What kind of Piano do you play?

What Kind of Piano do you play??

Let us know, it is so interesting to hear about all the different brands and kinds!

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    • Rodney
    • Rodney
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    I play a 1983 Imperial  Bosendorfer, which I purchased after Oscar Peterson played a concert on it locally at that time.  I previously inherited a 1962 (?) Imperial Bosendorfer autographed by Aldo Ciccollini, and Leonard Bernstein performed a Mozart concerto on it at the Gewandhaus Wien.  It had only two pedals but heavenly sound.  I sold it when I acquired the 1983.

    I feel quite blessed and undeserving as a hack hobbyist,

    Thanks for asking..

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    • Rodney Hi Rodney, I think I played your Bosendorfer sometime in the 80s (or was it 90s)! I was in a repertory group and one of our members had two Bosendorfers in his music room.

      --Jack

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      • Rodney
      • Rodney
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      Jack Tilford 

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      • Rodney
      • Rodney
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      Rodney That would be me in the 80's.  I remember your name but not your playing; I'm sure it was superb.  We still have Soirees but nobody in my age group wants to perform.  We have Steinway Society concert guests come for small events.  Just one piano now in a different house.

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    • Rodney I well remember your wonderful playing of the Revolutionary Etude. I'm not quite there yet... :)

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      • Michael
      • Art Historian, Musculoskeletal Radiologist, Former Harpsichordist
      • MichaelP
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      Rodney I’ve come very close to buying a Bose many times, and even ran into well-priced Imperials. I’ve wondered: are they particularly sensitive to changes in humidity, or fussy to maintain technically? I’d like an Imperial if I can find one again, but I don’t have a gigantic room. Do you think an instrument of that size requires an especially large space to be useable?

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    • Tim
    • Tim
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    I'm blessed to have a Shigeru Kawaii SK5. I did not originally intend to buy such a fantastic piano, but as I kept trying others, I realized that this will be one of the biggest purchases of my life and unlike other big purchases (such as a car), I will likely have it my entire life.

     

    I bought it a year ago, and with each new Shigeru - Kawaii sends a technician/artisan from Japan to your home to regulate and voice and make the piano perfect after you've had it a year. The sound is absolutely amazing and being a very intermediate pianist - I do know how lucky I am.

     

    As I'm older, I've earmarked this piano to give to my piano teacher. He deserves a much better piano that he currently has and it also gives me great joy to know one day it will pass to someone who will appreciate such a fine handmade instrument.

    Like 4
      • Heidi
      • Heidi_Basarab
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      Tim I had a similar experience. I was exploring pianos at a lower price point and the salesperson suggested I "just try" a Shigeru. I think he knew what would happen ... I raided my IRA to get it. No regrets. It is a magical creature!

      Like 1
    • waynegb
    • waynegb
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    A Kawai MP11SE, which has the closest action to a grand that I could find in a keyboard, and one piano voice (SK Concert Grand) that, at least to my ears, sounds surprisingly good connected to our high quality stereo with subwoofer. No room for anything bigger these days, but grew up with a Krakauer and later played on a Steinway.

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    • Carol
    • Carol
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    I play a Yamaha G3 6'1" in my living room and a Kawai US-50 in my studio.  Both on the bright side, of course.  My piano tuner/technician softened the hammers on the Yamaha (early 1980's) and has made the sound much nicer, so if you have an older bright piano, try that!  I enjoy playing the Yamaha much more now, as the harshness is GONE!!  I enjoy the upright as well, since the sound is "in your face", being that you're so close to the strings.  If I could only play one, it would have to be the Yamaha, which came to me almost as a gift.  I often wonder what piano I would buy if I could shop for one......Forgot to add that I have a NORD grand keyboard in my studio, which is very nice.

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  • I have a 1964 Steinway L that my parents bought new when I was young (hammers and hammershanks were replaced about twenty years ago). It has a quick action ("supple" according to my technician) and it will be with me forever. In my other place I just got a Yamaha YUS-5, which I also like very much.

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  • I play a 2010 Pfeiffer 191 (approx. 6'3") grand piano and a W. Hoffmann upright piano from 1987. The W. Hoffmann was still built in Langlau (Germany) before they were acquired by C. Bechstein in the early '90s.

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    • Matt
    • Matt
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    I have a 6'3" Blüthner, made in (East) Germany in 1986. I think Blüthner is probably the least well-known of the handmade German pianos. I first played one in a piano shop about 10 years ago and fell in love with it. I baulked at the price for a while, but in 2020, during the Covid lockdown, I finally took the leap purchased my current model. 

     

    I adore this instrument. The touch is sensitive and responsive, the tone is pure and warm, the bass rumbles, the treble sings. It is a far better instrument than I am an artist! 

     

    Previous to this piano, I had a vintage Baldwin, which I also loved. 

     

    (I also have a Yamaha YDP-144 for quiet practice.)

