choice of wood affect the sound of the piano? Opinion to Seiler please!!!

[annawong8002]

I came across a Seiler piano today ( 180 cm Florenz) in mahogany that sounds perfectly sweet  and apparently better than the 186 cm ebony Seiler next to it. I wonder if the choice of wood (for example: redwood, mahogany, ebony) would affect the sound quality of the piano or it is just for outlook enhancing purpose? this piano 6 ft who  was made of mahogany cost US$42000  while its 6"3 ebony cost US$18000 only.

I played on them and the 180 Florenz Seiler definitely have sound that is better (obvious even for laymen) than the ebony. I wonder if the better sound quality is the result of different wood material or some other reasons?

thanks for sharing!!

[Axtremus]

The wood finish (mahogany, redwood, rosewood, bubinga, whatever) is only a very thin layer of wood veneer glued to the outside and polished to a shine. Behind that thin layer, every piano of the same model uses the exact same type of wood.

Pianos, even those of the same model and with the same exact wood finishes, naturally varies in sound. Some company allows a bigger variance than others. But the outer most layer of wood veneer by itself won't affect the sound. The amount of preparation the dealer puts into the pianos make more difference than most other factors (and it is quite possible that because of the beautiful wood finish on the outside and the associated higher price, the dealer chooses to pay more attention to the preparation of that piano than other black pianos of the same model that sells cheaper).

So don't worry about the outer wood finish -- it's just for look, not for sound.

If it sounds good to you, it is good.

Good luck.

[jr11]

Any pianos, especially those handbuilt, can vary greatly from one instrument to another. I have played two 208 Seilers, literally side by side, and they were two completely different pianos.

Really, asking questions about piano brands and models on-line makes for interesting conversation, but opinions (mostly) are little better than generalizations. Are all Japanese people or German people alike? There are general traits. How about those from the same town? From the same family? You get the picture. They are still individuals.