The Piano Centre's Venables & Son Academy-180 review

Our new Academy grands feature polished birdseye maple inner rim, custom profile Abel hammers (walnut mouldings, underfelted, AA-Wurzen felt), Roslau piano wire, British Hainsworth keyboard cloth and felt, real wood sharps (keytops), premium solid quarter sawn spruce 'Kölbl Austrian tonewood' soundboard, full duplex scaling and tone collectors.

These are high specification instruments with a warm, lyrical voice. The bass is warm and fundamental, tenor is dark and rounded, and the treble sings with a delicate bell-like clarity. Venables & Son pianos share these characteristics, ideally suited to those wanting a piano for a more intimate environment, chamber-work or vocal accompaniment.

The World's finest German 'Abel' solid Walnut, underfelted, pear-shaped hammers feature the very best 'AA Wurzen' felt.

The European-beech capped vertically laminated (maple) bridge is engineered to provide the most efficient and consistent conduction of string resonance to the soundboard, whilst achieving a rounded, sonorous tone.

Specifications

• Elegant Contrasting Polished Bird-Eye Maple finished Inner Rim
• Bevelled Edge on Top Lid
• Elegant Tapered Legs with Spade Feet and Premium Solid Brass Castors
• Fully Adjustable Music Desk
• Attractive solid brass pedal surround
• Soft Close Fallboard (keyboard lid)
• Wide-tail design (maximises string length and soundboard area for a fuller bass register)
• Full Duplex Scaling
• Tapered Premium 'Kölbl Austrian tonewood' Solid Spruce Soundboard
• Highly responsive traditional-designed action (no plastic parts)
• British Hainsworth Keyboard Felt and Cloth
• Premium 'Helmut Abel' solid walnut, underfelted, pear-shaped hammers with AA Wurzen felt
• Solid European-beech capped, vertically-laminated (maple) bridge
• Precisely Balanced, Medium-Weighted Solid Spruce Keys
• Solid beech key inserts at balance point, improves feel and extends key durability
• Quality Assured: Global Standard ISO9001:2000 Certification
• Intelligent Scaling with Precision CNC Milled and Drilled Wet Sand Cast Iron Frame

Included Services and Accessories

• Comprehensive bespoke preparation
• Konzert Piano Stool (deep buttoned leather seat, adjustable)
• 5 Year Guarantee