Is Brand Really Important in a Piano?

[amee]

I've played a couple lovely sounding pianos with not very well-known brand names so I've been wondering, is brand really that important in a piano?  

[frederic]

no!

[tosca1]

I would say yes and no.  Buying a piano represents a considerable investment and most of us would feel happier purchasing a piano of a brand that reassured us through its reputation and distinctive tonal qualities.

Branding helps us choose a piano as we may have specific preferences for piano tone. Do we want the power and brilliance of a Steinway or the warmth and velvet richness of Blüthner? The reputation and tonal characteristics of these two brands have been well established by 150 years of piano building.

There is now a plethora of little known piano brands that are often of asian origin which is not to say that there are no lovely sounding pianos among them.  

However, apart from the sound qualities of an instrument, tuning stability, durability and stuctural longevity are critical criteria in the choice of a piano and that rests primarily on the name and reputation of the maker.

Robert.  

[dinosaurtales]

Brand is only important as it relates to how and where the piano was built, and perhaps resale considerations.  Since each *brand* dicatates its own *specification*, each piano will be different, not only in the way it plays, sounds, and looks, but it how long it lasts.  This is where you would have to pay some attention to brand, because how it plays and sounds you can tell by playing it!