Piano shopping---NEED HELP

[thalberg]

Lately, I've played some brand new Steinway Bs and Mason BBs. 

I prefer the sound of the Mason--it has more resonance, richness, and fullness. 

But on the Mason, I can't get that extremely soft dynamic that I can get on a Steinway.  You know--where you play an accompaniment figure so softly you can't even hear the hammers hit the strings?  Steinways will do this for me, Masons won't.

Does anyone know why? Or has anyone had this experience???

[Axtremus]

I also found it more challenging to control the pianissimmo on the new M&H BB's than on the new Steinway B's. (Here, I'm comparing the BB's I played in M&H's factory during factory tours and the B's I played in Steinway Hall in NYC -- so dealer preperation should not be an issue -- the manufacturers' own people did the prep!)

But instead pinning all of it on the pianos, I'd say it's probably my technique as well. I am just more familiar with Steinway B than I am with M&H BB, so may be I adapted to the new B's much faster than I did to the new BB's. Though tonally, I do think that the new BBs are inherently very powerful pianos (very strong attack, especially in their mid-ranges) where one can easily punch out each and every note. Steinway's mid-range is a bit more subdued when compared to the BB. So that may constitute a partial explanation.

Before drawing a conclusion either way, perhaps you can try to spend more time with the BB's and give yourself more time to adapt to it. May be play with the una corda a bit more and see if you can get the desired resuts. Afterall, you do seem to like the rest of the piano very much!

Good luck.

[keith d kerman]

Part of this is the belly design, part of this is the hammers used, and part is the dealer prep. 
We have no problem getting our Mason & Hamlins to play at an absolute whisper, but they wont do this without thorough regulation ( 20+ hours based on Mason & Hamlin's regulation recommendations) full prep, and insightful voicing.  I have yet to find a piano that didn't need all of this to maximize its dynamic range, which it sounds like you will be using.
With all of that being said, even with our prep procedures, some Masons end up being able to be played softer than others, when trying to have the maximum range.
Please understand that as you play any piano in, it will also get louder, and regular voicing will be a necessary part of maintaining your instrument, especially with the hard use you will be giving it.

[jeremyjchilds]

Go for the M+H

Anything with delicious booming bass has got my vote!!

[thalberg]

Thanks everyone.  Keith, you sell new Steinways and new Masons, right?  Can you talk to me a little about the differences?

[keith d kerman]

Thanks everyone.  Keith, you sell new Steinways and new Masons, right?  Can you talk to me a little about the differences?

No, we don't sell new Steinways, but we do service quite a few Steinways less than 5 years old, and we sell rebuilt and used Steinways, and of course we sell new and rebuilt Mason & Hamlins.
With either of these makers, wether new, used or rebuilt, you have to find "the one" that does all that you want it to do, or comes closest.