Challen Evans Miniature Upright grand

[mattbod]

Hi, I have owned the above piano for over 20 yars now and don't know an awful lot about it. It is of an unusual design and looks like a bureau desk when the lid is down. I would like to know roughly how old it is. All it has on the piano is the Challen name, and Eades Sunderland in the right hand corner. I only paid 400 pounds for it. It sounds o.k. but the action is getting baggy now and I am thinking of replacing it. Apparently the piano has not got that good a name and several tuners have been a bit sniffy about it. Havng said that I had the "privilege" of playing a new Challen baby grand by the Pearl River Company of China and it was shockingly bad. My 400 pound oldie sounds much better in my opinion. Finally, what is a good affordable alternative to replace the Challen? Please don't say Waldstein, they come from that Chinese factory that made the "Challen" grand.

[Bill Kibby]

I certainly agree about Pearl River, unless they have improved greatly in recent years. Why do you describe this as an "upright grand"? If it's a burea style of case, it must be fairly small mustn't it? I don't get involved in arguments about what is a good one to replace it, this is very much a matter of personal taste, you have to hear it and play it yourself.

[mattbod]

Hallo,

This is what it is called. It also says on the left hand of the keydesk that it is an Evans minature upright grand piano! Don't know much else about it.

As far as replacements, I have considered a Kemble/Yamaha or maybe a Kawai.

[Bill Kibby]

Yes, it's a bit of a mouthful, but although the designer was Evans, the word "Miniature" is probably the most important. I don't know much about these, but there are plenty around.