Piano Brand?

[thatasianguy009]

Do you have a favorite brand? Or brand really doesn't matter, seamless performance depends more on the pianist?

I know at least one piano master would think it really matters, namely Krystian Zimerman, I took him as an instance because he once got his piano smashed by the airport security.

So, what do you guys think? Which brand or model suits you best?

[richard black]

I don't have a single favourite brand but several - Steinway, Bösendorfer, Bechstein, Blüthner, Fazioli, Steingraeber.... and the instruments vary from all of them anyway depending on model, age, who last serviced it etc. etc. For me, the possibility to play on lots of different pianos is one of the fun aspects of being a pianist. Of course some of them are depressingly awful, but there's more often something at least to enjoy.

[ahinton]

I know I shouldn't really express a single preference but if I can nevertheless hide behind the excuse of being a non-pianist who writes for the instrument from time to time I'd have to admit that, were someone to put a gun at my head and demand one from me, I would be obliged to say Bösendorfer. I have nevertheless encountered some fabulous Steinways (as well as some awful ones) as well as Mason & Hamlins and an excellent Falcone among others, but I have yet to encounter anything that offers quite such a range of expressive richness as a really well set up and cared for modern Bösendorfer 290; apart from its many other virtues, not least its incomparable (for me) range of colours (at least in the hands of pianists who understand and appreciate the instrument and have sufficient experience of playing them), there is never that horrid sense of empty dull thud when the extreme bass notes are played fortissimo which sometimes occurs on other pianos and the tonal qualities it offers in its topmost octave are pretty much unique at all dynamic levels.

What's more (there's more?!), I think that it would be as well for me to admit to the level of my shareholding in the manufacturer - which is zero...

Best,

Alistair

[mezzo piano]

I have a penchant for Asian instruments mostly the Yamahas and the Kawais but also Young Chang. Some may boo and hiss and throw insults but Yamaha makes a great piano.

[musicalita_23]

Well, in the past, I've always been pretty satisfied with Steinways (they tend to have a deep rich sound). But I must say, I had a chance only a week ago to perform on a Bosendorfer, and I was astounded! I don't know if all of these pianos are as wonderful, but this performance was an experience like no other! I played a Sonata by Scarlatti, and was impressed with its crystalline touch. Then I went on to Chopin and Ravel, and again, I was amazed! The sound was so smooth, perfect! Its so versatile. I really hope to get a chance to play on another. It would be worth it!

[furtwaengler]

Yamaha makes a great piano.

I agree. 

[mikey6]

Steinway and the s class yammy.
Cannot stand Fazioli's!  There was a steinway and a fazioli in the same room, I played them one after the other and have to say I could do a lot more with the Steinway!

[furtwaengler]

I remember getting lost on a Bösendorfer, during a performance of a sonata I had written! It was the extra notes which were not locked up, and which threw off my point of reference...not a great experience.

But then I am not at all happy when people play Bartok's 2nd Concerto on Steinways!

[arensky]

Do you have a favorite brand? Or brand really doesn't matter, seamless performance depends more on the pianist?

The pianist is the most important factor but the instrument they play certainly makes a difference. I remember hearing Garrick Ohlsson play a recital on a Bosendorfer, and you could hear the characteristic tone of that piano contributing a great deal to his already extraordinary playing. Compare Gould's two different interpretations of the Goldberg Variations, the first on a Steinway the second on a Yamaha. Differences in recording techniques and the changes in his interpretation aside, the manufacturers certainly contribute their share to the performances.

I know at least one piano master would think it really matters, namely Krystian Zimerman, I took him as an instance because he once got his piano smashed by the airport security.

That sucks. Why, did they think he was attempting a shoebombing with a Steinway D? 

So, what do you guys think? Which brand or model suits you best?

The piano brands I most enjoy playing are Sauter, Steinway, Kawai and Estonia. Bosendorfer, Schimmel and Yamaha make some extraordinary instruments but they are not all to my liking, which has to do with me, not them. Chickerings made more than 100 years ago are beautiful pianos if they have been restored properly. Played a couple that were just wonderful, as well as a hulk I considered buying for rebuilding. Knabe pianos made before 1930 or so are also fine instruments.

[arensky]

But then I am not at all happy when people play Bartok's 2nd Concerto on Steinways!

How about on a Wurlitzer spinet? 

[furtwaengler]

How about on a Wurlitzer spinet? 

You may think the alteration is actually the low G-sharp ask for?

[john11inc]

Best for me?  I mostly play contemporary music, which is typically better-served by clarity over lushness, so the CFIIIS has served well, although if I had the money I'd look into Fazioli.

[richard black]

Yamaha makes a great piano.

....very occasionally.

