Steingraeber Phoenix 205 arrives tomorrow (11 September).

[polishookm]

My Steingraeber Phoenix 205 arrives tomorrow (11 September) from Hurstwood Farm Pianos. I've posted details on my blog about my experience there.

https://www.polishookstudio.com/2013/09/on-picking-piano-part-4.html

[kalee21]

Hello Mark,
My experience with the Steingraeber's at Hurstwood Farm very much mirrors your own.  You are of course further down the road than I am.

Your point on strength and character rather than something to be hidden is spot on - how so very very true.
My experience could be summed up in one word really, "beauty".

Perhaps you should delay taking delivery for about four months.  I am sure Richard at Hurstwood could find a very large quantity of Christmas paper wrapping!.

[polishookm]

kalee ...i COULD delay as you suggest ....   ... but .... 

thanx for reading what i wrote. with your choice, take your time. take your time. but having said that i'm looking forward to hearing how all works out for you. and best of luck in the process!

[chrisbutch]

Was there any particular reason why you chose the Steingraber Phoenix rather than Hurstwood Farm's 'own brand' Phoenix? In that version Steingraeber still make the case but everything else, including  Richard Dain's Phoenix system - bridge agraffes and carbon fibre soundboard - is fitted by Hurstwood Farm themselves. I think the Steingraeber-branded version is more expensive, probably because of a higher-quality case finish, but in other respects isn't greatly different. 

[polishookm]

chris,

in the end it came down to the instrument i liked and advice from hfp. i wrote that process up on my blog

https://www.polishookstudio.com/2013/09/on-picking-piano-part-4.html

hfp is a wonderful place because the help and assistance they offer really is matched only by the incredible range of pianos they stock. if you're looking for a piano they're a unique stop - the overall environment and experience there is different than any other piano shop i've visited.

[awesom_o]

Personally I preferred the regular Steingraebers to the Phoenix models.

I'm a traditionalist, however.
The 205 is incredible.
I'm glad to hear you have gotten such a magnificent instrument!

Please post pictures and/or recordings!

Congratulations.

[polishookm]

Awesom_o,

There are two videos at the end of this post

https://www.polishookstudio.com/2013/09/on-picking-piano-part-4.html

of me playing the 205 (day of purchase). And there's a stop motion vid I just added of the movers setting up the piano in my house.

I feel fortunate to have even found the 205. There aren't many left to find! The one I have has Phoenix bridge agraffes and the half-blow pedal but not the carbon fibre soundboard.

The thing is, every single piano I played at HFP was beautiful in it's own way. Thanks for your good cheer! Much appreciated

[awesom_o]

Ah.... I recall it was the carbon fiber soundboard that put me off slightly. It was the small size.... but the piano was exceedingly loud.... as though it had built-in-amplification.

The wooden Steingraebers to me had the best of both worlds. As rich, and tonally complex as a NY Steinway can be, with all of the evenness and smoothness that you would expect from Fazioli.

I enjoyed your playing-that bass player in your left hand can really walk around and do his own thing!

[polishookm]

awesom_o, sounds like you met a 168 or a 170? They're about 5'6" or so but they project all out of proportion to their size. I played a gorgeous (wood) 170 in London. My 205 kind of has the best of all worlds (well, for me) ... wooden soundboard with bridge agraffes.

.... I'm from the US but I live in Europe. Over here Hamburg is usually considered the apex predator in Steinway world .. But many of my friends in the states have A LOT to say (differently) to that

It's all so personal - tied up in taste and experience and the room in which the piano sits.

Sounds like you've met up with some wonderful, wonderful instruments ...

[kalee21]

I have found you can push the forte with Steingraebers to incredible heights without things getting  distorted and mushy, yet you do get all the wonderful colours Steinway players appreciate (though the Steingraeber version of overtones naturally).  These pianos just have such a huge dynamic range and the sound remains beautiful throughout this.  I am very new to the Steingraeber world, it seems like being liberated really.

[chrisbutch]

chris,

hfp is a wonderful place because the help and assistance they offer really is matched only by the incredible range of pianos they stock. if you're looking for a piano they're a unique stop - the overall environment and experience there is different than any other piano shop i've visited.

I know - I bought my own piano there, which is still serviced annually by that magician Geoff! However, that was bought when Hurstwood Farm was still dealing primarily in Bosendorfers, and the Phoenix system was still a model on Richard's desk looking for a piano builder to take it up - which Steingraeber were to do few years later.
Incidentally, you may be interested to know that Hurstwood Farm have also licensed the Phoenix system to a Chinese manufacturer, but with a strict agreement that those pianos are not for sale outside China.

[polishookm]

kalee21 ... i find the same as you. there is no limit on the upper end of dynamics!

chrisbutch .. geoff IS a magician. i TOTALLY agree!