Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Buy Yamaha S7X now or keep saving for Fazioli F228?

The very precise nature of the Yamahas and Faziolis appeals to me. They are both clear and powerful pianos, not quaint and restrained like some European brands.

Seriously, how much better are the Faziolis than the new Yamahas? Are they a lot better? Or just subjectively different? Would it be worth waiting to save up the difference? Or is the Yamaha S7X as good as anything out there (as James Pavel Shawcross asserts)?

Also, future question - buy Fazioli 228 now, or keep saving for Fazioli 278?

I feel like if I was going to save for my ultimate piano purchase, it would be a pity to get the 228 as the 278 would blow it away in the bass. But also a bit concerned about having such a large, loud concert grand in a small apartment if a career opportunity came up in Hong Kong or Singapore.

On an unrelated note, a local piano dealer in Sydney has a Bluthner 280 for sale. It's a former floor model from 2008. Don't know how much they want for it. But when I played Bluthner in the past I found them to have a "quaint" sound, whereas the music I play calls for a more brilliant and powerful sound (Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Medtner). Also, tuning the high treble using tunelab is painful - so finicky - so why in the heck would they put a FORTH string up there? Good grief...

Only you can decide. In terms of the size, unless your home is gigantic many would say a 9' piano could overwhelm the space. Why are you not considering the Yamaha CF series?

"how much better are the Faziolis than the new Yamahas?" Define better. Better action? Better finish? Serious question.

Ultimately, it's the piano you love to play. The touch, the sound, and so on. I wouldn't buy one just because it is considered in some way "better".

I bought a new Grotrian years ago. Beautiful finish, tone ok but a heavy action which eventually got me down. One day, I tried out an early 80's Yamaha C7. I loved it and still do. The build quality does not compare to the Grotrian, but when I'm playing, who cares.

You are sure fortunate to be choosing between two such beautiful pianos. Either way, you are a winner.

Sydney's not that far from Adelaide. Just saying.

I have an F228. It’s that much better in my opinion, but I may be biased. Once you can try one, you can decide. I have tried other examples I was less fond of, but all are excellent, as I am sure the Yamaha is.

I think both Fazioli and the S7x are great instruments. They are different, but their character has similarities.

I don’t think you are in a position to make a bad choice. Play, enjoy, and in the end, buy what you love.

So that you will love what you bought!

pianoloverus makes a very good point. I think you should definitely consider Yamaha's CF series, Sonepica! I fell in love with a Yamaha CF6 a couple of years ago and I'd still say to date that it was the finest piano I've ever played (and I've played a lot of pianos...). The same day I spent hours with Steinway Model Ds, Bs and As and the CF6 blew all of them out of the water some how.

I don't understand the CF4 and CF6. In my experience size is one of the biggest determinants of a quality tone, particularly in the base. For example the C6X/S6X are far inferior to the C7X/S7X in the base. I would never buy an S6X for this reason. The CF4 and CF6 are smaller pianos than the C7X and S7X, yet more expensive. They must be for people who want a really nice piano but who don't use the base notes?

If it's not clear that one is better than the other, then the S7X wins, doesn't it? It's much cheaper.

Not at all. Rich said they're both great pianos but that doesn't mean the OP might not like one more more.

Size is not the only thing that determines the quality of tone even in the bass. What about design, quality of the materials, quality of the work, preparation, etc.? Plenty of pianists are more than satisfied with shorter pianos, even (gasp)piano less than 6'. If everyone approached piano purchase with the same criteria as you, Yamaha wouldn't sell any CF4s or CF5s.

The CF6 is my favorite Yamaha, even though it's smaller then the S7X.

But the Fazioil 228 is ..............well best to play one and let me know what you think in comparison.

I spoke with Pierre, he's getting an F212 in early April...it has my name on it.

Keep saving. You only live once and that Fazioli is waiting for you.

Hmmm, what about a Yamaha CF6? Or maybe a CFX if room is not an issue. I played a CF4 and found it fantastic. The CFs are the top tier Yamahas, so they could be a better comparison to the Fazioli. Whatever you buy you will be buying a beautiful instrument.

How long would it take you to save the difference in price for a F228? Personally, I'd rather purchase a piano now and enjoy it rather than postponing it for too many years. You only live once.

Faziolis are constantly improving so you will notice the difference when you can afford one.

I have never heard anyone else describe any European brands as quaint and restrained. It's hard for me to imagine someone finding the larger models of most European pianos lacking in power and most have a clear tone.

Put Hamburg C-227 and Bosendorfer 225 to your list, and just follow your heart. BTW, to me, Fazioli 228 is far much better than Yamaha S7X. It's a work of art, like Hamburg Steinway and Bosendorfer.

Do people consider Bluthner to be in the same league as these pianos? According to Larry Fine, Bluthner is also a Tier one piano. Yet it seems to be rarely mentioned on these forums.

If anyone has been on PW long enough you have heard me say that my personal favorite model of piano in the world is the Bösendorfer 225. I did not bring that up because that was not the OP’s question.

But if I were to add a suggestion, that would be it.