Dear Piano Lover, 

I'd like to introduce you to a piano you may not be familiar with.  But it's one that's winning over many loyal fans across the country who want more than just another piano. 

The Walter Piano Company is a small, family-owned enterprise in Elkhart, Indiana. Quiet and steadfast, they continue America’s long tradition of building high quality pianos.

Why "asking around" about the best brand of piano could steer you away from a real treasure

Just try "asking around" about pianos.  Chances are you'll hear a few of the same names over and over.  Why is this?

No doubt about it, Asia controls the US piano market. The mid-to-high quality range in particular is dominated by two large Japanese and Korean manufacturing companies.

The Japanese and Koreans make very good pianos, it's true.  But that’s not what keeps them at the top.

Asian piano companies have developed some of the savviest marketing practices in the world. Tactics like giving “free” instruments to schools to create brand loyalty amongst future teachers have let them build a monster reputation, as well as rake in the profits.

 But piano buyers who only consider one or two brands may be overlooking some real gems- lesser-known instruments all too often overlooked by a market trained to focus on the “big names” in the industry.  Some, like the Walter piano, made right here in our own backyard. 

Chances are, you have never heard of Charles Walter pianos. That’s because the Walters are expert at creating soundboards and scale designs, not marketing campaigns. Yet they continue to produce top-quality instruments that “wow” those players and technicians fortunate enough to discover them.

Experience the Charles Walter

Because I own a Charles Walter 1500 myself, I’d like to take a minute to share with you what I experience each time I sit down to play.

My Charles Walter piano is the first thing to greet my eyes when I walk into my living room. Its rich mahogany finish and gleaming keys never fail to invite me to drop what I’m doing and lose myself in music.

I love the velvet feel of the hand-rubbed solid hardwood as I lift the fallboard away from the keys.  And I always breathe a sigh of relief that my piano came with a fallboard which glides smoothly back out of the way with no danger of slamming little fingers. (The fancier console models come with an elegant Boston fall, also safe for children’s hands.)

But when I start to play…! Everything I know about the piano – the world-class Renner action and Delignet pinblock …the extra-long individually lead-weighted keys …the precision-crafted Sitka spruce soundboard… fades from my consciousness as the joy of creating music on such an exquisite instrument transports me to another level of being.

It’s hard to decide what's the best thing about owning my Charles Walter. Sometimes it’s the smooth action, consistent across the entire keyboard. Sometimes it’s the sweet, singing tone, or the way the whole house echoes with its music. Sometimes, it’s the pleasure of comfortably sharing the double-wide bench with my little daughter when we play duets together.

But above all...

Every time I sit down to play, I know that by choosing this instrument, I’ve remained true to my values and my pride in being American. 

The Big Little Piano

Founder and owner Charles R. Walter feels strongly about superior quality.  After all, It’s his name on the pianos, and he’s committed to using only the finest materials and workmanship to craft his instruments. (In fact, he insists that each piano be inspected and signed by a Walter family member before it leaves the factory – the “Signature of Quality!”)  And he's built some interesting features into his pianos to make them bigger than they look. 

Players appreciate the Walter’s big sound, especially in the verticals. Believe it or not, the strings in a little 44” Walter vertical measure up to 48.25 inches long. That’s as long as you will find in many 5’8” grands! Add that to the innovative grand-shaped soundboard and the added leverage of grand-sized keys, and you’ll understand why one satisfied Walter owner’s eyes widened and her voice hushed when she confided to me about her new console, “It’s just like having a grand in my [apartment] living room!”

Exquisite Tone and Appearance…

            Both Charles Walter grand and vertical pianos are hand built, with special attention to the hand-rubbed lacquer finish. You’ll never find flakeboard or chipboard in a Walter piano. The cabinets are made of five-ply lumbercore stock with face veneers of the highest quality walnut, cherry, white oak, and ribbon-stripe mahogany. And details such as solid hardwood moldings, and solid brass trim add to the class.

In fact, Charles Walter has refined the hand-crafted manufacturing process to such a degree that his instruments have earned the rare privilege of being represented and endorsed by Steinway Hall in Dallas.

