During the pandemic, I decided I’d use the time at home to learn how to play the piano. I didn’t have any real goal other than to learn a new skill and be creative. Now I’m hooked. So I took the plunge and decided to buy a baby grand piano. I found R. Kassman and was able to book a private showing at their beautiful Berkeley piano store. Got a great price for a gorgeous baby grand piano. Best decision I’ve made in a long time.

Purchased a fantastic piano (Steingraeber) there -- the entire experience was very professional and delightful! They know what a high-quality piano means there. Highly recommended.

I am at loss for words and that never happens. All I can say is that R. Kassman’s piano store in Berkeley is now my favorite place to visit and purchase both new and used pianos. Some people think you have to have a ton of space to have/collect keyboards and pianos. Simply isn’t the case. There is something for everyone. I encourage anyone that loves pianos but hasn’t yet purchased one to take the leap. R. Kassman piano store has an awesome selection and they are super helpful and knowledgeable.

This is where you want to go to buy a piano! Rick showed us a number of options for the upright piano that we were looking for. Rick is knowledgable about how each piano is constructed and why it sounds the way it does. The variety of choices together with the education made it easy to select the upright that sounded best for the intended purpose: a Baldwin. In all the service is professional and friendly, the piano offering is extensive and the price is right.

Heres another Steingraeber fan.I bought Steingraeber piano from the R..As described by another customer. Kassman pianos is a shop that sells pianos. I havent been this enthusiastic about an investment in along time. The feeling is incredible as soon as you work into the showroom . In my grand home, the piano is completely stunning. I couldnt be happier with the level of service and inventory.👍

Russell Kassman sold me a piano that was 8 years old and told me it is new! While the piano had no factory warranty, he told me it has a 10-year factory warranty.I went to his store on Jan 19 with my pianist cousin to buy a piano for my 30th Birthday! He imposed time constraints on us, to rush our discussion making process. We liked a Brodmann PE-121 piano. He told us it is new and it has a 10 year Brodmann warranty. He did not let us take any photo of its serial number with some weird reasoning. This should have alarmed me that he is not being transparent and lying about something, but I thought as he mentioned he is retiring soon, why would he lie as much as he did! We decided to buy it, he told us there is %3 extra credit/debit card charging, so I told him I will bring him the check, he said I need an appointment for bringing the check! At this point I decided to leave, he got scared and said I could mail the check to him. I signed the contract, not realizing he has not put 10 years Brodmann warranty in the paperwork. After I signed the contract and gave him $50 deposit, I took a photo of the serial number(attached)! As I did not like his manner, I started to read his terrible overall reviews(especially on yelp with 89 people 1 star, image attached). I contacted Brodmann and I figured the piano was 8 years old Before Brodmann 10 year warranty policy was made! I emailed him asking for an explanation, he never responded. He has not yet refunded my $50, he ruined my 30th Birthday Gift and he wasted my Time!Russell is a lier that would do anything to steal your money and he feels no guilt for his shameful behaviors.

Really So thrilled to find out that this piano store is under new ownership. The new owners are awesome. Not sure what the other reviews are all about. ‘Tis true you used to have to make an appointment when the piano store was managed by the former owner, but not anymore. I moonlight by giving piano and guitar lessons to young adults in the area and always recommend that they go visit R. Kassman. They own the most beautiful piano store in Berkeley with such a well-maintained inventory of grand pianos. thanks

The staff is very friendly and nice. We went there for recording and enjoyed the space a lot.

The new owner Ric Overton is a class act. Truly pleased with my last experience at R. Kassman piano store. A sense of nostalgia washed over me and I spent a good hour just chatting about pianos and playing a couple of them. I’ll be returning just to say hello. Plus I already have my eyes set on one piano that I plan on buying in the Spring. Great place, awesome pianos, stellar staff.

I went to the ski shop next door for renting. Just out of curiosity, I wanted to walk around this piano store and see if any set is good for my kids. The owner, a cold and rude person, stopped me in the middle of the store and told me that the visiting is only by appointment. What the hell? This is a place for selling music instrument and making people love music. My kids were with me on the spot. We were so shocked. Besides the environment inside is quite dark and gloomy.

