[cazmal]

A while ago I posted about Schimmel vs Steinway. I am still looking - off to Steinway's Sale in London on Friday. I also have an option on a Schimmel 169T from a local dealer for around 18k pounds. I have played a couple of Steinways - one new and one reconditioned and wasn't that comfortable with either.
In the meantime, I have had a call about a 1 year old Schimmel 169 priced at about 15k, for sale privately so no back-up. It does sound interesting but it is 130 miles away so not convenient for my tuner to look at prior to purchase. Would the remainder of the manufacturer's warranty be transferrable? What factors to I have to think about other than the obvious transport and setting up? What would you do?

[mdw]

The guarantee is covered by the retailer so check with them. The market for selling 2nd hand big grands is going to be almost zero at the moment ( compared to what it has been) so find out how desperate the 2nd hand owner is too sell. I would imagine they wont be able to sell it back to the supplying dealer without losing half their money at least. The only plus side the 2nd hand owner has is that there wont be many of them about up for sale at that age so they may look to find out how desperate YOU are to buy!!!
If I was spending 15 big ones I would make it worth my tuners time to travel 130 miles. I would imagine £250 plus fuel should cover it perhaps with a nice pub lunch thrown it to discuss the finer details whilst its fresh in his/her mind.