i like the neumann sound on a piano...second to schoeps.
Try the Josephson C617s with Gefell large diameter caps (MK102.1) sometime. I use Schoeps and DPA as well, but the Josephsons are amazing.
Jeff
hmmmm. if i ever come across that microphone for a piano recording situation, i'll have to keep that in mind. thanks for the recommendation.
mike - i hear you about having hte piano as part of an ensemble. that's why, typically if the director knows what they're doing, the piano will be in the back or way off to the side unless the soloist is a pianist.
if i was recording solo classical piano, i think i would want a softer, more distant sound as well.