I recently got in the market for an upright and my piano technician recommended I check out Kassman Pianos as they had recently changed ownership. I couldnt have been happier with my experience in the store.I walked in and was greeted by Ric who helped me the entire time I was there. You can immediately tell that Ric is very passionate and knowledgeable about his pianos, and I learned a ton about the piano I ended up purchasing just in the half hour that I was in the store. I was a little nervous to play in front of anyone as I hadnt played much in quite a while, but he gave me plenty of space and time to just sit and play so I could get a good sense of which pianos felt right for me.I was also a bit anxious about getting the piano into my apartment since I dont have a big elevator and the staircase is a bit weird, but Ric talked me through what the process would look like for the movers and what we could do if it ended up more difficult than anticipated.Overall I had a great experience working with Ric. If you are in the market for a piano, you should definitely check this place out.

I was driving by and saw bright SALE signs all over the front windows of this store. Having never been to this piano store before, I decided to stop in and see what they had to offer. What a horrible mistake.The owner was extremely condescending. The entire store had an unwelcoming atmosphere. The owner told me I only had a couple minutes to look around because another customer was coming in soon who had an appointment. You really should make an appointment, the owner told me. Well, I didnt know. May I just look around for a couple minutes? I ask. The owner says yes, and then follows me like a hawk throughout the store. Ive never felt so uncomfortable before. It seemed as though the owner thought I was about to steal a piano by putting it in my pocket and running out the door.Needless to say, I did not even attempt to TOUCH a piano.There are no prices written anywhere, and the owner does not give a straight answer when asking about cost.If you need to buy a piano, Id recommend DC Piano or Piedmont Piano which are both nearby and have much more helpful and transparent service.

I was rather shocked to read the negative reviews about Mr. Kassman and his store! We had a completely opposite experience there - a Very, Very good one. We went there looking for a piano for our son. While we were there, Russel took great care to listen to us (as parents) about what we were looking for - - and he also took great care in trying to understand exactly the sounds our son was looking for in a piano. He allowed our son to play all the instruments he wanted, comparing and contrasting, and offering intelligent and helpful information about each one. In the end, we purchased a lovely instrument that also looks beautiful in our home. Delivery was flawless. We enjoyed our piano buying experience greatly. Thanks, Russell!!

Rude behavior. I called asking about where to find a person to repair chips on the lacquer. When I mentioned it was a Yamaha grand, I was told to call Yamaha. When I asked why since there seems to many people around the Bay Area offering piano restoration, I was told because they are difficult and then they abruptly hung up. I guess I wont be buying my next piano from them. Arrogant!It is unfortunate that their response to my review was to say that I was told that their service department informed me that they only service the pianos they sell. Had I been told that, I would have said thank you and good day. No one explained, just hung up in a huff. Now its my word against theirs. Of course the customer is not always right but in this case I stand by my review.I called another piano store and got a much better response even though they also do not service third-party pianos. They will definitely be on my list of places to visit when its time for a new purchase.

I recommend this place to anyone that is looking for a high quality piano and a high quality experience!The pianos in the showroom just shine and beg to be played. We walked around the store as he explain the different types and brands to us. I sat down and tried several out.Knowing our budget, Russell took us around to the more modestly priced pianos. We found the perfect piano. It was delivered quickly to our house the next day.Russell knows his pianos and was a joy to work with!

Im new to the Piano world as my daughter just started taking her lessons seriously. So much that my husband and I knew that we had to break down and buy our daughter a piano. R. Kassman piano store came highly recommended by our daughters teacher so we went there in hopes of finding a good quality piano that my daughter could one day take to her own home

I expect only the best when I visit R. Kassman Fine Pianos. Ive visited a few times over the years, and their selection is always exceedingly beautiful. Their variety of fine instruments is impressive, and I bought my piano for my new home here with confidence. They also tune and maintain my piano. Their service is great and their employees have a great level of knowledge and training. Im always thrilled to be greeted by name when I visit. The staff is respectful and always quite helpful too.

Absolutely awful experience. Went in and had a very rude person who essentially made us feel like we should be looking somewhere else. Its taken a while to decide to make a move on a baby grand purchase and I have to say this is one place I will NEVER go back again! Whether youre spending $ 5000 or $ 50000 I think there should be some measure of time and politeness that clearly this sales person lacked.. I hardly write reviews especially when I dont like a business but here I felt so upset after I left that I was to compelled to write one.

