Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site cylixd.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!akgub!cylixd!dave From: dave@cylixd.UUCP (Dave Kirby) Newsgroups: net.music.classical Subject: Re: buying a piano Message-ID: <353@cylixd.UUCP> Date: Thu, 10-Oct-85 12:13:55 EDT Article-I.D.: cylixd.353 Posted: Thu Oct 10 12:13:55 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 12-Oct-85 18:17:24 EDT References: <4400@alice.UUCP> Reply-To: dave@cylixd.UUCP (Dave Kirby) Organization: RCA Cylix Communications , Memphis, TN Lines: 72 [GENERIC LINE] In article <4400@alice.UUCP> trickey@alice.UucP (Howard Trickey) writes: ... >Does anyone care to list brands of pianos in order of ascending >quality (or personal preference), and fair price if known? ... >Perhaps you should mail to me directly; I'll summarize if there >is sufficient interest. -------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm going to go ahead and post, for two reasons. First, EMAIL is sometimes unreliable. Second, I want to stir up some controversy on this newsgroup with my humble opinions. I am a pianist myself, and have definite preferences concerning pianos. First, spinets are inferior to grands. (No controversy there.) The best spinet I have ever heard is the Kawai, and it sounds better than some grands. If you're looking for a good sounding piano without the grand piano price, the Kawai is definitely the way to go at about $1500. Now for the grands. I'll list them in order of quality, best first. (#1) Bosendorfer - The Rolls Royce of pianos, unquestionably the best piano in the world. Many pianists insist on using the Bosendorfer when they give a concert, even though Steinway often offers free usage of their pianos to celebrities and Bosendorfer charges a mint. In other words, many artists will forego the freebie offered by Steinway and insist on paying extra to get the Bosendorfer. Unfortunately, if you are looking in the $10K range, you won't be able to afford a Bosendorfer. I believe they start at around $25,000. The Bosendorfer is by far the best sounding piano I have ever heard. Most pianos just make a sound when you press the keys. The Bosendorfer SINGS. It is a true joy to listen to, and is the standard by which all other pianos should be judged. (#2) Yamaha Concert Grand - This nine-footer sounds much better than their cheaper grands. It sounds better than most other concert grands, as well. It is the closest to the Bosendorfer of all the competitors. The middle range is especially rich and melodious, much like that of the Bosendorfer, although not quite as crisp. (#3) Baldwin Concert Grand - Not as rich as the Yamaha, but much better than those below it. The Baldwin has a beautiful midrange, but its bass range lacks punch and its high range is somewhat dull. There has long been a controversy about which was the better piano, Baldwain or Steinway. You can see which side I'm on. (#4) Steinway - I was disappointed by the dullness of the Steinway. The midrange sounds like you're playing behind a thick curtain. Almost pure sine waves, very little harmonics. The bass range is very powerful, with rich harmonics. As you get up toward middle C, however, the harmonics disappear and the sound becomes dull. It sounds like the hammers are not quite hard enough. The high range is also dull, although not quite as dull as the Baldwin's. I don't like the Steinway. Steinways appear on many concert recordings, and Steinway by their freebie marketing has convinced the public that the true piano sound is dull and thuddy like their pianos. (#5) Kawai - Truly inferior to all of the above. Sound is harsh and glaring, much like those cheap baby grands. Kawai makes better spinets. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dave Kirby ( ...!ihnp4!akgub!cylixd!dave) (The views expressed herein are the exclusive property of Dave Kirby. Any person, living or dead, found with the same or similar opinions will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of law.)