Cool article. Much better than the real estate ones it is modeled on (which apartment would you choose? Which one did the buyer choose? And then they reveal some critical piece of info in the answer that they neglected to mention higher up--like the basement was flooded.)
I have played several Centennial Ds, rebuilt by friends (Tali Mahanor is one) and they are a better piano for chamber music than the modern Ds, which are built for a big concert hall. They are a prized piano among technician-rebuilders, and the bidding on them is fierce when they come up for auction. I don't find their action heavy, but they are kind of "thuddy" compared to modern pianos, and that may create the impression of heaviness. In any event, the museum should get the newest piano it can, because they don't improve with age.
It was cool to see a mention of Tippet Rise, in Montana, which I plan to visit this summer. Unfortunately neither Mr. Pique nor I won the ticket lottery this time, but we can go hiking there and hope for a sale of last minute concert tickets.
Also cool to see Tali mentioned. She is an incredibly creative technician, and the idea of being able to swap out actions at will is kind of a great idea.
I agree the Hamburg sounds best, at least on my tablet speakers. It's a very different scale design than the New York Steinway, and I personally much prefer it--it's a lot like my piano.
