steinway

[mikeyg]

There are 16 people on PF who have "steinway" in their names.  Does this mean the piano's are really good?  I remember I used to se alot of steinway bashing around here.

[Barbosa-piano]

 Well, Steinway is a brand that is world famous, and many people say it is the best piano. Since they are manufactured in both New York and Hamburg, Germany, they are easily exported into the Americas and Europe, Asia, etc. I agree that both German and American Steinway pianos are different, both in touch and in sound, although Steinway's Office claims the pianos are exactly the same. I like the German ones way better. Their sound is very strong, and the touch is superb. I believe that the German factory uses the Renner action, and New York uses the original Steinway action. Not sure... But in my opinion they are not the best pianos ever, although many people would argue with me about that. The Bosendorfers are of equal superior quality, but in a completely different way. Different touch, still superb, and incomparable tone. The same thing when it comes to Bechstein, which is probably my favorite, along with Pleyel. Other pianos that are very good, August Forster, Bluthner,Estonia, Yamaha, Faziolli, Pleyel, do not have enough recognition...  I think that people use the Steinway in their names just as reference to superiority of the piano. But this is a fine piano.
I hope this was helpful.

Sincerely,
Mario Barbosa

[gfiore]

 A common misnomer. Hamburg Steinway uses action parts manufactured by Renner. The action is of the same design, minus the half-round balance rail bearings, as the NY Steinway.
 And yes, through years of strong-armed marketing, they are considered the standard bearer piano of the world.

[texas911]

Oh don't worry, there is plenty of Steinway bashing still here on this particular forum. I'm surprised this thread hasn't been hit by them.

[Bouter Boogie]

There are 16 people on PF who have "steinway" in their names.  Does this mean the piano's are really good?  I remember I used to se alot of steinway bashing around here.

I think Steinways are just popular on PF 

[Axtremus]

What do you mean "Steinways are just popular on PF ?" They are even more popular outside of PF.

By the way, I like your signature! Do-be-do-be-do! Brilliant!

[happyface94]

The reason Steinway are bashed is because of their Antitrust methods. They threatened players who do not use them.

[xvimbi]

Steinway is the MacDonalds of pianos: everybody knows them; a lot of people buy their products; most of their products are mediocre (like Big Macs); they do have indeed a few good products (like apple pockets, yumm), but the regular customer never gets to see those (unlike apple pockets); there are "better" alternatives on the market.

Steinway is the Microsoft of pianos... (although here I don't know any good products)

Steinway is the Ford of pianos... (hmm, no good products either?)

Steinway is the Boeing of pianos... (some decent items)

Now, if that won't get the blood flowing, then I don't know what

[Axtremus]

You want to get the blood flowing, eh?
My hypothesis:

Steinway is bashed because (1) every salesman of expensive piano who isn't selling Steinway has to compete with Steinway, (2) every rebuilder who does not already work for Steinway has to compete with Steinway, (3) most piano owners who badly wanted a Steinway but could not afford one needs something to convince himself that Steinway is bad so he can feel better about his own non-Steinway piano --  typical sour grape syndrome.

Steinway is neither MacDonald, nor Microsoft,  nor Ford, nor Boeing.
Steinway is Steinway.

[Waldszenen]

In my opinion, Steinway is one of the biggest names in the piano manufacturing business. Picture Steinway as Mercedes or BMW - it's a status symbol - everyone knows that if you own one, you're rich. But obviously there are cars much better than Mercedeses and BMWs, say, Ferraris. But Ferraris are a lot rarer than those two and so fewer people own them.

If a Steinway is a Mercedes, then a Fazioli is a Ferrari. Both are amongst the top line; clearly one is superior to the other. But nonetheless Steinway still has the dominant share of the market.

[Siberian Husky]

By the way, I like your signature! Do-be-do-be-do! Brilliant!

its actually "Scooby do be do"

sorry..i always contribute useless garbage..carry on

cheers

[thalberg]

There are a LOT of mediocre Steinways out there.  A LOT!  There are also a few great ones.

When I play any of the brand new Mason and Hamlin models, it's like hearing one of the greatest Steinways ever built.  That company, which has been in resurrection mode recently, is really headed in the right direction.  At the moment, I'd take a Mason over a Steinway in a heartbeat.

[Axtremus]

When I play any of the brand new Mason and Hamlin models, it's like hearing one of the greatest Steinways ever built.

OUCH!!! I'm not sure if it's Mason and Hamlin's goal to ever build a Steinway... they seem to have in their mind set to build pianos that are uniquely M&H rather than trying to build the best Steinway copy-cat.

That said, it's still interesting to read who thinks who (besides Steinway) builds "the best Steinway" ... for example, see this post... so it seems Steinways are still people's "reference pianos" one way or another.

At the moment, I'd take a Mason over a Steinway in a heartbeat.

Comparing piano models of like sizes, there is roughly a 1/3 chance I might take a new M&H over a new Steinway. Comparing piano models selling for like amount of money here in the US, I'd almost always take M&H over Steinway... but then again, with "bang for the $" as the criterion, I'd almost always take Yamaha and Kawai over Steinway and M&H anyway.