My husband and I were looking for a piano for our new home and stopped at R Kassman Pianos and were treated with respect and kindness. Russell, the owner, let us walk around and play a few different pianos to hear the sound and even played us some beautiful pieces on other pianos. He was patient and informative. We were very happy with our experience in the store and ended up buying a beautiful piano that has a gorgeous sound. I would highly recommend R Kassman Pianos to all my friends

Russell is a great guy.After doing several months of research, I knew I wanted a Baldwin baby grand. Which Baldwin, I didnt know. I called R Kassman in Berkeley and the owner immediately gave me a great price on one of the models over the phone. They were very patient with me and took the time to answer all my questions. As another reviewer mentioned, the owner had a great amount of knowledge about pianos and about the piano community in the Bay Area. There were no sales tactics! I appreciated that.I walked in later that week, played all three models, wrote them a check and within days a gorgeous piano arrived at my doorstep.Ive been recommending R Kassman to my friends and have heard that theyve all had good experiences. Give them a call yourself.

I was so impressed with the selection of pianos and the proprietor Russell Kassman, that I bought my piano there! This was after playing numerous pianos in Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Jose, not to mention my area along the central coast. Buying a piano is not an easy decision. Many factors go into this decision. I had a decent budget and spent it on a wonderful preowned piano. Without Russells help, Im not sure I would have picked the right one. I thought his approach was thoughtful and intelligently presented. I really was impressed with myself...yes myself! I thought it would be much more difficult. I kept listening to the 4 pianos he played for me within my parameters. He kept me at a distance so I wouldnt know which piano he had played. I repeatedly chose one of them. After listening I sat at each one and played them myself. Time flew by, but I suspect it took me nearly 2 hours to arrive at my decision. He even tried to talk me out of the piano I selected, but the twinkle in his eye made me persist. I knew he was doing this for a reason. His theory was that if you are not challenged by looking at potential negatives that he might point out, you may never be happy with your choice.I am not only happy but thrilled, sometimes to tears, each time I play this piano. I would also like to point out that his guarantee is the best I had seen. There are also a few other perks I havent mentioned due to space and time constraints.Within a few days it arrived at home. The movers were really good and knew what they were doing. Once they left I played for hours! It was just what I wanted. I had made the right choice. I cant recommend this Purveyor of Fine Pianos enough.Thanks Russell.

Russell was very kind and patient with me and my child. He even put us in contact with an excellent teacher to help continue my child’s musical education.

Russell was very helpful the last time I visited the Bay Area. He stayed late to help me find the perfect piano. When I purchase we will definitely be in touch.Thank you Russell for staying late to assist us.

I had purchased several pianos from Mr. Kassman’s store for 40 years and think highly of his knowledge of the instrument, integrity and friendliness. He always backed his sales with service and helpfulness.

We had a great experience here. Russell Kassman took a lot of time helping us find a piano for our son. Hes something of a character and a shrewd businessman, but also very reasonable. We got a fair price on a great piano which everyone from the tuner to the piano teacher has raved about. Im sorry hes had such trouble with yelp because his business deserves at least a good look - the selection is fabulous and Russell is very knowledgable and easy to deal with.

Store is located near a recycling center. Bad neriberhood. Scary experience for ladies! Owner is super rude made customers feel like an intruder who broke into his living room.1, When I put my hands on one of the pianos, He screams: Do not touch!2, When I told him my budget is 5-7k, he told me get out of my shop.3, When I ask him whats the cheapest price on one of his piano since there were no price tag. He insults my race and told me to stop bargain, stop playing games.4, He also insults/bad mouth on another piano seller.5, He unloads on me about his personal health information, he said he had cancer and he has no time for me......I felt he needed anger management class, and the cancer could come from the inner stress cause by his impulsive, aggressive personality.

