Spotlight on Pearl River &
Ritmuller Retailers - Roseburg Retailer Loves The New T2.
Terry began playing at age 11 and studied piano for 12 years graduating with a degree in piano performance from Cal State Fullerton. But despite his love of music, his career took him on a different path for more than 20 years.
It wasn’t until 1997 that circumstances revived his relationship with the piano. Ready for a career change, he remembered a friend from his musical past who had been a highly respected and talented piano tuner/technician. He decided maybe he could combine his love of pianos and music with skills that could help him earn a living. So he found a reputable training program and opened his own piano tuning business in Roseburg.
Then in 2001, the only piano retailer in Douglas County went out of business. That left no acoustic piano retailer in the immediate area. Terry decided this was his opportunity. He purchased an abandoned ice cream store on a busy thoroughfare and set to work researching pianos. He felt it was important to find a brand that was dependable and high quality, but also priced realistically for the market he served. His conclusion was Pearl River.
So ready to invest what remained of his life savings, he headed to the 2003 NAMM Show and bought seven Pearl River pianos.
It was a slow start, unfortunately, because the month Terry went into business was the same month the US invaded Iraq. Sales were slow, but a steady commitment to his community and belief in his product kept him going. A successful 5-day display at the Douglas County Fair, where he had a chance to display his pianos and talk to his neighbors one-on-one, was the break that changed everything. When the locals knew who he was and where he was, business picked up. Now Terry owns a thriving full service piano business. He not only sells new and used pianos, he is tunes pianos and also maintains a successful piano moving business. His showroom usually has at least 20-25 upright and grand pianos on display.
Terry is a huge fan of the new Pearl River T2, one of the Pearl River models recently redesigned and re-engineered by master piano designer, Lothar Thomma. According to Terry, “I come across a lot of pianos, the T2 series is one of the best I’ve ever seen…right out of the box.” Because he is a musician and a technician he values all aspects of the piano. He appreciates the beautiful tone as well as the technology that produces the warm, rich sound. His review includes many accolades including, “It’s not a stiff action. It’s like playing butter, it’s so smooth. Your fingers just glide. The tone just glides and graduates with no distinct breaks. There is no ‘Grand Canyon’ where the tone breaks off. It’s absolutely even.”
Quester’s Piano Sales, Tuning & Service is located at 1028 SE Stephens St., Roseburg, Oregon, 97470. His phone is 541.672.1740.