What is your favorite piano brand?

I have an Estonia.  Admittedly, it drives like a tank but when it has been regulated and tuned, I am astonished at how much control I have over the sound.  It is super rich and full of nuance.  I just love it.

While it is a far smaller company and lesser known brand, I have been playing on a 1985 Charles R. Walter Studio Upright piano for the last couple of years and absolutely love the sound. I had previously been quite partial to both Steinway and Borsendorfer, but I really fell in love with the sound of this piano.

When I looked for my piano about ten years ago, I was a bit embarrassed to play them in a showroom, and felt odd playing really nice pianos as an intermediate. The salesmen/women, however, often told me that people ending successful careers and coming back to piano were their best market segment. I played many different models, from Steinways,  Bosendorfers, Yamahas, Kawais, etc. There were instruments I liked and disliked in every brand. I ultimately purchased a Mason and Hamlin Model A (baby grand).  It has a wonderful action and beautiful tonal qualities, and allows me to play softly with some control and has plenty of power for my house. When I sat and played it I knew immediately that it was the one I wanted.

Steinway and Yamaha. I love the Steinway sound, unique as a result of the woods used and its manufacturing processes. I bought my first one at Steinway & Sons in NYC many years ago. Choosing it was quite the experience.

Yamaha is my second choice. Manhattan School of Music had Yamaha pianos in all practice studios when I studied there. A fantastic workhorse. And Yamaha is the one acoustic piano company  that’s been investing in technology and diversifying its instruments like no other. 

Fazioli, without a doubt.  I had occasion to select a concert grand for a performance several years ago.  The dealership in NYC/Manhattan from whom the instrument was rented had a Fazioli F 278 and several Steinway D 274s from which to choose.  There was absolutely no comparison.  The Fazioli was sublime and the Steinways, in the same room (so comparison was direct),,were great, of course, but didn't measure up.

I like Fazioli pianos

Shigeru Kawai also brings up my attention  .  Yamaha grand piano stable quality 

Like so many of you I’ve played a lot of different pianos. I love a Steinway, I’ve always felt that Bösendorfer a bit on the heavy side. I played a Fazioli for a diploma and I really felt I was wrestling that piano, mainly because the sustain pedal was so stiff that pushing it down kept pushing me to the back of the piano stool so I kept having to wriggle forward to reach the keys whilst trying to get the pedal to go down. I’ve never had such a experience before or since - thankfully! When choosing a new piano a few years ago I was really impressed by the Shigeru Kawai but top of the lot for me has to be the warmth, responsiveness and many coloured tones of a Bechstein. Unbeatable- although a Steinway does come close.

I’d be very interested to play some other American makes you have mentioned but I haven’t come across one of them yet.

I have owned two Shigeru Kawaii (SK2) and (SK5) and now I have a Bosendorfer VC185 - the SK5 was my favorite - not only loved the sound but also loved the carbon fiber action. The Boesendorfer feels nice but just so much heavier.

I don't know about on the concert stage but in my home I am very happy with my restored 1915 Masons & Hamlin AA (6'4") . Made in Boston. Still are. Weighs in at 900 lbs vs 695 for similar size (6'2")  Steinway. 100 sq inches more soundboard., 3.25" rim vs 2.5'. Tension resonator. Adds up to rich bass and bell like treble for its size. 

Had a large upright Yamaha that was excellent. 

Played an incredible new Bosendorder concert grand at a museum in New Mexico. 

And really love the delicate tone of a Pleyel 4' grand in Paris. 

Played a Steinway B at a church in North Carolina. Piano was nice but the room acoustics were incredible. I think that factor is maybe as important as the piano itself. 

Not to be a piano snob, but I am old enough to have had some amateur experience.  My first substantial piano was a concert grand Baldwin.  In 1973 it fit nicely almost wall to wall in my apartment.  Then I heard about a rebuilt Steinway D at the store in New York and flew out to interview.  Loved it and shipped it home, to a larger house with music room.  Great treble sound!  Next, sadly in 1991, a close friend died who owned a 1962 Bosendorfer (yes the 97-key one, but only 2 pedals), which Leonard Bernstein played that year at the Vienna Koncerthaus.  (Mozart Concerto).

    Well crazier things occurred when Oscar Peterson came to town in 1992 and had shipped in a new Bosendorfer for a local concert.  After the concert it went on sale at the local piano store and guess who bought it.

Have loved it ever since that time and still trying to do it justice.  I guess if you are a piano junky there is no hope.