Baldwin - Acoustic Grand and Upright Pianos

In 1862, Dwight Hamilton Baldwin, a music teacher in Cincinatti opened a Decker piano dealership. In 1873, D.H. Baldwin and Company became the largest piano dealership in the Midwest United States. In 1889, they vowed to “create the best piano ever built” and began building their own instruments in store. Their first upright piano was released in 1891, and their first grand piano released in 1895, and since then have become world leaders in fine piano building, competing with Steinway, Yamaha, Mason & Hamlin and others. Baldwin produces their Artist Grands, instruments of distinction and excellence at their Trumann, Arkansas factory. The Baldwin company also owns production facilities in countries outside the USA, where they they control the production of high-quality imported instruments bearing their name. Visit the Baldwin website.

Wm. Knabe - Acoustic Grand and Upright Pianos

The Wm. Knabe company got its start in 1835, when William Knabe formed his own business, buying, selling, and repairing used pianos from inside his home. Mr. Knabe partnered with Henry Gaehle to form the piano company Knabe & Gaehle, the beginning of their storied history. Together, they and their company built high-quality grands, uprights, and squares at a small factory in Baltimore, and did quite well competing with larger, more established American manufacturers. As time went on in the 19th century, Knabe grew to become one of the most highly respected piano brands among consumers and professionals alike. With the opening of Carnegie Hall in 1891, Knabe sponsored Tchaikovsky’s conducting appearance for the official opening. In 1926, Knabe became the official piano of the New York Metropolitan Opera. To this day, Knabe produces some of the finest import instruments available, instruments that are handcrafted, each with their own personality, not a single one sounding the same as any other. Exceptional, elegant, and extraordinary; the three adjectives that describe Wm. Knabe instruments. Visit the Knabe website.

Pramberger - Acoustic Grand and Upright Pianos

The Pramberger company is one of the newest piano companies in existence, but with a lineage that goes back farther than many. In 1779, Joseph Johann Pramberger is born in Tyrol, Austria. Joseph, his son, and others in their family produced fine pianos winning awards and merits throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1909 Anton Pramberger is born, and in 1950 he and his family immigrated to New York and began working at Steinway & Sons. His son, Joseph Pramberger Jr. began working at Steinway & Sons in 1958, and left the company in 1987 to create Pramberger Pianos Ltd. The Pramberger company produces fine import instruments that are also extremely well-priced and noted for their excellent clear tone. Visit the Pramberger website.

Roland - Digital Pianos, Keyboards, and Atelier Organs

Roland was founded in 1972 by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka, Japan, and his company produces some of the finest and most world-renowned electronic musical instruments available. The company had its origins when Mr. Kakehashi founded Ace Electronic Industries in 1960, a manufacturer of combo organs, guitar amplifiers, and effects pedals. He was also contracted by Hammond to produce rhythm machines for their line of home organs. In 1973, a year after founding Roland, he moved on from his positions at those two companies. Over the years, Roland has pioneered the creation of many electronic musical instruments, having created a number of new technologies for sound production on synthesizers and keyboards. Today, they produce the most technologically advanced keyboard instruments. From stage pianos and keyboard instruments for touring musicians, down to the V-Piano, the “digital grand” with no tonal equal, they have the full gamut of keyboard instruments cornered. Visit the Roland website.

Rodgers - Digital Classical Organs

The Rodgers Organ Company was started in 1958, when the Tektronix company invited its employees to come up with new products. Rodgers Jenkins and Fred Tinker presented a plan to make classical organs, but it was soon dismissed by the board. Even in spite of this, they got up and going, and produced their first organ just a year later. Seven years later in 1966, they produced a touring organ for virtuoso organist Virgil Fox. Ever since then, they have been innovating and on the forefront of digital organ technology. In the most recent years they’ve had the assistance of Roland, who purchased Rodgers in 1988.