Steinway vs. Fazioli

[candypiano]

Just curious, if you were to choose between same size Steinway and Fazioli, which you'll choose and why.

[birba]

IF I had the money, a Fazioli.  I mean, it's like if you could choose, would you rather have a Mercedes or a Rolls-Royce.

[49410enrique]

agreed with birba, generally they are fantatical in their pursuit of perfection at fazioli, i mean super uber ridiculously an purposely inefficient in their manufacture, the german ss kids have their act together, but in terms of build time, greater expense in build materials, etc., i think it's what like 2 years gos into fazioli gp's?  i have seen a video where they were simply comparng the upper range sustain in them , it's it almost doesn't want to stop singing, they're that good.  i think becuase of the quality, once the brand ages a bit more and some of their earlier run instruments have been around for more than that 50 years or so mark, they will be EXCELLENT candidates for rebuilds, those should be quite the beauties and more affordable (relatively at least).

[pytheamateur]

My old piano teacher was really pleased when he bought a 7-foot Fazioli for his studio, introducing it to me as the world's most expensive piano.  He was not a little miffed when I asked him when then over 90% of concert pianists choose to perform on a Steinway.  His response was that statistics didn't mean anything; it was style that mattered.

Well, isn't the price tag of a piano arguably some sort of statistics?  

[birba]

First of all, the Fazioli factory was founded in 1981.  Steinway has been around MUCH longer.  The latter has become a household word, so to speak.  But there is no comparison.  Believe me.  In the end, there's really nothing wrong with being 2nd best, is there?

[iansinclair]

My old piano teacher was really pleased when he bought a 7-foot Fazioli for his studio, introducing it to me as the world's most expensive piano.  He was not a little miffed when I asked him when then over 90% of concert pianists choose to perform on a Steinway.  His response was that statistics didn't mean anything; it was style that mattered.

Well, isn't the price tag of a piano arguably some sort of statistics?  

Steinway makes some really wonderful pianos; no one will argue with that (I hope).  But that is not to say that other makers -- a few -- also make wonderful pianos; I've never encountered a Fazioli so I'm not in a position to comment on them.

What Steinway has done (and, more recently, Yamaha) is outstanding marketing.  The scheme of celebrity endorsement was invented for Steinway, in about 1890, by my great aunt Fanny Morris Smith; the theory being that the general public could be persuaded that they could play like maestro so and so (Ignacy Paderewski was her particular pet) if they bought the brand of piano that maestro so and so played.  The scheme worked... and is working to this day for a whole variety of products, pianos included.

[lostinidlewonder]

I like Steinway better than Fazioli but probably because I have played on many more Steinways. I have only had the pleasure of playing a Fazioli once in a store here in Perth and I wasn't really blown away, impressed yes. To me it looked like a pretty instrument, they have nice type of woodcraft blending woods together, a real art form and shape, but I really don't care about aesthetics, its sounds didn't really strike me as anything superior to Steinway. But at the same time you need to find the right piano, its no good just playing one of them and making a decision, however I found that the price tag really doesn't give you the bang out of your buck. I'd rather buy 5 quality Yamahas grands!

Stuart and Sons here in Australia is the top piano makers Downunder and I find it is better than both of these instruments (for Australia at least) but also comes with an insane price tag. If you got the money then I guess the 6 figures is meaningless. I couldn't ever imagine as a professional pianist actually going out to buy any of these instruments new, what a waste of moolahs! I just go to the concert halls and play it for free, why bother having such a wonderful instrument in a house.... you need a big room, so better invest in a larger house (or build an extension) first then get those 6 figured grands. I had one student who had a Steinway and it was squashed into a tiny room, what a total waste. Resale value of these pianos is ridiculous, good luck finding someone wanting to buy it off you anywhere near the price you got it for.

[gvfarns]

To answer your question directly, I'd take the Fazioli, sell it, buy a Steinway and pay off my house with the leftover money.

But seriously, I have listened to a lot of recordings and carefully listened to some Fazioli software pianos (one of the best way to evaluate piano sound by brand), and done the same with Steinway.  I always like the sound of the latter better. 

There's no question that Fazioli is a premium instrument, built to exceptional standards and sold for an exceptional price.  And that it produces a clearer, less muddy tone,  but the rich tone you are used to hearing on recordings is that of a Steinway (unless you are listening to pop, in which case it's a Yamaha).  Possibly for that reason you may prefer the Steinway sound, as I do.  Most of our ears are accustomed to hearing the Steinway sound. 

To me Fazioli sounds quite bright, sterile, and even harsh by comparison.  Basically everything you associate with clear, as opposed to muddy.  Steinway's tone seems to me to be more versatile and rich.

Full disclosure: I have played plenty of Steinways in real life, but never a real life Fazioli.

[pytheamateur]

To answer your question directly, I'd take the Fazioli, sell it, buy a Steinway and pay off my house with the leftover money.

But seriously, I have listened to a lot of recordings and carefully listened to some Fazioli software pianos (one of the best way to evaluate piano sound by brand), and done the same with Steinway.  I always like the sound of the latter better. 