I called R. Kassman on a Sunday afternoon to see if I could come by and start exploring grand pianos, wanting to upgrade from my old upright. From the moment I stepped in the door, Russell was extremely helpful and attentive. We spent probably 15 minutes talking, during which he was asking a number of questions, trying to understand my situation, needs / desires, and budget. He made some suggestions on how best to audition different instruments, and while I was trying a number of them out, he shared his vast knowledge about them – the build, component quality, and so on – which was very helpful information to add to the experiential aspect of playing the instruments.Once I settled on an instrument and we came to an agreement, he was extremely professional and responsive throughout the process – from the transaction through delivery. He even welcomed me to go back and play the instrument for a couple of hours in the showroom to get a better feel for the instrument and how I might want it voiced.I am extremely happy – not just with my instrument, but with the overall experience. As a piano technician himself, Russell is knows pianos through and through, and is infinitely more than “just a salesman”. He was more of a Matchmaker – passionately seeking to help me find the right piano for my abilities, setting, and ultimately, my long-term enjoyment.In addition - what sets a great piano dealer apart is the way in which they go the extra mile beyond the transaction, being there for post-transaction guidance and services to help you get the most enjoyment out of your instrument. Russell has been a champ in this regard.Anyone in the Bay Area who is looking for a top quality piano (Russell’s inventory is second to none) with an extraordinarily knowledgeable guide, must put R.Kassmann on their list.

I grew up with a love for Classic Pianos and have always had one in my home. I just purchased a new home and was in the market for a piano. I visited R Kassman Purveyor of Fine Pianos and was very impressed with the quality of the pianos and the customer service. From the time I stepped in the store, I was amazed at the selection of excellent instruments, as well as the condition that every piano was in. Everyone was very attentitive to my needs and took the time and effort to bring out the individual beauty and character of the pianos. The staff was helpful and knowledgeable and did everything they could do to ensure that I was comfortable during my selection process. At the end of my visit I felt confident that I made the right choice.

Great place to purchase a piano. R Kassman provided my player baby grand and even advised on care and the how to in transport to my Hacienda in Mexico when we transferred it there. He has been my purveyor and recommendation to friends of high end pianos for decades. He is by appointment only providing an exceptional level of service to the potential buyer unlike the typical public showroom experience. If you are serious about an instrument that is a legacy piece then R Kassman Pianos is the only place to purchase.

Very helpful, these are true piano aficionados. Check out this store when you want the best. Beautiful selection here.

Russell Kassman has an outstanding depth of knowledge of piano instruments. His name is such legend in the symphony scene that I knew that I had to set an appointment and come to this location to see for myself. Upon meeting Russell in person I could understand how valuable his expertise was. I left the store with a greater idea of what it means to be a pianist and of all of the prestige of the profession.If you are considering the purchase of a new piano, I absolutely recommend that you reach out to Kassman and set an appointment with him.

I can only say great things about R Kassman pianos. Piano knowledge, selection, pricing and professionalism, all 5-stars. They are a must visit for anyone looking for a piano in the Bay Area.

Finally a Bay Area piano store that has what I need! R. Kassman couldnt have been more knowledgable and helpful. Its nice to know that people still pay attention to quality and craftsmanship. I felt like my piano was in good hands at R. Kassmans piano store. Their staff got my piano sounding and feeling brand new. I wish I could give them more than 5 stars.

Ive been using Russell Kassmans repair service for years and visited the showroom for the first time recently when looking for a piano for my nieces 16th birthday. Ive had nothing but good experiences getting my piano tuned and repaired, and now that I have been to the showroom and made my first order there, I can also say that the showroom and staff are outstanding. They are extremely knowledgeable, the service is wonderful, and they really make sure that the instrument is delivered exactly as it should be. My niece loves her new piano. I wish I hadnt waited so long to stop in!

Upon meeting Russell in person I could understand how valuable his expertise was.

R. Kassman is a true professional. He kept his word every step of the way and he has gone out of his way to make purchasing my second grand piano a pleasure. Can not say enough good things about how I was treated by this fine piano company.Thank You Again Russell for my beautiful piano. Looking forward to upgrading in the near future.Gabriel AntunesMeadow Vista Ca

I bought a fine piano from here, came with a free tuning, and later a cover. There is also an excellent portrait of Beethoven on the wall.

