are WH Barnes pianos and Cramer pianos good???

[Barrie Heaton]

The Cramer would have been better made than the Barnes. However, the Barnes. could be in better condition than the Cramer depends on how well they have been cared for. I would get a tuner to look at the pianos

Barrie,

[Gill the Piano]

To be brutal about it, a tall piano with long strings is far better than a short fat one with short fat strings. And a baby grand is only a short fat piano lying down... If you're serious about your music studies, you'd be far better off putting your money towards a good - preferably modern - workhorse of an upright (like a Yamaha - or Kawai, she added hastily, in case anyone gets upset... ) which will take whatever you care to throw at it. You'll get a better tone, particularly in the bass. Older small English grands often have Simplex actions, which are discussed elsewhere on this forum, and can give problems.
Most baby grands cost from fifteen hundred quid (round here), and that's for an elderly tired one! You could get a decent upright for that. Also, if you get a place of your own one day, it's far easier to house an upright than a grand.
You can always get the Bosendorfer Imperial (9'6" long) when you're a millionaire...