Mason BB, Bosendorfer 214 and Steingraeber 205 S

[serge1paris]

I am more and more interested in comparing other pianos with my 1981 Hambourg Steinway B.

I went to Pianos Magne in Paris this afternoon and they have a wide selection of 7FT pianos.

My first contact with Mason and Hamlin: The BB is a powerful piano with a huge bass. More or less the same category of sound as Steinway perhaps slightly less seductive.

The Bosendoerfer 214 has a very nice tone indeed but the action is not the easiest to play.

The piano I liked better today is the Steingraeber 205S. Easy to play with great control on the sound, nice tone, powerful bass and very seductive treble. I would be happy with this instrument.

Back home playing my B, I still find it great but it takes much more work to control the sound.The  Steingraeber has probably a larger range of expression with a very pleasant elasticity of the keyboard. Steingraeber seems unable to produce an ugly sound whatever the situation or the finger you are playing. Which is not the case with Steinway where weak fingers and strong fingers have to be carefully equalized.

This week I plan to play Fazioli 212 and probably Bluthner Model 2 which is about to be delivered.

Serge

[chris_quinn]

The Bosendoerfer 214 has a very nice tone indeed but the action is not the easiest to play.

Do you mean that the action was heavy, or difficult to control?

[iumonito]

I am more and more interested in comparing other pianos with my 1981 Hambourg Steinway B.

I went to Pianos Magne in Paris this afternoon and they have a wide selection of 7FT pianos.

My first contact with Mason and Hamlin: The BB is a powerful piano with a huge bass. More or less the same category of sound as Steinway perhaps slightly less seductive.

The Bosendoerfer 214 has a very nice tone indeed but the action is not the easiest to play.

The piano I liked better today is the Steingraeber 205S. Easy to play with great control on the sound, nice tone, powerful bass and very seductive treble. I would be happy with this instrument.

Back home playing my B, I still find it great but it takes much more work to control the sound.The  Steingraeber has probably a larger range of expression with a very pleasant elasticity of the keyboard. Steingraeber seems unable to produce an ugly sound whatever the situation or the finger you are playing. Which is not the case with Steinway where weak fingers and strong fingers have to be carefully equalized.

This week I plan to play Fazioli 212 and probably Bluthner Model 2 which is about to be delivered.

Serge

Sorry CJ to cut in.  Serge, totally agree re Steingraeber.  Try to play the 272.  It is otherwordly.

[serge1paris]

Regarding Bosendoerfer 214, the action was not heavy, it was just difficult to control. It is an uncomfortable feeling I already had with the Bosies of not "being in control " of the situation ! I am sure this feeling can disappear with heavy practice when you have a Bosie at home and play it regularly. The tone was wonderful.

As far as Steingraeber is concerned I played the 272 a few months ago and, Iumonito, I was not so much impressed. The 205 S is my favorite model.  The 272 is still a prototype. If I am correctly informed only 15 of these have been manufactured to this day !!

Anyway, I am quite sure I will never have a piano that huge in my home. Bluthner Model 2   (238) is the top limit !