There are humidification systems that attach directly beneath the piano to help- not a complete solution but doesn't require that you turn your room into a jungle climate. I had a couple of old concert grands- a Bosendorfer and an Erard. They sounded gorgeous when "voiced" but after a few weeks, started to sound sour. I got somebody who really knew pianos in NYC to come up to look at it. He used to do a very famous conductor's piano set up and tuning. He hemmed, he hawed, he looked, and then said with a thick European accent, "just buy a Steinway." :)
Some of the vintage pianos are great; there was a shop near where I lived at one point where I just happened on a door in an industrial facility and there were countless pianos, almost all big grands, in rows, being torn down, rebuilt, etc. I happened on a place that was well regarded for restoration of these instruments. Never did get any of mine restored, and eventually sold them.
Some of the vintage pianos are great; there was a shop near where I lived at one point where I just happened on a door in an industrial facility and there were countless pianos, almost all big grands, in rows, being torn down, rebuilt, etc. I happened on a place that was well regarded for restoration of these instruments. Never did get any of mine restored, and eventually sold them.