…Yet Rugged as a Sherman Tank

            Despite its elegance, there’s nothing delicate about the construction of a Walter piano. Five extra-heavy (2 ½" x 3 ½") solid spruce backposts give rigid back construction. Both the console and studio pianos have back structures which exceed school specifications for studio pianos, so you know they’ll stand up to decades of heavy use, even in a church or school setting.

(Solid construction isn’t just for looks. Did you know that the strings on the average piano exert approximately 40,000 pounds of force? If you applied that kind of pressure to your house, it would implode!)

Tuners frequently comment on how easy the Walter is to tune and how it may be "supertuned" even across the break. And its rugged construction helps it hold its tune well.

“What More Could You Ask For?”

            When we got in our first shipment of Walter pianos, and before our other pianos arrived, we were concerned about having only one brand on our show floor. Our technician, who had once toured the factory and had just finished tuning half a dozen of the instruments, just looked at us and shrugged. “It’s a Walter,” she said simply. “What more could you ask for?”

Players and technicians around the country echo her sentiment. Here are just a few of the dozens of comments you can read on the Piano Forum at www.PianoWorld.com , an independent, non-commercial informational site for piano lovers:

Enjoy an Exquisite American Instrument You'll be Proud to Own!

Imagine playing a piano whose sweet tone and even touch reminded you at every measure that buying American was not only a great choice, but the right choice! Clearly, Charles R. Walter pianos have earned a sterling reputation amongst those “in the know.” Tone, action, quality of construction, exquisite cabinetry, reasonable cost, and the integrity and Christian values of the family business combine to make the Charles Walter truly a gem worth seeking out.

 Let a Great Piano Take You Places

            The time has never been better to shop for your very own Charles Walter vertical or grand piano. Why? Because Michelsen Music is closing out its piano division prior to moving next April, 2010.

We’re Offering Our Entire Stock of Pianos on Clearance -  First-Come-First-Serve!

But that's not all -

When you select your new Walter piano you'll also get a Lifetime Vacation Book -  valued at $15,000 - absolutely FREE!

  If the piano you choose is a grand, it will already come with a luxurious padded adjustable artist bench made right here in Wisconsin by Jansen & Son.  

And Listen to This!

You should also know that the Walter Piano Company backs each instrument with one of the best warranties in the industry:

ü      Every Walter piano is warrantied for 12 full years from date of purchase.

ü      The warranty covers both parts and labor.

ü      And, should you ever decide to sell your piano (which is unlikely, judging from the scarcity of used Walters on the market), you’ll be happy to know that the warranty is fully transferable to subsequent owners!

Now that’s something to smile about!

Don’t Miss This Opportunity !

            At these prices, we don’t expect our remaining Walters to stay on our show floor much longer.   You can ensure the best choice of one of these exquisite instruments for your church, school or home by giving us a call now at 1-888-355-0406.

            Remember that the prices listed include tuning and prep, and free delivery if you live within 100 miles of our store. (A small extra fee may apply on delivery outside this radius.)

            If you’d prefer to experience the Charles Walter piano first-hand, please call Michelsen Music toll free at 1-888-355-0406 and we’ll be happy to set you up with a private viewing at our Schofield, WI store (just south of Wausau). But make sure you call soon for the best selection. Once these remarkable pianos are gone, they’re gone. We’ll be filling up the space with racks of sheet music and other inventory.

            I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Musically yours,

Anne C. Michelsen

Vice President

Michelsen Music Repair & Supply

1699 Schofield Ave. Suite 304

Schofield , WI 54476

1-888-355-0406

www.MichelsenMusic.com

P. S.   Need a payment plan? No problem! We work with Allegro Acceptance, a financing company that specializes in keyboard instruments. Whether you’re an individual or a church customer, we’ll team up to find terms that work for you!

 Click to find out more about Charles Walter Vertcal Pianos, Charles Walter Grand Pianos or Perzina Pianos, or to see a selection of Our Available Pianos.