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.
195 replies
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Thanks Peter. That's what I mean. There are these special kind of people around who can work magic but it is rare and involves some luck in living close to where they are too. As far as I know I don't think there is anyone where I live with this kind of experience, training and skill.
That situation would make me rather uncomfortable. I have been blessed to meet many exceptional piano technicians in my life who were and are regarded the "top of the cream" in their art (not business), so I feel with you when you have no easy access to one of these people.
I'm actually growing fond of my piano sound now (although it is still exactly too loud/bright/overpowering for the room when I play anything that is loud and complicated). This is maybe why I'm drawn to Schubert at the moment and I stick to the Piano / Pianissimo typical pieces and it is just beautiful. My project in the next months is to maybe try to find some panels or build them myself with some insulation in to try to tame the room and reflections etc.
That's the right start. Acoustic foam panels are inexpensive and not hard to install. Adding some heavy curtains brought an initially unbearable room for pianos down to actually using it as a recording studio. None of the pianos is overpowering anymore, so this is something you should do as soon as possible.
My thought was to try this first as I think I am gambling by letting someone who doesn't know very much to voice the hammers down. If this effectively kills the Bösendorfer sound then I'd be devastated.
You should read "Grand Obsession" by Perry Knize in order to understand why there are technicians out there who should never be allowed in the closer vicinity of a nice grand piano. They baffle you with their "experience" and come fully armed with a chemistry laboratory - to destroy your piano's hammers. Read and weep.
When you say a skilled technician can "adapt the character of the piano to your room" I hope you mean that it still will retain its Bösendorfer DNA?
Think of Michelangelo's statue "David" - the actual statue is already in the raw piece of rock - and all it needs is the hand of an artist to bring it out. That's what's happening when you let a real artist voice your piano. The hammers will be more elastic and resilient, the sound will get less shrill and harsh, the miniscule regulation of the action will give you full control of the piano - and while the dynamic range will drastically get bigger, it will become less painful to your ear.
The DNA isn't only there, it's just waiting to be brought out for the first time in the life of this piano.
You are very lucky to be living where you are. I've always dreamed of living in Austria (even before I saw the "Sound of Music" as a kid. Maybe if my room treatments fail or I can't find someone I trust to do this work I just may have to consider packing my bags and bring my piano back home.
The "Sound of Music" film and the Musical it was adapted from is nothing an Austrian can and will relate to. It's an American phenomenon without any real meaning to Austrian life.
Anyway, I have just sold our Bösendorfer Imperial to an American gentleman, who wanted to make true of two of his life's wishes: 1.) To own an actual concert grand piano and 2.) live in Austria. Through his grandmother's and mother's ancestry he actually has Austrian citizenship and he decided to move to Graz in January and the contacted me about the 'Imperial'.
My technician has just spent two days in Graz regulating and voicing the piano - and I have a really happy customer. Maybe that story is an inspiration.
As to technicians: In your case I would try to locate a Yamaha or Kawai trained technician and let them handle your piano. They won't dazzle you with chemical voodoo and instead actually prepare the piano for your room very well.