So the new hammers which were too soft for the instrument where hardened with lacquer. This is discussed controversial, see for example:
https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2272518/1.html
The tone was better and clearer than before, but the Rönisch wasn't as dynamic and clear a the Feurich 116 or a sweet und round as the Schimmel 114. Also the base wasn't that impressive especially compared to both smaller pianos. I could tell from the feel of the action that it was played very often (hence the new hammers on an 90s instrument). It's okay for the price but not mine.
I had some time left and visited Stieler again to play the Schimmel 114 that I liked so much yesterday. It has such a warm, sweet, rich and clean tone. Beautiful piano! It looks like new and also the action plays well and feels like it wasn't played too much.
Time for a round-up.
So now I've played dozens and dozens of pianos, German, Japanese, Indonesian and Chinese, Bechstein, W. Hoffman, Steinway, August Förster, Schimmel, Grotrian-Steinweg, Seiler, Sauter, Rönisch, Feurich (the real), Feurich (the Hailun with Feurich name) Blüthner, Yamaha, Kawai, Boston, Wilh. Steinberg, Pfeiffer, Petrof, Euterpe and some other. Some big like the Boston UP-132, two Schimmel T 128, W. Hoffmann T128, Kawai K-500, Yamaha U3 and C. Bechstein Modell 8. Then of course the middle height like the Yamaha U1, P121 and B3, Kawai K-300, Grotrian-Steinweg 122, many Schimmel 120, Petrof F125, August Förster 125 and than many many 112-118cm pianos.
I must say that after all I wasn't much impressed with the 130cm pianos. They had the deepest base moste of the time for sure, but somehow didn't sound so beautiful and balanced as smaller pianos and some where just overpowering or muted or both.
Some highlights:
- Petrof F125 (2016, 6700€): balanced and refined sound all across the board and good touch, a bit "boring" for me, but you can't really go wrong with it imo.
- August Förster 125 and 116 (25.000/20.000 €): very strong but clean base for their respective size, clean and singing tone, very dynamic.
- W. Hoffman T128 (12.500 €): Extremely clear and transparent tone, light touch (for me too light), suspiciously similar in tone and touch to the Bechstein Acadamy A 124.
- August Förster (120 I think, ca. 1938, 7900 €): very clear and bell like sound, dynamic and big, very special sound.
- Schimmel 114 (1989/90, 4600 €): warm, rich, sweet but clean and lovely sound, thick base for it's size. Very nice package. Liked it better than the many other Schimmel (some 120 or 128cm) I played.
- Feurich 116 (1983, 700 €): Clear, rich, dynamic and quite big sound, a little less warm and more neutral than the Schimmel. Good base. Incredible for it's price.
Then there were many many solid and good pianos. The only pianos I clearly wouldn't recommend are the most Chinese, whatever the Name - Zimmermann, Feurich, Wilhelm Schimmel (or Friedolin?), Friedrich Grotrian - fuck this shit. You can just get a much better used German or Japanese Piano for the price (or much less) of a new Chinese.
I'm excited for the inspection of the Feurich. If it doesn't work out for some reason I think I will get the Schimmel 114. 🙂
