Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Validity of Steinway testimonials

Plays88skey and tcmod,

No need to be secretive about it... there already exist Steinway Societies in a few metropolitan areas. The Greater Princeton Steinway Society even got Ashkenzy to be their honorary chairman!

(p.s. There's also a Yamaha 650 society... but the Yamaha 650 refers to a motorcycle model.)

Plays, if I'm up in the area at the time of your party can I be invited? Can I? Can I? Can I? I'm Steinway owner wannabe.

justme,

Absolutely! I think the two of us should play a duet.

If you two play a duet, record it please.

uh. maybe not. Unless it's Heart and Soul.

uh. How about if we post a pic instead?

How about if I send you some very simple duets -- you can pick one and we'll have it polished and ready! (I'm not having this party until my renovation is finished...probably late summer)

that just might work. We'll be coming up sometime this summer. Just not sure when. Will let you know. Then we can post a recording and a pic.

i personally like Steinways. they're mellow-sounding pianos, not too bright, nor too warm [think Kawais]. i fell in love with one in my local recital building, that's about '7 long.
i saw Harry Connick Jr. in concert months ago and he did any and everthing with that piano when he was playing it. it was mind-blowing. he even turned the bass part into 'percussion'.

I traded my Mason BB for a rebuilt S&S B about 6 months ago. As good as the BB was, this B exceeds it in all areas of performance. My opinion is shared by several pro pianists very familiar with both instruments.
Having said that, I am sure there are Mason BB's that can smoke my piano.

Fingers

A great Steinway is a real joy.

Some of the Steinway's I've known are really superb, others are not. I think that the real reason S&S have gotten such a bad rap here is their totally arogant sales techniques...selling the "image" instead of the instrument. Sales gimicks such as "mystique", regular price increases (whether justified or not) and "investment potential" (which is a total pantload of hype) turns me (and I suspect many others as well) off. Which is a shame...a Steinway can be a superlative instrument...but then so can a Mason, a Bosendorfer, Blechstein or even an Estonia or Petrof. Much like in guitars (which I am more familiar with) the differences between a Martin (my personal favorite), Taylor and Gibson. All are excellent, each is different, but all have a "family" sound. A Mason dosen't sound like a Steinway, which dosen't sound like a Yamaha, which... All are good...all are different.

Bill,

That was truly well said.

First the disclaimer -- I play, own and enjoy Steinways.

Second, we're talking about marketing and image here. As mentioned above, these are Ds and at this time Steinway is the strongest at making sure a piano is available whereever the professional is playing. Having a quality piano to play on is important to touring pros. (As a master once said, any accomplished player can play well with a good piano, it's having to play well with one that's not so good that's hard.)

Third, of course the professionals are supporting the Steinway with their comments - however I don't believe they would make such positive comments if they didn't really believe them.

Fourth, Steinway originated the marketing concept of tying a great recreator/musician with the instrument with Anton Rubenstein over 100 years ago

Many would say Steinway is the best -- whatever that means. All should agree Steinway is the best at promoting their product.

I would guess that some of the best pianos in the world are Steinways. The problem is, a huge number of the mediocre pianos in the world are also Steinways. I played one Steinway that I felt was actually worthy of all the hype. But I have experienced many that... ugh. If we are giving advice to would-be piano purchasers, I think we should caution them that since there are so many mediocre Steinways out there, don't judge the piano by name. PLAY IT and compare it against everything else, and try to ignore the name on the fallboard, because it can be deceptive.

One should not be confused or surprised as to the huge reputation and endorsements Steinway has. They make a great piano, and charge accordingly. Steinways have their own unique sound different from the other leading brands. They have THE marketing machine behind them and the money / resources to back it up. Why wouldn't you expect them to dominate the professional and private space?

This doesn't make the other brands a lesser piano nor the pianist that prefers them a lesser pianist. We should all just acknowledge the quality of the Piano as well as the business behind it. Its just the nature of their business model. But if it gets to putting down the individual for their preference for a Piano other then Steinway then there is a problem!

If you are a professional pianist: You have the choices of brand A, B, C, D. Each brand has virtues and minuses. Brand A has world wide support you get a Prepped Piano at everyone of your concerts / recitals anywhere you go. Brand A only asks you play only their brand and also say nice things. Why wouldn't you pick A unless it is truely inferior piano. Until Brand B, C, D step up to competing with similar support. It is only then will you see artists gravitate to other Pianos that might highlight their unique taste/preferences. Till then there will only be one 900lb Gorilla.

Lastly if someone is 'ingnorant' enough to pay for the Steinway for the marketing hype or the belief of investment vs truely appreciating it for the music they can make with it... well its there money being wasted and they are the fool, not us!

That is really good advice. And while other pianos are more consistant than Steinways, this advice applies to Estonias and Bluthners and Bosendorfers and Mason & Hamlins etc.

If one would have to rifle through 20 Mercedes Benz to find one outstanding one - few would be sold!

It's nice to know that in the piano world - we're a lot more forgiving!

Not bad folks, after all.....

norbert

Keith, thank you (I think) for setting the record straight.

The problem with the comments by SB as stated above imply that only Steinways can be mediocre pianos. It also implies that you will not find mediocre pianos from other makers and above all it assumes that even if a given piano is mediocre it cannot be brought to a much higher level with proper attention.

I have never defended the way S&S preps pianos at the factory or at many of their dealers. But given the basic design of the piano I would have to believe that with proper prep they are still an excellent piano and far from the mediocre label many like to pin on them while justifying their own purchase.

With all due respect, I don't care if every [insert favorite consistent brand here] ever made comes out of the crate perfectly tuned and regulated. Give me the S&S and a good tech and you can have the [insert favorite consistent brand here].

I like my Korean "Steinway"...



But, if I could swing it, I'd like a nice B even better!