In Europe, is Schimmel as prestigious as the other German companies?

[onesurfer1]

I saw a 1999 Schimmel sp182t for $14,500 USD (I live in USA).
This piano is before their Konzert series and Classic series.
I've played their Classic series and like them.
However, I have no idea if Schimmel's reputation in Europe is considered
a top tier German piano...you know, like an August Foerster or Gotrian, etc.
or is Schimmel in the Kawai/Yamaha category (imo the Japanese pianos are
good pianos but not prestigious/highly-regarded).

[handz]

I would say that there is Steinway, Bechstein, Bluthner, Bossendorfer, Fazioli  and maybe  August Foerster on the top, Schimmel is I believe group two in the value and prestige rating.

[chrisbutch]

A glaring omission from your list is Steingraeber, which some now consider the best of all, as far as current output is concerned. Also the general opinion is that Bechstein is no longer in the top tier, Bluthner only intermittently so. Boesendorfer do now seem to be back on form after some years of very variable standards in the years immediately preceding the Yamaha takeover.

[visitor]

A glaring omission from your list is Steingraeber, which some now consider the best of all, as far as current output is concerned. Also the general opinion is that Bechstein is no longer in the top tier, Bluthner only intermittently so. Boesendorfer do now seem to be back on form after some years of very variable standards in the years immediately preceding the Yamaha takeover.

the other glaring omission is Ibach and 'sohns'.  Have always been fascinated by these, rare, never had a chance to play one but I want to try one, i have a feeling i would really like it given I liked the  Steingraeber grands I have played.  I believe they are the oldest maker , ie back to 1794.

I would also add Sauter and Siler to the mix. Those are super nice as well
https://seilerpianousa.com/
https://www.sauter-pianos.de/en

btw Schimmeys are great pianos.

https://www.ibach.de/eng/ibach-e.htm

[withindale]

Ibach is no more but the company built some great pianos.

[zaxa4]

Only the Steinway Hamburg;)

[kriatina]

I saw a 1999 Schimmel sp182t for $14,500 USD (I live in USA).
This piano is before their Konzert series and Classic series.
I've played their Classic series and like them.
However, I have no idea if Schimmel's reputation in Europe is considered
a top tier German piano...you know, like an August Foerster or Gotrian, etc.
or is Schimmel in the Kawai/Yamaha category (imo the Japanese pianos are
good pianos but not prestigious/highly-regarded).

"Schimmel" is very prestigious in Europe and they also have the very best reputation. Their wonderful instruments never fail to convince the listener with their warm and endearing tonality... I like listening to their tonality because it always  draws the listener to stop and listen ... and there is no harshness ...

[lluiscl]

I would say that there is Steinway, Bechstein, Bluthner, Bossendorfer, Fazioli  and maybe  August Foerster on the top, Schimmel is I believe group two in the value and prestige rating.

IMHO you forgot the two very best: Steingraeber and Grotrian!!

[hbofinger]

There are various views of Schimmel, I almost bought a new one a couple of decades ago. I am German, live in the U.S., and can give you the education I went through with Schimmel.

Larry Fine gives Schimmel a very high rating, and out of the box the quality overall really is quite high. So here in the U.S. they are sold as high-end hand made German instruments.

I went to a dealership in Germany that sold many brands, including new Bösendorfers, and the owner of the shop (which was also a piano factory, very well know in Germany, but I won't mention the name) said of his large Schimmel "well, at least they give it an aftertune."

Schimmels are NOT hand made - they are Germany's most mass-produced piano. You will not see a Schimmel on a concert stage. They are, though, at a very high standard for a mass produced piano. In this sense the quality is quite high. They are really Germany's Yamaha, and indeed, Yamaha has been involved in the company.

Also, even in mass produced pianos, you can have sudden gems. So if you find a Schimmel you really like - no, you are not buying a Bechstein, or a Blüthner, or a Bösendorfer, but you might be buying a very good piano that will hold up.

[chopinlover01]

I'm no piano salesman, but I'm going to throw in Grotrian to the list of hand built pianos everyone must try.