy, Lashon's promise you all would make it happen, Jonas's steady support and Stephen's putting the piano back together, to your acrobatic maneuverings on the railings, it was quite an unforgettable experience....Thank you are hardly the words to convey my deep gratitude for your generosity and concern that this piano that's been with me for half my life, came with me for the rest of my life.
- Janet L., East Stroudsburg, PA

Thank you for such superb work. Your staff and workmanship are one of a kind.
- James Goins, Administrator, Columbia University / Barnard College Hillel

Newspapers and Magazines

If it's Steinways, not synths, that you're after, try Beethoven Pianos (232 West 58th Street; 765-7300), a stable of more than 500 instruments, from $1,500 uprights to $100,000 Bösendorfer grands. All of the pianos are expertly serviced -- this is where Leonard Bernstein had his beloved Steinway overhauled -- and the staff is composed of accomplished (some Juilliard-trained) musicians. Beethoven's vast showroom is austere, but there's no need to be shy: "We'll have people come in and try a piano ten times before they decide if they want it," says P.R. director Celina Gray. "And that's perfectly fine with us."
- New York Magazine

On the Web

Beethoven Pianos specializes in rebuilding/restoration of just about everything and anything from Knabe and Steinway to doing some interesting custom case work in the restoration, as well as some new European piano sales. Restorations generally include new soundboards, and there was an interesting array of choices including a recently restored D Steinway concert grand.
- Paula & Gale Bullock

....I want to state here on this public forum that Carl Demler of Beethoven Pianos is a true mensch, and that anyone having any doubts about buying from him for any reason, whatsoever, should feel complete confidence in purchasing from him. He has gone far beyond beyond the call of duty in making certain that I am happy with my piano, and he is obviously someone who care more about the heart and soul of music and musicians than just about the bottom line. The tech he flew out to fix my piano was fantastic. He spent twelve hours at my house (not all of it spent working--we also ate as well, and had some great conversations), he very quickly assessed the problems and addressed them in stages, and when it came to to voice the piano he interviewed me to understand what I was looking for, and he "got" it and produced it....I think anyone here who is shopping in the New York area should take a close look at what Beethoven's has to offer....I think my fellow piano shoppers will get good deals there, that are backed up by the owner.
- "Pique", Piano World Forum Member

....I covered the New York City piano scene meticulously I think, while not coveting things that I could not possibly afford. My vote, and much of my year-end bonus, goes to Carl Demler at Beethoven Piano, and a 48" Grotrian upright. Yes, I was initially most impressed with a 52" Ronisch at this dealer, and the Ronisch remains a fine piano that someone else will buy for a real bargain in a big upright. But the Grotrian ultimately won me over, in part because of the weird, almost supernatural sustain, which began to haunt my dreams. (No doubt that after visiting at least 8 area dealers, I preferred to buy from Carl if I could, given the pianos that he has, and also the man himself. What a pleasure to do this deal in his store. I'd like to eventually trade up to any of MANY pianos in his stock: I think he's New York City's best dealer, but your mileage may vary.)....Doing business with Carl is a real pleasure.
- "Bootsy", Piano World Forum Member

The upstairs at Beethoven's contains a lot of very interesting pianos, many with fascinating stories. [A Grotrian-Steinweg Parlor Grand] has a story concerning it too. It used to belong to the famous wife of the Philippine dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. That's right, this piano at one time belonged to Imelda Marcos....Standing next to this nice little piano is the owner of Beethoven Pianos, Carl Demler...our host on this tour. We swapped Marcos stories....For those who may not know the significance, Grotrian was the original other half of Steinway. They have made pianos in Branschweig, Germany for as long as Steinway has made pianos in New York....
- A Pianist's Diary