Among the lessons I learned while buying a piano

[polishookm]

I'm waiting for my (new) piano to arrive. Most of it is in Kent in the UK at https://www.hurstwoodfarmpianos.co.uk/. Some of it - the legs - are on the way to Kent. Delivery to me soon thereafter.

i've learned quite a bit from on the path to the "one." I've been posting about lessons learned on my blog:

https://www.polishookstudio.com/search/label/piano

The most important were (1) "the more pianos tried the better and then try more" and (2) work with a dealer and technician who provide thoughtful, thorough responses to questions and concerns.

Hope this is helpful ...

[withindale]

Very interesting. A couple of questions about your blog posts:

1. The Steingraeber Phoenix responded as you wished in every way. Would you have been able to tell that without playing all those other pianos?

2. What did you say to the star technician at Hurstwood before he magically transformed the piano?

[polishookm]

Withindale, those are good questions.

The answer to the first one is, no, I wouldn't have been able to make that judgement w/out playing a lot of other pianos within a few months of each other. That experience gave me a basis for comparison.

About the technician: we spoke for a long time and he knows his craft and that's understatement.

There's a documentary I just saw called "Pianomania" and here's a review from the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/aug/19/pianomania-review. The film's about a piano technician and his role as a collaborator with the pianists with whom he works.

[richard black]

I never quite followed exactly what the 'Phoenix' badge on a Steingraeber implies - has yours got the full carbon fibre soundboard and everything? I played one briefly at Hurstwood a couple of years ago and was mightily impressed. Too bad I'm not in the market for a new piano!

[polishookm]

Richard, it also took me a while to understand exactly what the Phoenix badge means. Basically, there are 3 kinds of Steingraeber to choose from. There's (first) Steingraeber - a piano made at their factory completely by them. There's (second) Steingraeber Phoenix  - a piano also entirely made at their factory. There's (third) a Phoenix, a piano with a Steingraeber acoustic body with all other manufacture done by Hurstwood to Steingraeber specification - including all Phoenix features.

My understanding is Phoenix features include bridge agraffes, a carbon fibre soundboard, a carbon fibre action a half blow pedal, and more. It's the bridge agraffes that distinguish a Steingreaber Phoenix model from a Steingraeber. Depending on date of manufacture not all Steingraeber Phoenix models have all Phoenix features - they were added in to the manufacture process over time. Early SPs have less of those features and later ones have more. But the best and most complete explanation of course would come from Hurstwood Farm.

The 205 I've acquired has a spruce soundboard with bridge agraffes and a half blow pedal (so not the carbon fibre soundboard).

There's also a difference in the logo between the first two pianos (Steingraeber and Steingraeber Phoenix). Steingraebers have the Steingraeber logo on the piano's faceplate and also on the side of the piano. Steingraeber Phoenix models have the exact same thing except the logo on the faceplate except is encased in two eagles.

https://hurstwoodfarmpianos.co.uk/images/page_images/npmStPx232cf-1.jpg

The "third" piano in this mix is designated as Phoenix w/wording on the faceplate to the effect of "acoustic body made by Steingraeber. So These pianos have a Steingraeber acoustic body and the rest of the piano is made by Hurstwood Farm to Steingraeber specifications - with all Phoenix features such as the carbon fibre soundboard. But for total accuracy on this it's best to contact Hurstwood Farm directly. Because of course they can explain all features and differences exactly.

If you've visited Hurstwood Farms you know well what a wonderful environment they've made there for pianos.