    Like 3
      • marina
      • pianophile
      • marina
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      Matt 

      One of my pianos is a 5’9” 1912 Blüthner. I bought it unseen (!!!) but did get it checked over by my tech. Such instruments are exceedingly rare here in NZ ( as are most other European brands ). It has beautiful tone with real character and soul. The registers have different timbres. The bass is warm and chocolatey and the treble bell like with the extra aliquot string. Wonderful. It has a patent action so doesn’t repeat fast and is a bit irregular. But I feel like I’m communing with it rather than playing on it. 

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    • Matt I love the sound of Bluthners, which are unlike any other piano. 

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  • I have an Estonia 190 that I bought new in 2006. I also have a 1937 Steinway M that has new hammers and action from two years ago. Why I have two grand pianos ... it's complicated ...

    The Estonia is a very nice piano. It tends to be bright, but isn't harsh. It's consistent and even throughout.

    The Steinway is a bit temperamental but can sound warm and singing at its best. It's a perfect fit for the room it's in (medium-sized living room).

    They are both easy to play, and it's a nice luxury to have such different pianos at hand.

    Like 3
  • I'm very happy with my Schimmel C182 (6') grand. It makes me feel like I can play better. My harpsichord is a double manual french commissioned from Yves Beaupres of Montreal. 

    Like 1
  • I have a Kawai k800. Because it is less than a year old I am not yet experiencing the True Tone of the instrument. I’d be glad to hear from you what you think of this piano (vs say a baby grand in a similar price range). 

    Like 1
    • Alherne cupido I have the same piano and am loving it! Just wish I have more time to play on it though…

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    • Kathy
    • Kathy.1
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    I have a restored 1928 Ellington baby grand by Baldwin.  It was purchased for my mother In 1928, and my grandmother paid off the piano by growing and selling flowers for my great uncle’s florist shop.  She had to take the flowers to the train in Omaha and send to the shop in Sioux City, Iowa.  She made payments of $5.00 a month until the piano was paid off.  She owed $500.00 at that time.  In 1928, the Ellington cost around $1200.00; however, my grandfather was a plumber and got a discount by providing plumbing for the music store.

     

    My mother played by ear, but did take formal lessons.  In the mid 70’s, the piano went to my cousins in California for several years and then came back to Omaha for a few more.  In 1984, the piano was sent to San Antonio to my brother’s.  
     

    In 2018, my brother called me and asked if I wanted the piano. At first, I said no because it was in pretty bad shape by 2018 ( finish was scratched, ivories had fallen off the keys, keys were sticking, etc.).  In fact, I told him to give it to the good will.  Then one night, I started researching piano restorers and settled on Lindeblad in New Jersey.  They said they would pick up the piano in San Antonio, evaluate it, and if it could be restored, would quote me a price, fix it, and then ship to Omaha.  Luckily, my brother didn’t listen to me about the Good Will.  He said I could have the piano, so I called Lindeblad and the process begun.

     

    Well, as you can guess, the quote was very high, but the sound board was in good shape.  I decided to restore the piano because of the sentimental value.  I know I could have bought a new piano for less money, but  it was my mother’s and a family treasure.  After about a year of restoration, the piano came to Omaha.  The Lindeblad company did an excellent job.  It was refinished, restored, and looked like new.

     

    I also added the Disc player piano system which is wonderful.

     

    After about 30 years, I started taking piano lessons again and love practicing. My teacher is from Russia, and has helped me become more musical.  Although playing the piano is just a hobby now, I am excited for the lessons, and try to practice daily, which I didn’t do as a child.

    Like 3
    • Kathy Beautiful story!

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    • Suzanne
    • Suzanneferree
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    My beloved piano is a 1925 Steinway M.  After a year and a half search, I found it on, of all places,  Craigslist, in 2014.  It was offered by a wonderful couple who were downsizing and moving.  I had the hammer action replaced (with Steinway hammers, Renner action), new bushings, etc., and then the next year I had the damper action rebuilt (NY Steinway).

    Steinway can provide you with the completion date and delivery destination for your serial number.  I learned it was completed on June 7, 1926 and delivered to Griffith Piano Co. in Newark NJ. I love having that sort of historical information.  At some point it made its way west to California, then to Chicago where eventually it found me.

    Like 2
  • I have a 1909 NY Steinway O that was completely rebuilt but kept its original soundboard in 2015.  It was replaced with Renner action and hammers.  It has a very sweet tone and the action is even and responsive.  I also have a small upright Yamaha LU201C (Made in Japan) upstairs which I have kept since I was a teenager. 

    Like 1
  • I have a Steinway model M and a 1944 concert grand Steinway 

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    • kluurs
    • kluurs
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    I'm on my fifth Steinway grand.  It is a Steinway B rebuilt by the folks at PianoCraft in MD.  I had previously had a new Steinway B - but the PianoCraft folks were able to produce a superior piano more tailored toward my tonal and action requirements.  I only wish my room was a bit bigger as the piano can project gorgeously.    

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