The Best Piano

[donjuan]

Let's hear everyone's opinion!  Name the single greatest Piano you have ever played- even if it's only for a minute or two- and YES I mean YOU have played...not the best piano ever made, but, in your opinion, the best piano YOU HAVE PLAYED---EVER!!!

I haven't played on many pianos other than my own...but I really liked a new 6'3'' knabe I tried out in a store- Great bass definition and a smooooooth renner action.

Now it's your turn....

[G.Fiore]

I tuned a 1960's Bechstein EN at the George School in Newtown ,PA that was one of my top ten favorites.

[dj]

actually, the best sounding piano i've ever played was an art-case 5'6" steinway....sure i've played bigger pianos but the sound on this one was so perfectly crisp....i dunno, i liked it

[DarkWind]

This 7(or was it 6?) foot long Steinway Grand Piano. My God, its the greatest piano ever built by anyone. It had the most incredible, clear, rich, crisp, detailed sound ever to be heard. It had soft, delicate, gentle keys. You could play the quitest piannissimo, or the loudest forte possible on this piano, and it would have been better than anything else you can imagine. It was at this Steinway Piano Gallery not to far from my home. In fact, I had been playing this piano about 5-6 hours from before this post. Makes me wish I had 130 grand... Also, I think it's funny how there are many rich people who just buy a piano, but can't even play it... They should give it to me or something!!!

[donjuan]

This 7(or was it 6?) foot long Steinway Grand Piano. My God, its the greatest piano ever built by anyone. It had the most incredible, clear, rich, crisp, detailed sound ever to be heard. It had soft, delicate, gentle keys. You could play the quitest piannissimo, or the loudest forte possible on this piano, and it would have been better than anything else you can imagine. It was at this Steinway Piano Gallery not to far from my home. In fact, I had been playing this piano about 5-6 hours from before this post. Makes me wish I had 130 grand... Also, I think it's funny how there are many rich people who just buy a piano, but can't even play it... They should give it to me or something!!!

lol, i agree hehe  I also have played on a huge steinway grand, but it was in a sad, SAD state of disuse.  the Una Corda pedal didn't work, the action was different for every key, and annoying wooden noises came when I played certain keys.  Some keys didn't go down at all....This was at a rarely used concert theatre below the city library.  My Piano teacher spent like 300$ renting out this theatre- and what do those geniuses who own the place do?  make us use that steinway...why would someone dish out more than 100 000$ and let the piano fall apart?  I feel your pain, DarkWind
 

[G.Fiore]

DJ and Darkwind,slow down a bit. A Steinway Model D is 8'11 3/4" long. In an ebony satin finish, a New York S :)teinway retails for $89,400 US.  Although it might seem huge,there are bigger. Bösendorfer's largest concert grand measures 9'6", and Fazioli's model F308 is 10'2". The Fazioli has a list price of $178,000 US. There are many other pianos out there, go and explore. I'm sure once you do, you'll find the Steinway a little boring.

[DarkWind]

The one I saw was special edition... so...

[Hmoll]

I've played just about every make/model of piano. Never liked Faziolis much. Bosendorfers are grerat pianos, but not to my taste. Never played a Bechstein I liked.
The best piano I've ever played was a NY S&S D at their NY factory. Sorry, didn't get the serial number.
Also there have been a couple memorable Mason & Hamlin's that stood out. Finally, the Grotrians I've played have been consistently wonderful.

It's all subjective anyway.

[dj]

DJ and Darkwind,slow down a bit. A Steinway Model D is 8'11 3/4" long. In an ebony satin finish, a New York S :)teinway retails for $89,400 US.  Although it might seem huge,there are bigger. Bösendorfer's largest concert grand measures 9'6", and Fazioli's model F308 is 10'2". The Fazioli has a list price of $178,000 US. There are many other pianos out there, go and explore. I'm sure once you do, you'll find the Steinway a little boring.

yes there's always a bigger fish...btw when you say "DJ" do you mean me or donjuan? cuz i don't think i really said anything about the steinway i liked bein big  

[donjuan]

DJ and Darkwind,slow down a bit. A Steinway Model D is 8'11 3/4" long. In an ebony satin finish, a New York S :)teinway retails for $89,400 US.  Although it might seem huge,there are bigger. Bösendorfer's largest concert grand measures 9'6", and Fazioli's model F308 is 10'2". The Fazioli has a list price of $178,000 US. There are many other pianos out there, go and explore. I'm sure once you do, you'll find the Steinway a little boring.

