Piano Brand Characteristics

[getitdone1]

If you were telling a potential buyer about the differences in grand piano brands how would you describe each?

For instance:

Bechstein--bright sounding,  top quality, etc.

Bosendorfer--Strong bass, resonant, lots of tonal color, etc.

Steinway--the standard by which all others are measured, etc.

Or,  would you tell them each piano model of each brand can vary so much you'd be best served by trying them out personally. 

I expect this last alternative is truly the best answer.

Don 

[stevebob]

Although I'm familiar with some of the generalizations made about the characteristic sound of a given brand, I think it's too subjective an area to be worth passing along (i.e., it's dependent on variables like an individual's perception, on room acoustics and on the way an instrument is voiced).

Build quality (and the ranking of brands into tiers based on that criterion, as in Larry Fine's The Piano Book) is far more concrete.  That's what I would tell potential buyers, and I would recommend without hesitation that they get the latest edition of Fine's book.

Trying out many makes and models is always good—but while touch and tone may be variable even among individual instruments that are otherwise "identical," the inherent quality in the design and workmanship is generally consistent.

[richard black]

And in addition to what Stevebob says, the period in which a piano was made is also of great importance. My 1889 Bechstein shares a surprising amount of design detail (and specific parts, even) with modern instruments, but sounds quite different.

[alessandro]

Or,  would you tell them each piano model of each brand can vary so much you'd be best served by trying them out personally.  

I expect this last alternative is truly the best answer.

Don  

That's definitely true.   I couldn't say that better.   There are lots of magnificent instruments among different brands.   (I even heard Young Chang made a decent grand, but I don't want this topic to slide to what's "decent", I think I search for what's particular, touching).   Please allow me to express some thoughts.

I don't like the brand "Steinway".  I'm not talking about the instrument, there are most probably wonderful instruments among Steinways (though I'd never had a unique feeling for a Steinway, yet).   It's the institute "Steinway", that I don't like.   It's like this forteress, really oppressing, often arrogant.   I can't really explain why right away, I should look for words, but I have this kind of dislike towards Steinway.

Second.   I have been seduced by Ibach.   There is something I like about that brand.   It's something warm, tender, strong, suiting, human.   Big without redundance or pompousness.  

Third.  Every Bösendorfer I had the opportunity to touch, had heavy action.  I think everyones fingers can get used to that, but for me, tha heaviness is really something that Bösendorfer sticks to (though I've never touched a Bösendorfer of the 'new generation').   And all of these Bösendorfers I played had a monumental, rich, almost mystique sound.   They are like some kind of mythic animals.   In some way, they have also something monstruous like Steinway.  Bösendorfer isn't my favourite.

Though I've never played a Fazioli, I think they are also a very unique brand with characteristics, brightness, made in some sort of spirit.

Kind greetings.