Piano Manufacturers and Brands: A discussion!
Hello Everyone!
Here is a place for us to chat about our favorite pianos, questions, and general conversation!
What instruments have you loved playing lately? Which brands surprised you (in a good or bad way)? Have your preferences changed over time as your ears and technique developed?
Feel free to share:
• Your favorite grands or uprights you’ve played
• Differences you notice between brands in touch or color
• Hidden gems or underrated makers
• Questions you have if you’re shopping or comparing instruments
No right answers here — just experiences and impressions. Curious to hear what everyone is playing and why it speaks to you.
125 replies
-
I am not an advanced player by any stretch of imagination. Had a Yamaha Clavinova at home for about 10 years. Played it off and on - very very elementary repertoire - could read a bit. Then in June of 2023 I walked into a store in Raleigh and spend 2 hours trying out a few older pianos a 1930's Steinway, a Baldwin and a Kawai. I told the sales person that I didn't like the sound of these really old piano's , so she showed me new one a Essex ( entry model - has a Designed by Steiway - written on it :-) ) For some strange reason I really liked the sound and with great trepediation decided to buy it knowing fully well that my playing was far from deserving a baby grand 5ft 2". The store told me they would let me upgrade if I didn't like it for full cost. Got it delivered at home and have played almost every day. Gradually took some of most rudimentary classes at TB and am absolutely enjoying playing my piano. The repertoire has gotten slightly advanced as well. A fellow tonebase member - way higher level than me- heard me play a year ago and then a couple of weeks ago and said the playing had come a long way.! Not sure if she was just being polite.. But I do play everyday and enjoy the Essex - would absolutely recommend it for anyone.
-
Often the discussion about pianos focuses on the quality of the sound (of course!) or affordability. I live in central BC, Canada and I have learned to really value customer care and servicing access since the major urban centres are in the south of the province. I can say my experience with Yamaha has been nothing short of phenomenal. I am quite particular and my technician here recommended Yamaha for this reason. I had an issue with one piano's pedal and they upgraded me to a YUS-5 because they wanted me to be happy with my piano - they shipped it to me directly from their factory. Three years later, they allowed me to trade it back at full value to put toward my current piano, a C2X studio grand.
I would absolutely love a steinway as I played on them regularly at university and they just seem to fit my playing so perfectly. However, the C2X is really quite beautiful and really fits better for where I live and what I have access to for support. Definitely worth keeping in mind since a piano is going to need a lot of care to keep the action regulated and the tone sounding its best.
-
Steinway is my favorite in both uprights and grands of varying sizes. It has an amazingly sonorous sound. I’ve played on many different brands. Yamaha is my second favorite.
-
Certainly an interesting thread here, with lots of good new information. Thanks. (And I think a better place for it than during the livestream.) 1. To me the inertia weight of the keys is extremely important. Our Baldwin 6 foot from the mid-1980s has marvellous tone but it is difficult to play extended fast runs/etudes without developing a bad habit of trying to muscle the fingers. I suspect most players who develop into real virtuosos did not learn on super heavy actions. 2. To the average listener/non-aficiando, I think most grand pianos all sound about the same; 3. Best piano I have ever played was a Fazioli baby grand. It had a perfect action and great tone control. 4. Falcone (I think out of Boston, Massachusetts) made some great pianos in I think the 1990s. 5. Maria, it sounds like you could open a piano shop! :)
-
said:
1. To me the inertia weight of the keys is extremely important. Our Baldwin 6 foot from the mid-1980s has marvellous tone but it is difficult to play extended fast runs/etudes without developing a bad habit of trying to muscle the fingers. I suspect most players who develop into real virtuosos did not learn on super heavy actions.I agree; most Baldwins I have played have been slow/unresponsive/stiff. My Seiler has a heavier action but is quite fast and responsive. I actually think heavier actions are easier to control sometimes, as long as they are also fast.
said:
2. To the average listener/non-aficiando, I think most grand pianos all sound about the sameI can usually tell the brand and model by sound, and also visually, but I think a lot of people can't. I think most people can learn to identify pianos, though!
said:
3. Best piano I have ever played was a Fazioli baby grand. It had a perfect action and great tone control.
I have played an F228 and an F308. The F228 seemed "uncooperative" and I think it had a lot of potential but may not have wanted me to play it!
said:
4. Falcone (I think out of Boston, Massachusetts) made some great pianos in I think the 1990s.
I know there is a company called Falcone that manufactures stencil pianos in China. I believe they are owned by Parsons. Are they related?
said:
5. Maria, it sounds like you could open a piano shop! :)
I want to be a piano tech. Maybe I will open a piano shop at some point!
-
said:
most Baldwins I have played have been slow/unresponsive/stiff. My Seiler has a heavier action but is quite fast and responsive. I actually think heavier actions are easier to control sometimes, as long as they are also fast.Have you tried the SD-10? It has a Renner action and mine is actually on the light side, which is ideal for me. It's actually lighter than that of the excellent M&H BB on which I made a recording last year.
-
It would be interesting to know the knee height of everyone's pianos.
-
-
Another question for everyone:
Which piano do you think is best for each composer's music?
For example: Bösendorfer for Debussy and Ravel
-
I owned a Baldwin L but really wanted a Steinway B. I looked for five years and finally found one that would not let go of my heart and brain. It was a worthwhile purchase.
A couple a weeks ago, about ten of us who met via Tonebase (Thank you, Dominic) toured the Steinway Factory in Astoria, NY -from the kind courtesy of the Steinway dealer in Columbus, OH, Graves Piano.
It was jaw dropping to see the meticulousness of these pianos being built by smiling employees. I spoke to several. They had worked there for over 30 years, loved it, and have no intention of retiring.