There's no question that Fazioli is a premium instrument, built to exceptional standards and sold for an exceptional price.  And that it produces a clearer, less muddy tone,  but the rich tone you are used to hearing on recordings is that of a Steinway (unless you are listening to pop, in which case it's a Yamaha).  Possibly for that reason you may prefer the Steinway sound, as I do.  Most of our ears are accustomed to hearing the Steinway sound. 

To me Fazioli sounds quite bright, sterile, and even harsh by comparison.  Basically everything you associate with clear, as opposed to muddy.  Steinway's tone seems to me to be more versatile and rich.

Full disclosure: I have played plenty of Steinways in real life, but never a real life Fazioli.

Funnily enough, my experience is very similar.  My former teacher owned a 7-foot Fazioli.  I could tell that it had an excellent response, but I always preferred the Steinway sound. There is something distinct about the Steinway sound I think, at least I could usually tell from a recording whether it is made on a Steinway piano.  I just didn't think the Fazioli had a distinct sound.  Of course, this could be simply because I've listened to too many Steinway recordings.

[49410enrique]

it'd probably be pretty individual, i.e.  each of us would have to play the same work on each back to back to see what each of our ears and hands prefers, my vote would probablly still go to the fazioli since i tend to prefer a cleaner singing sustain especially in the upper registers where it tends to really shine, both do well in the lower, and prettymuch vary in color not quality, but the upper sustain my ear picks up more projection on the faz, and i've heard this commented on quite a bit by folks tresting them and reviewing their construction and such, i would really need to spend a while on each to finalize my vote.

lucky dog,....

fyi

i love the little sucker punch to steinway they 'casually' make calling them out without actually doing so around the 9 minute mark , lol

[amelialw]

IF I had the money, a Fazioli.  I mean, it's like if you could choose, would you rather have a Mercedes or a Rolls-Royce.

couldn't agree more!! If you come across Fazioli's which don't sound nice it's probably because it hasn't been prepped well...I've only touched a Fazioli once for 5 mins and it blew me away neither have i ever forgotten that experience.

[pbryld]

I'd go for neither.

A Borgato I want (because of the four strings in part of the treble)

[49410enrique]

I'd go for neither.

A Borgato I want (because of the four strings in part of the treble)

i'd love to know how that sounds, i like bluthners very very much, they also have  4 strings but only three i believe are struck and the 4th in an aliqout so there's a resonant/indirect sounding effect added to the tone quality which is nice but i can't wrap my mind around what a true strike would do. i think maybe similar to 12 string guitar vs six string guitar?
most interesting. i've never even seen a borgato, talk about rare.

i'd really like to know what he's saying. i can't speak italian!

my heart still belongs to shigerus (as a whole and becuase i was able to play a good deal of varied repertorie on some at a dealer a long time ago).

[fazioli1]

I am  the lucky one to own a Fazioli F278 9-Footer and after having owned 2 S&S D's, which are also awsome Pianos, my choice is the Faz as its the best Piano I have ever experienced. I have the Faz in my home and yes it's got power and also its very loving and tame at the same time. For me its the Bass and Treble which make it so wonderful. Pianos are a personal choice and I am so honoured to have this amazing instrument in my home.

[richard black]

It's obviously a taste call as there's nothing really wrong with either (though I would put money on Steinways lasting out better with not quite enough maintenance, which is the lot of most pianos older than a couple of years). Ditto Bösendorfer, Bechstein, Steingraeber... and the various 'boutique' brands - Borgato as mentioned above, Stuart etc.

An impressive amount of hot air is wasted on the subject of which is the 'best' piano. My personal taste depends on the use to which the piano is to be put. Ideally, I would like to own at least half a dozen, for different repertoires, different venues, different uses (chamber music, vocal music, solo piano, concertos etc.) They wouldn't necessarily all be new ones either.

Indeed, I'm often very glad I don't have to provide my own instrument for gigs. One of the joys of being a pianist, for me, is playing on dozens of instruments in a year and finding different things in each. I can only recall a small handful that were really joyless.

[kclee6337]

FAZIOLI!!!!!! I've played on to many $h*t "steinways"

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I think the majority of Steinways have better pianos but Fazioli's best pianos are better than Steinways.  Because Faziolis can sound brittle sometimes.

So if I had all the money in the world, I would buy a Fazioli.  But if I had a budget, then a Steinway.

[starstruck5]

I agree with Enrique.

I would love to be in a position where I could audition the best pianos in the world -Bosendorfer, Bechstein, Yamaha, Kawai,  Bluthner, as well as the Steinway and Fazioli -I have only played a Steinway and I loved it passionately -

If I had this kind of money I would clearly be able to afford a big house as well to house the beast. I would like a few pianos, and I would give holidays to victims of the evil EPA law which persecutes British pianists -such as Kien Ingate -they could stay with me for a month and play to their hearts content with any evil neighbour telling them they are not allowed -

[hhopkinson1]

I have a Steinway model m, but everyday when I open the lid, I wish the fazioli logo was there instead.
The passionate rich texture of the Steinway Half makes it up , but it can truely, never compare to what is, a fazioli.

[asuhayda]

Both of them are amazing.

... and I would take a Mercedes over a Rolls Royce!

[faulty_damper]

I agree with the tone qualities of Fazioli compared to Steinway.  Fazioli has a clearness, a sophistication that says, "I am pure 100% lead crystal."  Steinway is like beer glass, appeals to all.