​If you would like to stop by, do make an APPOINTMENT! My husband and I stepped into the store without an appointment and although it caught Mr. Kassman off guard, he showed us around. Seeing as how the pianos were all closed and nicely displayed, I knew that I perhaps should not touch them unless invited. He is very direct and passionate about pianos. I was quickly humbled when he educated us on their mechanisms, sound, and their history. I have shopped around other piano stores before and was disappointed that no other piano store was able to offer me as much background information as Mr. Kassman. It was a really huge selling point to me because I knew this man knew what he was talking about. (I had politely exited a piano store or two because I could not trust the knowledge of the sales person.)

I’m writing this with the hope that no one else will ever again fall VICTIM of Mr. Russell Kassman, the store owner/salesman’s terrible temperament, his bias and insults, and his coercive and manipulative selling tactics.He runs the place like a cemetery. He is knowledgeable and has a creepy passion for his pianos, but for certain customers, he has very little patience (except the moment before you hand him your money), and NO respect, and tons of INSULTS. His prices are ridiculously HIGH,You will be talked down and kicked out at any time if you have a low budget. “Well, there is nothing else here for you.” For those who are paying $40K or above, he would act like your pet dog.You will be humiliated and shamed if you are new to the piano/music World. One of your questions might disgust him immediately, and he will insult you and make you feel that you are stupid, and not worth of being educated and explained. He gets aggravated if you disagree with him on anything he says.You will be yelled at if you missed what he said and asked again. “What did I just say? What’s your problem listening?”Be prepared to be scolded if you touch anything in this ‘cemetery’ without his special permission. ”Dont touch!! STOP!”.He tricked me that there was a Baldwin promotion that ended two weeks ago but he can “TRY” to get me the same ‘discount’ if he can backdate, and IF I can pay CASH. Then when I gave him $100 cash as deposit, he asked for my credit card. I must have been be under an evil spell at that moment, when I signed an ALL SALES FINAL purchase contract. (Watch out!!!)The next day I couldn’t get that memory of insult and humiliation out of my mind. I recognized I was a victim. Then a day later I learned this “promotion price’ was $1,400 (25%) HIGHER than elsewhere. What services one can put in a NEW piano that would worth that much?!?! You will be dealing with a sneaky and ruthless bloodsucker with NO care for his customers.I hope no one will make the same mistake I did. Do not let him step all over you, especially if you are Asian. See complaint filed at BBB, Better Business Bureau. You will not get your deposit back easily either.DO NOT WALK INTO THIS place at all, unless there are no other places where you can find what you want.

We phoned in and made an appt with Mr. Kassman and glad he is someone who is externally knowledgeable on the subject. After sitting you down to do a needs analysis he showed us the best pianos for our needs and we fell in love with one.

My daughter and I have been searching for a piano for over 6 months when we visited Russells store last month and it was an eye-opening experience. Russell was the first person who gave us a real education on the different brands/models out there and let us try a dozen different pianos multiple times until we settled on the one that really felt like the one that was right for us. The entire time Russell was listening to what we really wanted, was very honest and knowledgable with regards to brands, their history, technology, etc and remained pleasant and professional, working with us for more than an hour after the store had closed. He followed through the entire process until after delivery. You can tell he has a strong passion for quality pianos and really cares about delivering a quality product to his customers. We are extremely happy with our purchase and felt we were offered a very good price. Highly recommend R. Kassman Pianos as we experienced dozens of piano salesman during our search and Russell definitely stood out above the rest of them without that typical used car salesman approach.

The people at this store are rude as hell! I was talking to a guy who told me his name is Jerry at the store and he was literally trying to pick a fight with me, a potential paying customer.I was later told that his real name is Russell and he has a well known reputation on Yelp as being an obnoxious and Jerk. Its not surprise that out of the 75 reviews they have received on Yelp, 53 of them are ONE STAR!They deserve to fail or get into all kinds of troubles. God damn this store!

Several months ago, I wandered into R. Kassmans store and fell in love with a lovely upright piano by the entrance. It was on sale for an amazing price, and it had an extraordinary tone. I wandered around the store looking at the huge selection. Im not a musician, nor am I knowledgeable about pianos, but Mr. Kassman was extraordinarily gracious and took the time to answer all my questions, though I was obviously just looking around, and not likely to buy. When he told me the sale price of the beautiful upright, however, I began to consider it seriously. Hes actually a wonderful musician, and played a little to show off the lovely warm tone of the instrument. A piano teacher I know then visited the store to look at the piano for me, and had a long and lovely conversation with Mr. Kassman. She advised me to buy it, because it was a wonderful piano at an amazing price. She also played one of the grand pianos. I bought my upright, but it took me a few months to make space for it. Mr. Kassman kept it for me without complaint. When I was ready to have it delivered, the service was terrific. The piano came with a free tuning within a few months. In short, I found this stores proprietor to be entirely professional, warm, and responsive to customer needs. He has a great selection of beautiful pianos, and some terrific bargains during sales.

