Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum GROTRIAN VS SCHIMMEL

WHICH PIANO SHALL PREVAIL?

BOTH MANUFACTURED IN BRAUNSCHWEIG, GERMANY
BOTH TOP PIANOMAKERS
WHICH IS THE BEST

THE ELEGANT AND BRIGHT SCHIMMEL

OR

THE GORGEOUS AND ROMANTIC GROTRIAN

GET YOUR PICK, TECHIES, TUNERS, SPECIALISTS AND ALL OF YOU!

get your picks guys

I'll tell you in a couple of years. I just traded my 2½ year old Schimmel C182T on a new Grotrian Concert (a week ago). 6' vs 7'4". The Grotrian hasn't had it's initial service, so I can't give a final comparison - though out of the box, it is in extremely good tune and regulation.

Also, I've had no real dealings with the Konzert Schimmel series, other than playing one in the dealer's which hadn't had any regulation or tuning done.

A major difference (particularly with the C series) is that they both are in a different price bracket, targeting different buyers.

However - the Grotrian was in better regulation on delivery from the factory than the Schimmel ever was, even though the dealer's factory trained technician had attended it on 4 or 5 occasions to fix the regulation which was slow and notchy. Additionally, I had another technician service it - improved dramatically, but the Grotrian is already better regulated.

The tones are quite different, and I like both.

Having both pianos side by side - on their sides - the finish on the Grotrian is much better - particularly underneath. The braces and rim on the Schimmel are painted, fairly roughly, with matt black paint. In contrast, the braces and rim on the Grotrian are beautifully finished, and the joinery and laminations are a delight to behold. I'm just trying to work out how to see them easier!! Lying on the floor to admire them isn't my preferred habit. Maybe mirror tiles on the floor??

I've photos of the Grotrian on http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4101413250517.283131.1138511400&type=3&l=bbd5e02225 .

My Ballot:

[__] SCHIMMEL

[] GROTRIAN

I think most people would think that Grotrian is in the next class up from Schimmel, however, Shimmel is more affordable and an excellent piano. I would say Grotrian is among the worlds best pianos and Schimmel is an excellent, precision made, but more mass produced piano, perhaps amongst the best of the mass produced pianos. Hey, I would never turn down a Schimmel, but if someone said I could take my pick, I would most likely choose the Grotrian - all other things being equal.

Naughty photos of a piano's underside!

Nice finish indeed.

You know the two companies enjoy a very good relationship. They are made in the same city and Schimmel manufactures case parts for Grotrian.

While this is true, it's based on their very differences.

The makers history is different, their sound ideal is different as is their production and - for the most part - their customer base.

Norbert

I chose one over the other, but I like 'em both.

I do too.

Well, I've been on a piano hunt recently and have played both Grotrian and Schimmel (as well as M&H, S&S, Bosie, Kawai's and Shigerus, Fazioli, Bechstein, Vogel, Estonia, Seiler,...). I've played so many that my piano hunt is in the home stretch. The comparisons are always difficult. These two brands are handled by different dealers in my area and the comparison isn't a fair one. The Grotrian dealer had one Cabinet grand (192) in stock. The Shimmel dealer has a couple C182 and a C208 in stock; 2 or 3 K189 and a K213 as well as both a K189NWS and K213NWS. Playing the Grotrian was nice. It was polite. It worked well for Bach and some Debussy. Clarity was front and centre. But it didn't seem to have the dark brooding tone for late Brahms. I was also disappointed in the sustain. For a piano with such a bell like tone, I expected the sustain to last forever, but it wasn't the case. It also didn't seem like a piano that had an edge and would growl back when you wanted. It could have been the size or just this one piano. For me it didn't demand that I keep playing on it. Fit and finish were outstanding.

The Schimmels cut across the range as our Aussie friend alluded to above. I didn't feel much for the C series. Again ok - to me maybe a touch better than the Estonias that were in stock at the same dealer - depending on the sound you were looking for. The Estonias to me seemed like a poor man's Grotrian - largely nice and polite, but without the refined polish of the Grotrian. The K series were better to my ears as the colour range started to open up, but still something was missing. It was only when you tried the NWS models that the Schimmels started to shine, especially the K213 NWS and it lead to my feeling on comparison that the sound of most of the K series was a little veiled and not as well defined as I would have liked. Huge variation of colour on the NWS, this piano was big and brash - in a largely good way, though a tad rough around the edges. It certainly demanded your attention and the attention of the listener. On the other hand, maybe not the best for some Debussy. The action was good, but not outstanding, maybe a little mushy. Pedals on every Schimmel seem like an afterthought. They're largely binary switches - on or off. (if you want refined pedals go play a Shigeru - they seem to have put as much R&D into pedal action as they have keyboard action). The Schimmels are clearly not as refined as the Grotrian (huge understatement here :-)), though the NWS is certainly a step up from the regular line. Schimmel is also doing themselves a major disservice in my opinion by under-marketing the NSW models. This really is a separate piano - maybe not as big a difference as between Kawai's and Shigeru's but it is quite obvious when you play the two series. I wish I had an opportunity to play some larger and more Grotrians to get a better comparison. If had had to pick between only these two (the Cabinet 192 Grotrian and the Schimmel K213 NWS) I think I'd lean toward the Schimmel K213NWS. Comparing two 7' pianos from the two brands would be interesting, and I can certainly see why someone would chose the Grotrian.

When I get down to my final decision I'll write up more of my hunt.

I have a warm, romantic sounding Schimmel that I bought 20+ years ago. I had it voiced by a really good technician and have been very happy with it. The piano (5'10") is very stable and needs tuning every couple of years - I play it every day. I can't speak for the Grotrian.

I fall into this category as well. The Concert Grotrian I tried had a wonderful touch and action, but the Schimmel K-213 NWS, won out for me, with it's tone.
To have both, would be really nice!

I think Grotrian is in an upper league than Schimmel, less production and less marketing investemnet, but higher quality and detail. By the way Grotrian I believe it is the only maker who is same-family owned since their foundation.

I believe Schimmel falls into that category as well.

That is not only not true, it is not even close to being true.

As a Grotrian owner you don't have to guess hard as to which piano I prefer. I have to say that to me Schimmel has greatly improved it's grand pianos over the past five to ten years and they are truely great instruments to play. It really comes down to which one better floats your boat.

Rich

I think you have summed it up beautifully Rich D.

Thank you,

For me the Grotrian has a special tone/sound too, very different from most other brands. The Schimmel is much closer to the 'standard' grand piano sound. Apart from that, both are fine pianos. As said above, personal preference.

The question didn't specify type of piano.

I recently played a new Schimmel upright. I thought it was the most pleasant upright I've ever played, but unfortunately can't recall the model.