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I am looking to replace my 30-35 year old Yamaha (41-42")upright. It has a very bright sound which I liked for years. As of late my preference has changed and would like to get away from such a bright sound. I might be able to swing the cost of a Steinway (limited by space to an upright.)
Has anyone purchased a Steinway 1098 lately who would like to share opinions on the piano, any purchasing or negotiating tips- including what percent I might expect to negotiate off retail price?
Thanks very much for your opinions.
Steve/ in Florida

How old is the Steinway? New or used?

I played a mid 1910s steinway 1098 that was fully rebuilt. It was an incredible piano. Excellent tone. I would have grabbed it had it not been $8,000.

Hi Stevemar,

There's a Florida Steinway dealer who posts on here sometimes with the screen name Diaphragmatic, who might be helpful. Some information on pricing is available on the piano buyer website (right margin on this screen), along with some general pricing-related tips. You also may want to try a Charles Walter upright, as it may have a sound you like, is produced in the US, is a similar size as the 1098, and will be substantially less expensive.

Best wishes!

I've played two 1098s. Both were terrible, but both were old and were probably not especially representative of the breed.

I'd recommend carefully comparing that piano to some others -- the Walter is a great option. I'll think you'll find that the Walter and others offer more value and sound better.

Kevin

I prefer a good Mason and Hamlin upright over the Steinway 1098.

Personally and professionally I would not consider a new one in that they are VERY expensive and realistically one gets hit hard depreciation wise so.....search out for a near new preowned one which would be half the price. I think the newer ones which have Renner action and Steinway hammers are nice. Though many tuner/techs rag on them for scale indifferences/false beats etc, I still like them!. Now if one just hit the $lotto$ , than go ahead and buy a new one.

Probably not. The 1098 went into production sometime around 1950.

ddf

Here is a tease if you do end up looking at any Walters.
I just received my new price list from the Walter factory with another sizable price increase as of the end of this month.

I was talking to Mr. Walter last week and he told me they are pushing ahead with the new Walter 50" model.

It just so happens in my new price list also came a letter from the factory stating the the Walter 50" will be introduced in January 2011 at NAMM.

Now we have been speculating on this for a while and in my conversation yesterday with the factory I was told dealers may be receiving product prior to January.

I/we can only hope!!!!

I've played both the Steinway 1098 and the Charles Walter 1500. To me there is no comparison. The CW has a nicer tone and far better action. Just an opinion.

Rich

I also thought there was little comparison but with the Steinway ahead of the Walter in tone and touch.

For less than and approaching the price of a new 1098, I think there are about 20 comparable or better uprights from other companies. As pianobroker said, their depreciation is so very steep that a good used one may become a good choice. I just don't know if the 1098 is one of Steinway's outstanding products.

For less than half the price of a new S&S 1098 you could have a new Wm. Knabe & Co. WKV 131 by Samick. Amazing performance value.

Well since we've heard from a Steinway rebuilder, a Walters rep and lastly a indirect Knabe plug.... here goes mine.
Stevemar,
go and visit Atlantic Music in Melbourne, FL. They have a beautiful selection of pianos, including Feurich and Steingraeber. Feurich isn't too far off from the SS 1098. The Steingraeber may be too big of a leap, but worth a look to avoid regrets sometime down the road.

Happy shopping.

Hmm I think the piano I played was actually a K52 now... It may not have been a 1098 after all.... judging by its styling... I cant find a 1098 like it.

That sounds about right. The K52 is a much stronger instrument and a better Steinway product, but still has healthy and more affordable competition.

Stevemar,

Welcome to the forum. I haven’t purchased a 1098 lately, but I’ve owned two, with and without the sostenuto pedal, each for a few years. The tone was versatile and vibrant with few limitations even considering the size. There have been knocks about tuning but I believe these were resolved by Steinway a few years ago . . . I don’t recall my tuner having problems at the time . . . but then he wasn’t much of a complainer . . . unlike other premium small uprights I’ve always felt the Steinway had more versatility . . . for example, the old Schimmels always seemed to be in search of a powdered-wig choral group and a flute . . . the smaller Sauter’s in the same price range come closest in sound . . .

Oddly enough the new Schimmel uprights are starting to sound Steinwayish . . . and while the 1098 never sounded as roomy as the K, the trade-off, for me, was a more refined precision of tone . . . afterall, the K is a much more expensive 52 inch piano . . .

As for the earth shaking depreciation . . . all pianos depreciate and if you compare the 1098 to other premium pianos at the same price and size (44”-48”) sauter, c. bechstein, bluthner, schimmel, grotrian, forster etc . . . you’ll find similar depreciation figures as time marches on. . . of the few new 1098’s I’ve played recently one sounded good, the other needed a little sharpening up . . . as for price, expect a deeper discount with the 1098 than Steinway's other line-up, 16-17k range was what one dealer mentioned . . . haggling best done with a smile I’ve found, compromise is the key . . .

Obviously, everyone has their own bias and notion of what makes a good piano. What convinces you or moves you is usually up to you. Whether it’s efficacy of sound or the touch, one always seems to be walking a line between the concrete and the subjective . . .


Mike