Hi, I bought my first piano from R. Kassman in 1990. I live in Salt Lake area and teach piano and over the years have sent many of my students the long distance to buy their piano because Mr. Kassman has a collection of instruments and the expertise that I have not found locally or any where else in my travels. This week I again purchased another piano, but this time achieved my life long dream of buying a new German Sauter Grand Piano!! I am thrilled and I cant recommend this company highly enough! Thank you Mr. Kassman=-).

Im a pianist, not currently living in the Bay Area, and I totally agree with the negative reviews posted here. I lived in San Francisco from 1985 to 2001, and heard tons of horror stories about this guy. If you walked into his store in SF, all handsome and nicely dressed (especially with an MD or a JD behind your name, or just plain loaded, especially gay and loaded), dollar signs popped into his eager eyes. If he thought you didnt belong there, hed let you know. This guy is a relentless elitist. Great pianos, but absolutely shameful service, for some customers at least. No one should have to put up with that kind of service. Just saying.

I was greeted by two very friendly gentleman, one was apparently the owner and another was a delightful gentleman who seemed to really know his stuff about pianos. Not only were we in love wit the pianos we were introduced to, but we felt like royalty!

My wife and I met because of our love of pianos. She is a classically trained pianist, and I am a piano instructor that her sister hired for her daughter. Long story short, collecting pianos and other instruments is one of our many interests. We truly enjoy an opportunity to visit a piano gallery, and when we moved to California from the east coast, we went searching for the best piano dealers. We have some extra space in our new home, and were playing the idea of adding to our collection.We visited R. Kassman Pianos a few weeks ago, and we were very impressed. We have high expectations, and while some of the first places we checked out on the West Coast didnt impress us much, the selection at R. Kassman is beautiful and unique. Nothing typical. I love an instrument with a good story, and there is no shortage of good stories.Some other piano galleries have lovely pianos, but dont have the expertise to properly repair some of them. It has ruined more than a few pianos I have encountered that just were not up to par anymore because they were improperly maintained. The pianos that we looked at here had been carefully researched and kept in their original state as much as possible.I saw a few pieces similar to those I had looked at on the East Coast, and when I checked prices, I found that they were priced well. R. Kassman isnt an individual that is out to make a quick dollar from his customers, and I found my knowledge and interest were welcomed here... The staff are just as sharp

As a result, I now have an absolutely beautiful piano, the envy of anyone who comes by to play it, that I got for a low price with no hassels. It is no wonder that when great artists come to the Bar Area (Garrick Ohlsson, Valentina Lisitsa) they get Russell to prep their pianos. He is in a class unto himself, and I recommend him very highly.

Bought a gorgeous and brilliantly tuned, white baby grand piano from Kassman. This man was like some ancient piano mystic when it came to his expansive knowledge of pianos. When I came into the store, I was greeted kindly and was basically given the grand tour. Down-to-earth, knowledgeable, and a true master of his trade, Kassman made this purchase a real pleasure. I highly recommend getting your piano from R. Kassman.

So disappointed that this is by appointment only. Was so excited 😕

We not only left the store piano owners of a Sauter piano, we left feeling like we were part of the R. Kassman family.

Total scammer. This guy puts piano ads in Craigslist posing as private sales, then replies posing as some made-up person saying the pianos on consignment at Kassman. You go there to see the piano but then hell say how terrible of a piano it is, how the buyer upgraded to one of his fake Made in China pianos with German or American sounding names, and he tries to sell you one of those. Those Chinese pianos are total garbage backed by fake companies that go out of business every few years, change names, and void all warranty claims. If that isnt bad enough, the guy is extremely rude and condescending.

