Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum In search of the piano to rule them all

Hey, i currently have a yamaha nu1x but i want to get an acoustic to put in the house for when i move to uni and take the nu1x with me. i want to get a piano that will last pretty long, something that i wouldn't want to replace with another one.
my preferences: i dont like pianos with harsh sounds or stiff keys (as in, ones that are hard to vary dynamics on or the keys dont go down properly) or bright sounds, but i like ones with a soft-ish tone (not "blurry" though) but also a clear sound........im probably thinking of the ballad grand sound on the digitals.Or maybe Bosendorfer/steinway (which are most likely out my league).
i dont have a strict budget, but i'd say anything over 25k would be too much.
any suggestions?

In the 25K range, unless you want to try out a Hailun or another higher quality Chinese piano (I personally am not familiar with the various Chinese brands) you’re probably in used Yamaha or Kawai grands. You could get a rather nice tall upright new. I think there would be pretty small picking in used Steinway or used Mason Hamlin pianos. Unless you’re in Germany or Austria, used Bösendorfers would rare as hens teeth. Start shopping, take your time, and try out everything there is in your area. Take great notes. Get a professional piano tech to check anything used. For new from a dealer ask the piano tech how well the pianos are prepped. Best of Luck! Also, consider buying the Piano Book and check the SMP prices so you know what ballpark your piano budget really is.

Have you researched who in your area does rebuilding of grands? I think you would be wise to find a techncian who can produce the sound and touch you like and work with them to find a piano.

Give a used Schimmel or Wilhelm a look for $25k you can find very nice ones. Let me know if this is the sound you are looking for.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1aLkpg-TU8

In that range, and since you don't plan on replacing, you're in for a bit of a journey. You need to define what type of tone you want. Is it a very bright piano? Then, on the extreme end, Yamahas do the job well. If you're looking for something more mellow, go for a Kawai or Bluthner.

Now, it's up to you what you decide to buy, but at that price range you're often getting the best deal by going for a used piano with less than 15 year usage on it. Steinway is probably not easy to find, in that price range it's certainly possible to find a good steinway, but it'll be more than 20 years old in the best case scenario, probably not something to bet on.

It's hard to say specific models, what size are you looking for? Anything from baby grands to half concert grands are available in that price range if you look hard enough, so unless you specify what size fits your needs (in terms of sound, space and convenience) then it's not possible to suggest an ideal model.

Funny: I, too have a NU1X, but have been wondering how I could justify getting an acoustic

My suggestion is that you try as many pianos as you can, new and used, to see what is available and to develop your taste. Most new pianos are pretty well built these days, and you should start with them. Then you might look at what is available used.

Agreeing with what others have posted as options worth exploring, I would suggest that the OP re-think what is expressed in the thread's title, "... the piano to rule them all ...." Depending, of course, on exactly what that means to the OP, the "piano to rule them all...." is probably not to be found at the price suggested.

Regards,

thanks guys!


there arent many piano dealers/technicians in my area, but when i've been searching they're mostly in places that are a few hours drive, so i'd have to go far. but that sounds great, so technicians can put together different parts in to a piano, kind of like custom made?



That schimmel is beautiful!! sounds exactly how i like them to be, im adding it to my list. now the problem is where i can try them :P



I may be a bit more flexible with my budget, but it wouldnt need to be something fancily expensive as i wont be taking it to a concert or something..

Aside from budgets, what piano do you guys think actually "rules them all", regardless of how expensive?

It won't take you long to find an excuse...

Everyone will say something different things, Some love Yamaha, some Bechstein, Shigeru Kawai, Steingraeber, Steinways ,Baldwin ,Estonia etc .
I would love an Sauter Ambiant grand, so it all depends on your search and the piano you end up loving .Play as many as you can .The brand is only one aspect of your search.

Sure -- to rule them all for $25K, look around for Baldwin concert grands from the 1930's. They're out there, you just have to take your time. Living Pianos in Santa Ana CA moves a lot of them.

Living Pianos really does move a lot of Baldwin concert grands!

Piano to rule them all: Bosendorfer 290.
Piano I can afford: Yamaha C3

Kinda sad.

Once the piano is pretty good the pianist counts for about 95%.

is that the one with the extra keys???

i mean you could afford it if you sold your house and everything you ever had then just sleep under the lid like a posh hobo

The Bosie wouldn’t fit in my refrigerator box under the overpass. 😁

In the thread about piano sound qualities I write about my only experience playing a Bösendorfer piano in a music store .This was my only experience on this renowned piano .The piano while not new
was not an old piano. The dealer had a well respected music store.
They are as far as I know authorized dealers for Kawai pianos and other good brands .

Have you tried the Sauron piano made at the Mount Doom factory?

Ah Tolkien!