Steinway Model A.

[texas911]

Hi, I'm about to purchase a new Steinway. I've tried out a couple of M's, L's and an A. I originally settled on a sweet sounding M but for not to much more, the new model A is very nice. Any opinions? Thanks!

[Michele Felice]

You are the one who has played and listened to these particular pianos. Pianos are individuals; no two of the same model are exactly alike. You have the wonderful opportunity here, and evidently the budget, to please yourself. Have at it.

[Rich D.]

When I was in NYC a couple of months ago I stopped at Steinway Hall and played a couple of the new Steinway A's.  My initial impression is that the action (I believe still made in Hamburg) was almost perfect.  Not heavy, but smooth as butter.  The treble was very sweet and clear, more European sounding than most Steinways, and a very powerful bass.  Overall an instrument that should satisfy even the most demanding pianist, which I am not.  The Steinway M is a nice instrument but not in the same league as the A.

Rich

[texas911]

Is the Model A action made in Hamburg? Which means its outsourced, right? The new Model A in the showroom I tried is a New York A, which they started to make this year. Should I be worried that its a "new" model?

[LJC]

Do not worry. The A is not a new model. It was made in New York but dropped from the line quite some time ago from New York but still made in the Hamburg factory. It has been updated and revived. Not sure about the action, if it wasnt made in NY its a Renner action which Hamburg uses on all their pianos. The Renner is excellent and made to Steinway specs. The A should outperform the M in every way.

[texas911]

Thanks. Yes you can hear the difference, I didn't think it would be THAT different from the L but it does sound better, at least to me. Fuller, deeper, rounder. If that can convery it. They only had one A which means I couldn't compare it. They had two of the L's and three M's, and they did play differently, although very subtley, I did have favorites in both groups. Now I'm worried that this is the only A, but I think that its just a bit of cold feet, this is seriously a lot of money for me. Thanks for all your insight!

[Axtremus]

Best way to deal with cold feet -- go back to the store and play the piano again, confirm if it still sounds good and plays well. Good luck.

[iumonito]

Beautiful instrument, no doubt.  But with that kind of a budget and near NY City, you owe to yourself to try some other brands.  Here is a short list of other pianos I would suggest you try.

Fazioli
August Forster (sorry, I have no umlaut)
Steingraeber
Bluthner
and of course my beloved Irmler.

The model A is about 6'4" so you should compare it in sound to the models around 190 cm to 205 cm.  I have a strong preference for pianos around 215-225cm, which you can buy for cheaper than a new Steinway A.

Good luck.

[Michele Felice]

Iumonito makes a very good point. It seems that you may be particularly brand- and model-designation-conscious (which is not at all unusual). If you can get beyond the idea that you must have a Steinway, you will open yourself up to a much wider range of musical qualities. Once you have experienced other pianos which may be excellent or superior in different musical ways than Steinways, you may become clearer regarding your own impressions on what it is you want in terms of performance (rather than label).

[texas911]

I knew it was just a matter of time before the "try another brand" thing came up. I've read this forum up and down while shopping, and the topics always degraded to "try any other brand except for Steinway" when Steinways are mentioned.

I tried other brands but the allure of Steinway has always been there for me and my wife. So Please Please don't rain on our parade! I know there are cheaper pianos that sound as good or maybe even better, or could have gone used to save money, but this is a dream come true for us. Very personal. Thanks.

[G.Fiore]

 The new A is based on the old A-ll. This piano is 188cm or 6'2" in length. It is completely made in NY,  and has a NY Steinway action not Hamburg.
 While I like this piano quite a bit, I'd say if you're going to spend that kind of money you should really get a model B for just a bit more.

[robertp]

I don't think iumonito and Michele are trying to rain on your parade!

You're right that it is indeed very personal. I can identify with the allure factor. In my case, it was Baldwin.  But allure factor can change over time. So I decided I'd try a number of other makes. A win-win situation. If I didn't like any of them, I would be content with another Baldwin...forever. If I did like any of them better -- then I'd be saving myself some grief down the line. I, at least, feel most comfortable knowing that what I've seen/heard/played confirms my personal feelings. And if it disconfirms it -- well, as I said, a win-win situation.

[Michele Felice]

Those who prefer to see the world in black and white will never enjoy the richness of all the shades of gray that lie before them.

[texas911]

Hey thanks everyone for their thougths. Ended up with the Steiway A. I've tried others, but just wanted to fufill my childhood dream. Regardless, its still a very fine piano and I don't have one regret whatsoever.

