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Axtremus and Jag,

Most excellent.

Thank you very much.

Ax - wonderful post - great information. I can just see your fingers flying across those keys, with your whole body and soul enveloped in the music.

Thanks for your time and effort to put this together.

Thanks, jag, for your contribution. I hope we will get more.

Thanks to all for your kind words.

For those thinking about contributing, please don't feel pressured to write about ALL the pianos you have experience with in one go. It is understood that the subject matter is highly subjective and that we will not necessarily agree with each other on everything. You can always start with a few entries, then come back to edit/update and add more entries as you go.

I ask only that:

• (1) there be no "sales-spin," no "marketing-speak,"
• (2) we stick to the musical aspects of the pianos, and
• (3) your review must be based on your own first-hand experiences with the pianos you write about.

One thing I found interesting, Ax, is that you found the Schimmels "heavier" in touch than comparable Steinways [and Mason Hamlins]

I have actually heard often the opposite from cross shoppers.

In fact the Sauter touch is often described as "heavier", i.e. "meatier" still than comparable Schimmels.

And then again, we all like our "meat" a little different, right?

norbert

Axtremus and Jag,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings.

Fingers

Not me. <strike>That's jag's finding.</strike>

[EDIT: Sorry, jag. I should have double checked your earlier post before responding to Norbert.]

Sorry......

norbert

Ax,

I enjoyed reading your reviews. I wish you had mentioned the specific music you were playing, and what worked the way you intended or better than you intended, and when you felt the piano limited what you were trying to do.
Maybe this is too specific for most, but for me, it is the most important thing.

Keith,

Very good point! Musical context is very important. Will try to get to that level of specificity in the future.

Axtremus & Norbert,

Not me either. I wrote "I found the action on the Schimmels to be somewhat heavier than other instruments I played, but not as heavy as the M&H’s and Steinways."

Incidently, I recall reading a very good and very long thread written by, I think, Dan M more than a year ago where he reviewed a lot of pianos during his piano search. He finally ended up with a Charles Walter 190. I seem to remember that he posted a link to this information rather than putting it directly in his post. If we could find it, it would make a nice addition to this thread. Dan's reactions to a lot of pianos were somewhat different from mine and also different from Axtremus' (Axtremusus?).

jag

jag, I edited by post above, sorry about the mix-up.
<hr>
Joe, you're a professional concert pianist, the real deal. You know what they say, Joe,

"Those who can, do.
Those who cannot, teach.
Those who can't even teach...
... write long posts on Piano Forum."
<hr>
Let's try another call for more reviews. Anyone else who would like to contribute their review?

It is understood that the subject matter is highly subjective and that we will not necessarily agree with each other on everything. You can always start with just one or two entries, then come back to edit/update and add more entries as you go.

I ask only that:

• (1) there be no "sales-spin," no "marketing-speak,"
• (2) we stick to the musical aspects of the pianos, and
• (3) your review must be based on your own first-hand experiences with the pianos you write about.

I look forward to reading your entries.

Ax and Jag,

Great posts! I really enjoyed reading your findings. Jag, in your other travels have you tried yet a Baldwin SF10 (7')? If so, any impressions? Thanks.

RachFan,

I've played only two Baldwin SF10's. Both were in pretty bad shape and I didn't feel it fair to include them in my post. I was impressed with a couple SF10's that I heard others play. These pianos had a full, attractive and quite distinctive sound, noticeably different from the Steinway sound. They seemed to be a little brighter than most of the Steinway B's I've played with a somewhat shorter sustain. The impression of shorter sustain I think came from a more rapid initial decay of the tones in the upper tenor and treble that then sustained at a lower level. This decay characteristic gave the pianos a greater clarity and slightly reduced singing quality when compared with the Steinway B's. However, it is hard to make an accurate evaluation/comparison since the acoustic environments were so different and I was not playing the pianos myself.

jag

*bump*

Hard to believe we're not getting more review entries beside jag's.

I've seen request for "small piano" oriented reviews.

I've seen request for SF-10 review from a Baldwin owner.

I've received request for Seiler 208 review from a Seiler owner.

I've seen request for review that more closely correlates specific musical passages to specific pianos' responses.

And we haven't even touched the upright pianos.

Well, don't just ask, and don't be shy.
Write your own, and help build up the database.

I must say that the spice of the dice was to read about so many pianos from *non-owners*.

Especially when they were side-by-side.

norbert

Ax and Jag,

Thanks again for your penetrating insights in comparing so may pianos, including the Baldwin SF-10. It's a treat to read them all!

Thanks for all the information shared here.