Upright piano choice

eddiepiano

Thanks!

As there are IMO no other alternatives I purchased the Yamaha NU1X again. My only complaint with it was the "loud note" issue as you all can remember I think. Other than that - the real action, the pedals, the looks, the samples, the sound system and the audio interface and its implementation (gorgeous VST sound via speaker) - were excellent. That's the one tiny compromise I now am convinced I can live with. And as I learned EVERY digital piano has at least one major flaw (even the N1X that doesn't suffer from the loud note issue, but has a subpar sound system and a significant price increase compared to the N1X). The only Instruments that aren't compromises are the Yamaha/Kawai Silent Grands (ATX4/SH2) without the modified let-off compared to after-market silent systems, but they let you pay for that. 😉

Oh, but thats a story for an other thread.

eddiepiano

eddiepiano As there are IMO no other alternatives I purchased the Yamaha NU1X again.

Change of plans! Here in my area a piano teacher sells his beautiful Grotrian Steinweg 124 (good size!) in cherry from the 70s in apparently good condition for 2800 € (2940 US-$) (basis of negotiation). He seems very nice and I will play it tomorrow. If the condition of the piano is as good as it seems from the description and the photos it's a steal. 🙂

If it sounds anything like these it would be a dream come true (but these are approx. 20 years younger):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXa5fES3g4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf_EicsI_IA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zviTubKuO0

This one looks like the same model from the same time (the size, the shape of case, the legs, the Grotrian-Steinweg logo and the length of the music desk look the same).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYNx0g08Sz0

QuasiUnaFantasia

eddiepiano If the piano is in good condition, then that price is really fantastic. Grotrian-Steinweg is (as far as I know) bettered by no other brand.

eddiepiano

QuasiUnaFantasia Grotrian-Steinweg is (as far as I know) bettered by no other brand.

Yes, I played several of them at dealers and three of the favorite (affordable) pianos I tried (and I tried hundreds, lol) were a Grotrian-Steinweg 120 from the golden 1920s and two Grotrian-Steinwegs 112 from the 60s/70s. I liked only one specific Bechstein 12N (112 cm, 1970s) and an August Förster 120 (1930s) better. But these piano were all much more expensive. At least 50 % more, some of them more than double the price.

Grotrian-Steinwegs have the reputation to be very sturdy and durable instruments. My favorite brands (for upright pianos) so far were Grotrian-Steinweg, Bechstein, August Förster, Pfeiffer and Ibach. My impression was always that these german pianos allow a more nuanced, colorfol and dynamic playing and tone, especially in the pianissimo, compared to their Japanese counterparts.

Edit: This one looks most similar to the one being sold (it has just an other wood/veneer):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RhJf3Jtx-Q

I am really looking forward to try it.

eddiepiano

eddiepiano Edit: This one looks most similar to the one being sold (it has just an other wood/veneer):

I noticed this piano in the video and the one being sold only have 85 keys (the top 3 are missing). Is this/can this be an issue?

CyberGene

eddiepiano I noticed this piano in the video and the one being sold only have 85 keys (the top 3 are missing). Is this/can this be an issue?

Depends on your repertoire. Music up to the end of the 19th century would be OK. And a lot of other music too. My DIY hybrid (Cybrid) is 85 keys and I’ve encountered a few pieces I play (Scriabin Waltz, op.38 for instance) that go up to the highest C though.

Del Vento

eddiepiano I noticed this piano in the video and the one being sold only have 85 keys (the top 3 are missing). Is this/can this be an issue?

As CG said, it depends. In my opinion, even for the very few pieces that do use those top notes, you can use the lower octave and it'd be satisfactory. BUT, you could use it as a drastic negotiating factor, and get an even better deal.

Congratulations and happy shopping!

HZPiano

Hello,

@eddiepiano , I recently played a Grotrian Steinweg Concertino upright (132cm if memory serves me well) and it was fabulous.

I would love to own one of those!

Which is to say that they do make great instruments.

Cheers and good luck,

eddiepiano

Hm, I am still not advanced enough for difficult repertoire of (late) romanticism, but it's definitely a goal.

This one looks really similar to the one being sold (even the pedals) and also has only 85 keys. But sounds great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShDvAmuNE1A

nicknameTaken

eddiepiano That sounds a bit unnerving. Is it supposed to sound that way?

eddiepiano

To me it doesn't sound unnerving. The piano is from 1958, so it sounds of course not as clean (some would say sterile) as modern uprights. The treble is a bit hot if you mean that, but that's just a question of intonation. But who knows how "mine" will sound.

nicknameTaken

eddiepiano No. I'm referring to the play. It sounds kind of choppy. Is it supposed to be that way?

HZPiano

I would like to suggest that this thread is derailing into no longer being @Gamma1734 's intended VPC1 thread.

Cheers,

HZPiano

Nice prune, @CyberGene 😉.

Cheers,

eddiepiano

I may have the opportunity to rent an amazing STEINGRAEBER 130 T-PS (2013) from private for 200 € a month - one of the best pianos in the world. I am not sure - that's 2400 € a year (+ one/two tunings a year: 2600 €); it is of course amazing to have the opportunity to rent the best (definitely one of the best) pianos in the world that costs over 40.000 € new for such a small rent… But over the years that can sum up really quickly - and you don't own the piano. What do you think?

MHirsch

eddiepiano

To me, it would make a financial sense only if it's a rent-to-buy model.

But hey, not everything is about money 🙂

QuasiUnaFantasia

MHirsch By the way, for some reason I feel that you are from Bavaria, and your name seems to be Hirsch, and there is a Bavarian piano seller by that same name (in Munich). Any relation? 🙂

eddiepiano

MHirsch To me, it would make a financial sense only if it's a rent-to-buy model.

I asked her if this could be an option. I really don't want to get into debt unnecessary for a luxury piano, but a rent-to-buy model would work for me, because I wouldn't have the pressure to have to buy/pay the rest of the sum if my private financial situation changes.

QuasiUnaFantasia

You could get a Shigeru Kawai SK II grand for 42K EUR in Germany. Why an upright would command a similar price is beyond my current ability to understand. I would never opt for the upright.

HZPiano

QuasiUnaFantasia You could get a Shigeru Kawai SK II grand for 42K EUR in Germany

I played a brand new one recently -- it is really very surprisingly nice!

Cheers and the happiest playing,

eddiepiano

Yeah, but at 200 € a month I would pay it off for 10 years (or rather a bit shorter with a deposit)! 😃 I am not sure if this would be acceptable for the seller (the asking price is 20.000 €).

@QuasiUnaFantasia: I would say primarily space reasons. But the Steingraeber sounds better than most middle class grands (SK-2 is of course a high-end class grand - but a relatively short one). I would not have the space for a grand, even a baby grand.

HZPiano

eddiepiano I am not sure if this would be acceptable for the seller

Ask and thou shalt receive!

MHirsch

QuasiUnaFantasia

I am from Bavaria, this is a correct assumption!

But Hirsch is just a half of my last name. So no real relation to the great Piano Haus in Munich 🙂

MHirsch

eddiepiano

Normally, they say that everything you pay during the first year of renting would count. But considering the premium price for that piano…

Personally, I'd rather be in debt for a luxury piano than for a luxury car 🙂