I was wondering what are some of your opinions on the best pianos. And don't be limited to price. Which ones would you regard as top? I personally love Steinway the BEST and I found that some of the Yamahas are not bad either. I don't like Bosendorfer though. What are some opinions?

-- SE (sphinxel@hotmail.com), March 14, 2001

Answers

I really enjoy my 6'1" Kawai GS-40 that I've had for about 12 years. I don't believe they make the GS series anymore, with the exception of the 9' concert grand (GS-100, I think).

-- Jim Woodside (jdwoodside@hotmail.com), March 14, 2001.

Last August my parents invested into a Yamaha 5'3" baby grand for me. It's really nice, though I think I'd still like a Steinway. I'll invest in that myself when I get a house, but for now, my main preference is Yamaha. :) The key action is what I like best of that brand.

-- Julie (alwayznsync_2k@hotmail.com), March 15, 2001.

Julie, I agree. The key action of Yamaha is quite nice. However, a Steinway's tone colour is just much wider. That's in my experience. It could be different for other people I guess..

-- SE (sphinxel@hotmail.com), March 16, 2001.

I think it all depends on the individual piano. My little Kawai has been great for me for 15 years now. I love it. But other Kawai's I don't like. Same with the other brands. I have not found a Young Chang I like yet. I usually don't like Chickerings, but I have played on some stupendous ones (one was found by one of my student's family in the basement of a Catholic school. Gorgeous old grand for $500! They lucked out!). I love Steinways, of course, but they are not as good as they used to be. At least the ones I've played on. I've played on some great Baldwins and awful Baldwins. My favorite practice piano at school is a Yamaha, even tho the rest of the rooms have Steinways. The new Boston piano is good. My friend just bought a Boston grand that is amazing!!!! This is a confusing message becuase every piano is different!

-- Julie2 (knerr@uiuc.edu), March 17, 2001.

Thanks, Julie2, for the response! I guess one'd have to take into account the conditions as well, huh? Humid/dry? Might have different influences as well on certain "brands". Yamaha is definitely not bad at all, I have in fact liked all of the Yamaha's that I've played on so far. I haven't generally been impressed by Kawai's, but as you say each piano is different!

-- SE (sphinxel@hotmail.com), March 21, 2001.

I prefer Hamburg Steinways over all other pianos. They have a great action and a brilliant sound. Yamahas produce quite good pianos. Richter preferred Yahamas because of their pianissimo. Gould also played on Yamahas at the end of his career. I haven't seen any good Baldwin around and when I heard Abbey Simon play live, the Baldwin ruined his playing (which was great).

-- Christian (cpb7079@griffon.mwsc.edu), May 07, 2001.

HA! You all are forgetting about Bosendorfer!

-- Zeldah Hanson (slw@cape.com), July 20, 2001.

Bosendorfer? Well - I don't know, the ones I have played on weren't that good. But like everyone has said, pianos differ. One Bosendorfer may play better than another. Depends on its design, condition etc.

-- SE (noname_poster@yahoo.com), July 20, 2001.

Pramberger is great too.

-- Juman (jumanlee@hotmail.com), November 29, 2001.

We spent a lot of time looking for a piano and finnaly decided on a Steinway model B. This is just an awesome piano! I fell in love with the tone. There is some work to do on the dampers and action, nothing major, but it did factor into our ability to negotiate a lower price.

So Steinways are, in my opion, the BEST pianos ever made. However, each piano is very different and must be evaluated as such.

Also, I think a lot of people buy smaller grand pianos, such as less than 5' 10", thinking that the sound is better than an upright, just because it is a grand piano. I FIND THIS IS FALSE.

Kawai makes some EXCELLENT upright pianos, with great sound, and, in my opinion, the BEST action of any upright piano. These pianos give you a lot of instrument for the money. It was our second choice, and would have saved us a ton of money. However we went for the much more expensive (5 times more)Steinway and have never looked back.

If you have any questions make a post here, and I may answer in a month or so. I don't give out my email because of all the crap I get.

Thanks

Fred.

-- Freddie (fake@nowhere.com), February 19, 2002.

I have a Yamaha G3 (is it 6'1"?) and I love it. It is a little bright for the small room that it is in, but the action is wonderful. Our church just bought a Boston 5'10" (like new, but used) and I was disappointed in it at first because it seemed almosted muted. Our tuner/technician "hardened" the hammers and now the piano sounds wonderful. Has a much different voice than mine. I was at a piano workshop one time (and the only time I've heard a Bosendorfer--it must've been about 9') and I could not believe the clarity of the bass keys! I've never heard anything like it. Didn't play it, tho, so I don't know how they feel.

-- cbk (kandoll@mitkof.net), February 21, 2002.

Bechstein! I have a beautiful Bechstein upright. It left Germany - lived with me in South Africa, then followed me to Canada and now resides in the United States! I will NEVER part with it. ...In love with my Bechstein.

-- megan kennedy (meegieloo@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002.

We fully intended to purchase a Steinway M or L last year and I thought my wife was crazy when she called from a store which handled Steinway and Mason & Hamlin and said she preferred the Mason Hamlin...I'm no expert but knew the Steinway name. I listened to them and also preferred the Mason & Hamlin sound (also prefer the sturdier look). I understand MH finishes may not be quite as good as Steinway out of the box but we bought from company that is also a refinisher and the piano was perfect.

-- John Fowlkes (jfowlkes1@msn.com), December 27, 2002.

I'm not a pro. I don't have much money. I bought myself a cheap W.Hoffmann upright piano for 2500 Euro and I'm concentrating on playing. Talking about brands is like looking for an excuse because you can't dance. (wrong shoes, unpolished floor etc.).

-- Etienne (sphinxel@hotmail.com), October 22, 2004.

Etienne, I have to agree and disagree with you. I have an inexpensive upright piano, and that is fine for my needs. The sound is pleasant and the action is acceptable. However, I got to play on an excellent grand (don't remember the brand, sorry) at music camp a few years ago, and I *did* play better. The instrument was incredibly responsive. I can't afford a new piano, nor do I have room for anything bigger than what I've got, and I'm contented with my instrument. But there is a difference!

Alice

-- Alice Dearden (alicedearden@look.ca), October 22, 2004.

After selling my 6"3 Baldwin I was in search of a grand piano for my house and(believe me) I tried several, including used Yamahas, Steinway, Kawai, Young Chang, Hoffman, Weber, I tried at least 30 grands in different stores and coul not find one with a sound/action which I would be pleased with. Finally I went to a Yamaha dealer and foun a bran new Yamaha CG1 (5'3") Grand Piano and the minute I laid my hands on it I loved it, the sound is beautiful, the bass keys sound just like I wanted. I know for a fact that Yamaha makes great grand pianos since I am a proffesional piano player and have played hundreds of pianos in a 40 year career span. But this Yamaha that I just bought truly fulfilled my expectations. EWould like to know if anybody else owns thys model CG1 and would like to share any comments about it. Thanks

-- Rene Ramos (unpiano@yahoo.com), November 11, 2004.

i have an excellent Bach upright, bought it for about 15000 swiss francs, which would make about 10000 US dollars. It's been serving me brilliantly for 6 years now. Perhaps not the cheapest of all, but definitly worth every penny!

-- Inbar (noemail@hotmail.com), February 15, 2005.