Mr. Kassman is one of the most knowledgable people Ive ever met in looking at pianos. I would classify him as a true pro and I appreciate someone who really knows their business. Ive been playing the piano since Im 5 and teaching since im 17. For more than 30 years Ive been around pianos and I have no reservations what so ever in recommending Kassmans to any serious piano buyer.

I bought a piano at Kassman this afternoon, and for me, it was an excellent experience. Theres a widely varying opinion about this shop in these comments, and I think theres a good deal of confusion too. Heres how I see it.Although Kassman looks like a run-of-the-mill piano shop from the outisde, thats not what it is. Dont expect to walk in, take a look around, turn yourself or your kids loose to plink a few keys, and think that since youre the customer, youre always right. Youre not. Russell, the gentleman who owns the shop, clearly posts that his shop serves customers by appointment only, and if you cant follow this simple rule, dont be shocked if he turns you away. It might be better if you dont think of this shop as a retail store at all. Really, its nothing like Walmart or Target, nor is it like most other piano shops.Russell is a specialist, and if you think of him like hes a Doctor of Pianos (a Pianologist?), youll do better from the start. Just imagine if you were to walk into a dermotologists office unannounced, barge into an examination room where the doctor is already seeing someone, declare that youve got an itch you want looked at right away, and that youll just fidget with the equipment in the office while you wait for the doctor to finish up with the other patient. Youll almost certainly be asked to leave and not come back. Whats more, no sensible person would blame the doctor in this situation, or complain that the office gives bad service.The key to having a good experience at Kassman is to know what youre getting into. You need to be serious about buying a piano. You need to have a budget. You need to make an appointment. Once you arrive, you must be ready to be examined by an expert, and to have your assumptions challenged. You need to have clear opinions about what youre hearing and experiencing, and to give Russell the feedback he needs to figure out what to do next. You dont have to like or agree with everything he says–I didnt–and when that happened, I told him about it as clearly as I could.If you are willing to play by these rules, youll get access to a selection of the very best pianos in the SF bay area, as well as the thoughts and opinions of a person who has decades of experience evaluating pianos and matching them up with the people who are looking for one.It worked for me, and now Im the owner of a wonderful piano.Good luck.

I went in R. Kassman pianos a few days ago and had a very positive experience. I made an appointment with Russell via email, and then when I showed up, he was cordial and asked me to summarize what I was basically looking for, which I did. He then took me to about 4 or 5 pianos that were in my budget range and asked me play the same thing on all of them, which was a good idea, so I could really tell what was different about each piano. He commented on each of the pianos, explaining why they sounded the way they did. Clearly hes very knowledgeable and passionate about the pianos he carries. I think the best way to describe it is that it was a bit of an experience, which was pleasant- he was kind of like a tour guide, showing me around the various pianos that he carries. For me, this was the kind of piano shopping experience I hoped to have. He also didnt come across as a high pressure salesperson either.I believe Russell treats his pianos as one might think of fine wines. He also mentioned to me that he hand-selects many of the pianos he carries, rather than calling the manufacturer and simply saying Send me another model xyz. So he has a personal connection to them. I think you will have a positive shopping experience if you keep these things in mind:1) Ask first before playing a particular piano. He keeps the lids closed when theyre not being played to keep them in great shape.2) Its probably better to make an appointment first, rather than just showing up, so that he has the the proper time to show you around while in his shop, and you get his undivided attention.3) Have some idea of what it is youre looking for & your budget range, but also keep an open mind, trust your ears, & be open to a little piano education while youre there. Expect your experience to be different from most of your piano-buying shopping trips.4) It would also be a good idea to research some of the makes that Russell carries, as many of them are high-end boutique European brands that are top-notch, but may be unfamiliar to the average buyer, such Estonia, Sauter, Steingraeber & Sohne, & Grotrian. If youre a Yamaha lover, this might not be the right place for you.One more point: I think a good analogy might be that many Americans go and visit France, then come back saying The French are so rude! but thats because they expect every French person to speak English to them & they havent bothered making an effort to do some homework & learn a few key French phrases before making the trip.Hope that helps.

