Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Schimmel K132 vs Steingraeber & Sohne 130 or 138

Help needed!!! Current my son is playing on a Schimmel C130 and we decided to change his upright piano. I have placed a order for a mahogany Schimmel K132, but given a option to chose a Steingraeber, both r coming in late Nov. Enlighten me on Steingraeber sound as compare to Schimmel as there isn't any Steingraeber in the showroom. Lastly, is there any tonal different in a mahogany or ebony piano? Please help me to chose between a Schimmel K132 or a Steingraeber 130 or 138.....

The finish of the piano makes no difference in the tone of the piano. Although individual samples of any model of piano will vary a little, it is not due to the finish.

Since pianos do vary, you really have to try each piano to see whether it is to your liking or not. Ultimately, the choice has to be yours.

If given a choice, which will you choose?

What's wrong with the C130?
What is the price difference between your various options?
Have you had the chance to play the K132 or 130 or 138 Steingraeber?
Do you have access to other top brands of pianos in your area?
Do you have access to a great piano technician?

Have you considered a grand?

Probably in the near future...

Nothing wrong with the C130, a pre Christmas changeover? After traded in price varies US16k for the K132, US22k for 130, as for 138???. Yes, i do have a capable Piano technician..

Although the K132 may be a slightly more refined piano than the C130, I don't think it's worth an additional $16k of your money to have it. I would employ the services of the technician to regulate and voice the current piano as needed to perform at its maximum capability.

An extra hour of a technician's time regulating my Schimmel 130T (the precursor to your piano) made a very nice difference in the performance of the action after some years of use in a home setting, for example.

I've played two Steingraeber 130's, but never a 138. The 130 is a very fine upright, but again, I don't know if it is worth an additional $22k (as you've been quoted) over what you have now, in terms of what you're actually going to gain.

I'd "tweak" your current piano, then make the step up to a grand afterward, as Marty suggests. However, when I owned only the Schimmel upright I was occasionally tempted by one or two really high-end uprights… but I think I'd only do it if I were seriously space-constrained (living in a small apartment in a big city, for example).

Just to be sure: If I read Mirik's post he is past the stage: new piano or not.
He has already placed an order (which he might not be able to cancel).

In that perspective the question is: Schimmel Konzert vs Steingraeber
and if someone would recommend the Steingraeber: which one: 130 or 138.

All I know is that I've read that the K132 is a very good piano with a different design than the C130.

Pianobuyer says about the 132: "The 52" model K132, which features a grand-shaped soundboard, has a very big sound; listening to it, one might think one was in the presence of a grand."

Most important question is perhaps: why do you want to "upgrade"?

Sound? Repetition speed?

On the Steingraeber 138: The listprice is around 50K USD if I'm not mistaken so I suppose it's in a different league.

That's right! on cue..... Thanks

So if that's right it leaves us to:

Why do you want to upgrade?

Sound? Repetition speed?

Upgrading from a good fullsize upright like the one you have right now is mostly done to a grand.

The differences between a very good upright and a top notch upright seems to be more about subtleties compared to the difference between a good upright and a good grand.

You have to try them all for yourself. The Steingraebers are fine pianos and I would go for one of those if money were no object. I liked the 138 I played in London last year.

Right, but there's a difference (particularly when this much money is in play) between reading about something and actually playing something...which I had the chance to do - back to back, at the factory.

I would love to do the same. Not that I would be able to give a good assessment of the differences anyway, that's also why I pointed out I just read it.

What surprises me that Mirik is not considering a grand given the subtle differences which might not be worth the money. Especially if he considers upgrading to a grand in the near future anyway.

I suppose the dealer will gladly sell him a grand instead of an upright but wouldn't want to cancel the deal.

Have you checked out the grands you could get for low 20's? I think it would amount to an improvement over an upright, but you'd have to play them all to decide. Good luck no matter which way you go. Schimmel and Steingraeber are top notch companies.

I'd choose the smaller Steingraeber,the 130, preferring the overall sound produced compared to the other two.

You're comparing apples and hamsters...

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