I also dont remember saying anything about the size of that piano...G.Fiore, can you clarify some things? Maybe you are far ahead of us...

[G.Fiore]

Sorry DonJuan, my bad. It was DarkWind who said he played a Huge Steinway the size of two cars. I thought that was kind of funny.

[DarkWind]

Maybe I was exaggerating a tad bit, but it was pretty big... Oh well, I was just caught up in the moment of excitement, I guess.

[ivoryplayer4him]

So far the best piano i've ever played on was a 9 ft concert grande wurlitzner.  It is black and has the most amazing sound ever.  grant it i've not played on many pianos, but so far its my favorite.  I've also played on a 1958 baldwin baby grande, it was pretty nice.  I also played on a wurlitzner grande that was hand crafted (EVERTHING ABOUT IT).  it was soo amazing.  it was set in a very small room and is brand new.  it cost around 90,000 dollars.  the 9 ft i've talked about cost 130,000 dollars.

[donjuan]

Are you sure you dont mean Wurlitzer?  I have never heard of WurlitzNer....
donjuan

[ivoryplayer4him]

Are you sure you dont mean Wurlitzer?  I have never heard of WurlitzNer....
donjuan

Yes you are right.  in talking with other people i've found out there is no N in the word...something else i've found out that, is that someone said that they ddint believe that wurlitzer ever put out anything over 5'8"  which has me quite confused :S

[ivoryplayer4him]

Are you sure you dont mean Wurlitzer?  I have never heard of WurlitzNer....
donjuan

i just found out, the 130,000 piano wasnt a wurlitzer it was a kawai EX hand crafted 9 ft concert piano.  The 90000 was a wurlitzer and i also played on serveral limited edition Kawai hand crafted grandes

[bachmaninov]

9 foot ... concert grand... Bosendorfer (with the exta keys) When i touched the piano... I reflected my entire life and questioned if i was worthy to have put my fingerprints on the piano.

[f0bul0us]

Steinway - Essex: EGP-183.

[f0bul0us]

i just found out, the 130,000 piano wasnt a wurlitzer it was a kawai EX hand crafted 9 ft concert piano.  The 90000 was a wurlitzer and i also played on serveral limited edition Kawai hand crafted grandes

The Kawai EX is the most powerful piano I've ever played on. What takes away from that though is the very "loose" feel of the keys.

[xvimbi]

I usually don't participate in topics that are so subjective that they must end in flame wars, but this time... oh well.

Three pianos stand out, they are all Bösendorfers:
1. Johann Strauss Edition
2. Porsche Edition
3. Imperial (Marc-Andre Hamelin's piano when he performs in the area; at least that's what the store owner said, bah, whoever believes that).

What really makes them special in my mind is the action, which is the smoothest, most well-adjusted action anywhere and the rich sound that comes from the extra keys in the bass).

Furthermore, I must add that it takes at least two people to judge a piano. One who plays it, and another one who listens from at least a few feet away. IMO, the sound one receives at the bench is only one, but not the best, representation of the capabilities of a piano.

[ivoryplayer4him]

The Kawai EX is the most powerful piano I've ever played on. What takes away from that though is the very "loose" feel of the keys.

To be quite honest...i could not tell you how the "touch" of the piano was lol.  The excitment and the fact that i swear my life flashed before my eyes the moment my butt found that leather seat, took away from everything else.  But from what i can remember, the touch wasnt bad at all, but like i said lol i'm not a good critic on that lol

[classicarts]

Steinway - Essex: EGP-183.

..that's ridiculous for a Kawai. 

[allthumbs]

Steinway Model D