I have gone shopping to R. Kassman twice now, looking for a piano for my daughter. Both times I had set up an appointment, and both times Russell spent a huge amount of time with my daughter, taking her from piano to piano, letting her play, asking what she liked and did not like about each piano, and explaining what is unique about the various pianos ... The whole journey was peppered with knowledgable and informative comments from an expert. You can tell that Russell is honing in on the likes and dislikes, and trying to guide you towards pianos that match your tonal preferences. My recommendation: if you are shopping for a piano in the area, do pay them a visit. Go there with some time in hand. The Russell tour is a fun and learning experience.Compared to the other dealerships that I have visited, they carry a wide assortment of pianos, both budget-friendly pianos and high-end European pianos like Steingraeber, Estonia, Sauter, Grotrian etc that are not easily found in the same store, if at all. My experience so far -- there is no substitute for a side by side comparison of pianos to get a sense what you really like. Going to a store like this helps making an educated decision about what you really like.Russells tour is perhaps a bit unorthodox. The other stores I had visited typically asked me what I wanted to try. At Kassman, it is more an exploration of the what various brands have to offer in your budget range, and figuring out what suits your style and tastes. If you are willing to explore and figure out what you like, Kassman is the place to go to.As another poster noted, this store is probably not the right one if you want to just want to go from piano to piano on your own, and just try them out without having to talk to anyone. This is definitely not the Target / Walmart shopping experience. Personally I do not think we could have gotten as much out of the process if we were left on our own -- but I understand that different people have different preferences. Russell carries high-end expensive pianos, and he keeps them is top notch shape. So I understand if he is protective about them, and prefers the shopping experience to be guided tour. However I should not be speaking for Russell.One further note: Post-sales service has also been outstanding. There were some initial issues that surfaced over the first year or so, which is apparently not uncommon for new pianos. Although I had been warned that such minor issues could come up, it was a bit unnerving when these problems surfaced. Russell took care of these issues, and made me feel comfortable that I had chosen the right dealer to get the piano from.

My partner and I (I am a professional musician) were welcomed warmly by Mr. Kassman, and we briefly explained what we wanted (I wished to replace my current piano, whose tone I had never liked after many attempts at voicing and other modifications). He then took us through a thorough exploration of piano timbre as exemplified by his exceptional stock of instruments.We spent over an hour playing at least 9 or 10 instruments until we found a magnificent piano that matched our tonal desires and other needs (responsiveness, size, etc.) Mr. Kassman then offered a significant discount from the list price (which was quite unusual for the brand of instrument we purchased, I learned from my research.) We went home and after several hours of contemplation, contacted him with our decision. He stayed open after his posted hours for our return visit to finalize the purchase.The remainder of our dealings continued to show Mr. Kassman as a generous, professional, and canny businessman. He wrote a very complete and useful appraisal of my old piano. The moving company he uses provided the most careful and complete piano-moving experience I have ever witnessed (and Ive seen MANY!) - they spent a half-hour just polishing the instrument (with the included cleaning kit) after placing it in my studio!I was also pleasantly surprised that the de-humidifier I had briefly mentioned I wanted had been installed and included in the purchase at no charge. And the technician who provided the initial free tuning and voicing spent over two hours at my home, carefully addressing everything I had noted in my first weeks of playing. I also received a follow up call from Mr. Kassman, who wanted to be sure I was satisfied with my purchase.In response to some reviews on Yelp: I do believe it is important to research piano-buying in advance of such a major purchase. Purchasing from Kassman Pianos is analogous to a purchase from Tiffany or Saks, not to one from Target or Walmart. There is nothing wrong with the latter stores, but an informed consumer will understand the quality of product and service s/he can expect at Kassman Piano. A high-end jeweler will only allow a few items of value to be perused by a customer at any one time, and other customers are asked to wait or return when they can be helped completely. Such is the expectation one should have when purchasing the highest quality instruments made, which are what Mr. Kassman sells.In sum, I have been exceptionally pleased with every aspect of my experience with Kassman Pianos, and would not hesitate to recommend Russell and his establishment to any serious buyer of a high quality instrument.

Bad service! I called and they told me that I had to have a cell phone to make an appointment with them. They told me my home phone was not OK to make appointment with them. Thats ridiculous!

Cant wait for it to be delivered next week.

Guy that works there is a complete jerk who does nothing but make you feel like an idiot-avoid at all costs!!!

Super services! :)