[indianajo]

I like a bright piano with a bell like attack, and I play appropriate repretoire for these.  I play Bach too, but I have to leave the pedal off, nothing really duplicates the quarter second decay of a harpsichord.  I don't run in circles rich enough to afford Bosendorfers or Bechsteins. but the church has a new Yamaha studio piano and I find it dull and lifeless.  They like it that way, it can't be heard over the singing, which is the idea. The church previously had a Kawai 42 console, which I also found to be dull, but not as dull as the Yamaha.   I tried out Everett 40" Sohmer 39" and Steinway 42" consoles in 1982 and bought a Sohmer.    The Everett had a noticable tone change between 2 string and 3 string notes. The Steinway had a heavier touch than the Sohmer, important for concert players that will move to grands, but nobody is going to pay me to play a grand.   I have found 50's Baldwin Acrosonic consoles to be wonderfully bright, but probably too loud for home use.  The church has one, they have shoved it in the basketball court and let it go out of tune.  They hate it.  I recently found a bargain on a 1941 Steinway console, bought it and tuned it the first 4 times since 1968.  It sounds about the same as the Sohmer except the topmost octave it more bright and resonant. I've been trying out Christmas favorites on the Steinway, using the top octave sometimes instead of lower ones, wonderful bell tones.  Other consumer brands, Kimballs are really dull, expensive Wurlitzer's can ring on forever (resonant) but don't have an attack I like.   I played a 1900 Baldwin upright in a junque shoppe one time that had the best tone for Scott Joplin or Fats Waller I ever heard - nothing like a classical piano.  I wish I could have afforded to have that one, too. 

[asimov250]

I have 2 pianos. One electric and the other a classic one. Their brands are Yamaha and Kawai. I bought them because they were cheaper than the Steinway, on which I play everyday in school and I love it.

By the way, I have a blog about piano brands:
Piano Brands
Everything about piano brands

[49410enrique]

to date nothing i have played has come close to connection and combination of feel, tone, and raw emotion i experienced when playing a Shigeru.  They are world class instruments at a price point i feel (new at least) that is 10's of thousands below comparable (i even use that term loosely) instrument. as a matter of fact i would prefer them to many so called 'better' ones. every single example i have played as blown me away.

https://www.shigerukawai.com/

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I know at least one piano master would think it really matters, namely Krystian Zimerman, I took him as an instance because he once got his piano smashed by the airport security.

How do you manage to bring an piano to the airport?!

And if That happened to a Steinway that I might have owned, I would have made the airport security guys pay for my piano, and I would do everything in my power to ruin them and their families lives.

I prefer a Steinway or a Fazioli.  I don't like Everetts too much.

[milchh]

One of my former teachers passed on this quote by (I think) Rubinstein,

"There are no bad pianos -- only bad pianists."

I've played on my fair share of pianos in the years of playing piano, however, I have to say Steinway is by far the best. Of course, however, there are great Yamaha and Bosendorfer pianos out there as well, but they just don't have the special edge of a well-maintained [American] Steinway.

[piano_vs_science]

One of my former teachers passed on this quote by (I think) Rubinstein,

"There are no bad pianos -- only bad pianists."

so true

unfortunately i'm 1 of them



i have a baby grand piano and it only has 85 keys do you know why???

[marik1]

Somehow, for practicing I don't really care and least concerned about piano brand, or about how the piano sounds--if there are keys to press--it is already good enough.

On the other hand, when I will be on the market for a new instrument that would be Steinway D. The problem is, quite a few (about 80-90%) are pretty crappy. I guess, it will take awhile for me to find the one I like. After that it will take awhile to regulate it the way I want...

In a meanwhile I am pretty happy with my 6.2' Chinese rebranded baby grand, which my tuner regulated to my instructions (i.e. heavy and sluggish--about 11mm depth, 57gm down weight, 35gm up weight, hummers heavily pierced/soaked--about the way most concert Steinways in US concert halls feel like. 

Best, M

[asimov250]

I had the honor to try about 10 different piano brands, so in my opinion the best piano brands are:

• Steinway and Sons
• Bösendorfer
• Yamaha
• Baldwin
• Mason and Hamlin

[hbofinger]

I have a penchant for Asian instruments mostly the Yamahas and the Kawais but also Young Chang. Some may boo and hiss and throw insults but Yamaha makes a great piano.

I won't boo and hiss. I had a Bluethner, a recent Bosendorfer, and right now a Yamaha C7.

In my opinion it may be hard to buy a really good piano in the US. I tell you why I think this. I was at a Bechstein dealer here, and played a most fabulous B. Then I played a bunch of others, and they were ho-hum. The salesman was quite honest - 'we tone them down as they arrive for the US market." That's why you get soft Steinways, boring Bechsteins, and ruined Faziolis.

I found a Yamaha that was rebuilt in Japan, and it sounds much more like a European piano. 

[robson]

....very occasionally.

I agree, yamaha one thing do very well though better then staeinway and other brands - it's consistent. Entry levels yamaha pianos sound horrible, I guess really good models starts at C5 and up.