As far as the black and white thing, why is it that Steinway always seems to be the wrong choice with people on this board? A bit of snooty snoot? Its like with most "popular" high end items, there are always people who'll hate it for what it stands for. ie, Mercedes Benz, Rolex, Steinway, etc...

[iumonito]

No rain, no rain.  Sunny parade for you and your wife.  A Steinway dream come true; congrats.

That being said (no clouds, worry not), I would consider it a mistake if I had the budget to buy a Steinway A (how much is that?  About $50K?  No need to reveal, but just to make sure what I am telling you has basis in fact) and I did not even considered expanding my dream to "the best piano this money can buy me."

That being so, I would take a trip to Gaithersburg, try a well prepped Steingraeber 205 and a Mason BB and or take a trip to New Jersey and try an August Forster 215 out of the box.  If after that I still wanted the Steinway, I would enjoy my dream-piano even more.  These three pianos I just mentioned to you are not only bigger, they are extraordinary.  Very much a piano worth dreaming.

Please forgive me for giving you this perspective.  Naturally, please disregard it if you are simply not interested, as you certainly are entitled to.

Cheers,

[Axtremus]

A Steinway is more than just a piano just like a Rolex is more than just a watch and a Mercedes is more than just a car. These marquee brands are symbols of wealth and social stature, developed over decades of very clever and very expensive marketing. Manufacturers of other brands may make technically "better" mouse traps, but they (and their supporters) cannot expect those other brands to achieve the same level of symbolism without also having those other manufacturers invest as heavily in brilliant, consistent, expensive marketing over the span of decades. (And if they do, they would have to pay significantly more for those other brands too. There is no free lunch.)

A Steinway plays just fine as a piano, a Rolex keeps time just fine, a Mercedes gets you from point A to point B just fine -- and they all do what they do with style.

Congratulations to texas911 on the new piano!

(p.s. Do you drive a Porche 911? Just wonder if you ever go into a sports car forum, ask about a Porche, and people tell you to go test drive all the other obscure brands of boutique sports cars. )

[iumonito]

Since we are at it, if you know watches you know Rolex is not the only fine watch, just as Mercedes is not the only fine car.  If the game is to own the brand all know I care little about the choice; if the goal is to have a fine watch or a fine car, you need to look at the Omegas, Longines and Tissots and the Audis and BMWs and Bentleys.

It is the same principle.  I drive a Volkswagen and get my time from a Seiko. 

[robertp]

Texas911---

Congrats! Serious and sincere congrats! You got the piano of your dreams. It suits you and you suit it. And since the object of the exercise is to make music, I'm sure you and yours will make the very best you can on your chosen instrument. Can't argue with any of that.

Since you raised the question of why all the OpEd around here, a couple of random thouhgts....

1. This is an "Instruments" board. Which means us denizens are here because we think about them a lot. Any number of very active pianists on the other boards seldom, if ever, make an appearance. Which means, inevitably, any question about a given make of piano is going to get OpEd. Usually a lot of it.

2. Speaking personally. I've played a lot of Steinways, from uprights to concert grands. Virtually all the lessons I've ever had have been on them. Fine pianos, no doubt about it. But only a couple have made a personal connection with me. If I'd have played one of those when I was shopping, I would have probably gotten it. But I didn't find one. From my previous post, I was biased towards Baldwin. Didn't find one which suited me either. I did find a piano which spoke to me, an August Foerster. And that took care of that. For me, it's not the name, it's the piano. I don't discount the Rolex factor for some, but it's not a factor for me. Different strokes (er, rotations  ) and all that. As I started, the object is to make music with a dream instrument. If Rolex is a factor, so be it. If it isn't, so be it.

[LJC]

Hey Texas, Congrats on the A. It is one fine piano. I have tried about every piano I could find at one time or another and when I recently upgraded I bought a Steinway. It wasnt because of the snob value though I feel good about that logo when I sit down it was because it was the best piano I have ever played and I have played many since I started 46 years ago. Just because someone else likes another brand better it doesnt mean anyone else does.

[texas911]

Thanks. Got it delivered today and am still in shock, but very very happy. Can't seem to get the smile of my face! Hey no hard feelings, we all love our pianos. That's how it should be.

This place is for piano fans and I respect everyone's opinion (that's why I came here in the first place)!

[hgiles]

Steinway A should be perfect!  I would love to have one too, but couldn't afford one.  I ended up with an imitation Steinway A.