Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Yamaha AG has a rival - Schulze-Pollmann!

Thought this was interesting. Odd looking thing. A bit light on for details. Maybe a tad vaporware? Would be interesting to know what it costs (and if you can actually buy one).

http://www.schulzepollmann.com/?IDC=48

Looks like they are located in Italy as the abbreviation "RSM" is the Republic of San Marino.

There are no "Details" given for the last four categories:

1) "Keyboard and Action"
2) "Optical Sensors"
3) "Control Panel"
4) "Sound"

Does this hybrid piano have an Italian-made action?

I would imagine it does, but the real question is its availability. It could be one of those things listed to test interest levels. Who knows whether they have actually sold one, what sort of sound module it uses etc. It may be so new that they haven't even finished the website material. Obviously it will need sound samples, videos, dealers and specifications to get any interest. No doubt it will be pricey. May go the way of the Petrof controller a few years ago. We'll have to wait and see, I guess.

Looks like all we have for now is an e-mail address to send our questions to:

info@schulzepollmann.com

More "Details" have yet to appear on the website.

Roll-top desk style key cover--- that's different, anyway.

It's a good question, whether and where they might be available in the US. Schultze-Pollmann is an Italian piano maker--- nice pianos; expensive; known for their beautiful veneer work and sunny sound; not many outfits carry them in the US, but there are some.

I'm just a little tempted to inquire at that "info@" address, out of curiosity... though the light-colored stain on the cabinet wouldn't suit my decor. But I imagine they're trying to break through the 'housewife barrier.' Many gentleman players have had a problem with this: "You're not going to put that in my living-room!"

No need to quote the rest of the conversation.

I did a screen capture from one of the pictures in the "Photogallery" and you can see that the roll top cabinet opens to highlight a grand-style action:

http://imgur.com/lN8wmsU

And, another action photo:

http://imgur.com/G6pJoM5

Have also sent a couple of questions to find out what the "il" (lower case "i" and "l") stands for in "ilPiano" and as to if and when it will become available in the US, including pricing.

Wow! That looks cool! And still room for an ashtray on top . . . .

Wow, the piano in the pic looks like a giant wooden bread case with a keyboard and pedals.

Don't like it very much, I'm afraid.

Very odd look...

It appears they have the hammer shanks (or whatever you call them) hitting a padded bar. Odd, I'd think they would want the felt part (business end) of the hammers hitting that bar.

The roll-top is really weird looking. It's not like there are strings and a soundboard in there, so there is no need to "let the sound out" - right? Letting the backwave of those speakers out would probably kill the bass.

But I imagine it allows curious little children to cause a lot of damage that much faster and easier - which begs the question: was this designed by/for toddlers?

How do you keep dust off the keys when it's not in use? Does the whole thing slide in or something? Or does the speaker board somehow fold down?

Worldwide, this is the first and the only electronic piano with the authentic keyboard, action and hammers of a grand piano, all perfectly regulated by hand to offer the perfect musical feeling.

Not exactly accurate.

The action on this thing will be very loud when the "hood" is open.

It's got a sliding dust cover - like those old fashioned roller desks.

And it sounds like?

Would a technician be able to regulate and service the action by just sliding the wooden panel up?

IT is a very curious design. Are those two speakers the only speakers in the piano that we can see or are there more, hence the design to slide the wooden panel up.
Maybe they are just tweeters and the real sound comes from inside?

There is nothing in english on their website unfortunately. Yet... when u click the english flag there is no text.

I wonder how they are gonna price this.

One must beg the question - has this company ever seen an Avant Grand? This Schulze-Pollmann is strangest thing I've ever seen.

I'm all for competition but please take it up a notch.

It sure is strange. A Roland RG-3F with a grand piano action would be nice, but I guess that's too much to ask.

All the negativism aside ...

My guess is that if it has a beautiful sound, all the negativism will be set aside.

Just a guess.

I agree, and I think it will be available in darker wood finishes, probably also black, so it won't be as controversial as it first seems. It will come down to whom they have commissioned to build the sound module. The action looks fine.