All these brands seem to attract so much praise, and I just wondered what opinion you had of them. I've never played a Bösendorfer myself, so Steinway would probably be my choice: I played a Model D in the shop across from my school one day and it was absolutely incredible, the most responsive instrument I've ever played. Which do you guys think is best, and why?

steve

I can't say I've ever played any of these.

I've played a Challen, Kimble, Yamaha, Collard & Collard, Kawai and a Schimmel.

I thought the Yamaha and Schimmel were good pianos but I own a Kawai.

The Kawai is supposed to be made from the same parts as a Boston (Steinway owned) aprt from the action which is different.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong !

I love my Kawai

QUOTE

The Kawai is supposed to be made from the same parts as a Boston (Steinway owned) aprt from the action which is different.

This is indeed correct: I had a long sales-pitch lecture from an authorised Steinway reseller in a music shop (I was just innocently looking at the pianos and he tried to sell me one, cheek!). Kawai make them for Steinway and they use similar parts: apparently there are about 50 engineering differences pear-shaped hammers, no MDF, different shaped sound board etc. So many of the parts are actually different.

I was sceptical about whether the Bostons were really worth more than other pianos (specifically Yamahas) as although they have the Steinway brand they aren't actually made by Steinway. However this man (I know he was trying to sell them....) did actually convince me; the engineering really is the important bit. He played the two (although I haven't actually compared it to a Kawai) side by side and the Boston did have a nicer tone, particularly in baroque works: the natural sustain was better for an instrument of that size. I still do really like Yamaha pianos though and one can get a Yamaha C6 for less than the price of a Boston approximately the size of a C3 (admittedly not from that shop! One has to know where to look...) so that does make the competition a little more tough for the Boston.

I've never played any of these pianos either.

Would love to have a go though. When I'm more confindent with my playing I think I will take a trip to Harrods piano department, or some other shop that has a good selection, and pretend I am interested in buying a piano just so I can spend the day playing on all their pianos.

I have played a Bluthner grand which was very very nice, really responsive.

I love Bechsteins! I think their tone is the most beautiful I've ever heard, (and I've played on Steinways, a Bluthner, various Yamaha and Kawai pianos and loads of others).
Just a random little bit of info I found out the other day while revising for history (sort of put me off!): the Bechstein manufacturers sponsored Hitler and the Nazi party in their early years, and without Bechstein money they might not have come to power (at least, not so soon).

Although Steinway makes very good pianos, it is not very profitable... The most profitable piano business is consumer grade pianos that sold at volume.

Then Steinway wants to have a new line of pianos that are cheaper... and still carries the heritage of Steinway. But unlike Japanese piano companies, such as Yamaha and Kawai, who have confusing number of lines for different quality pianos, Steinway would keep a simple line for her pianos only.

So... Steinway created Boston, and Kawai was selected by Steinway to make Boston pianos in Japan.

I am not sure now, but the last time I saw the Boston upright piano (in Hong Kong) uses Renner action, and my Kawai upright piano at home uses Kawai action - and therefore, YES! Their actions are different. (But not sure for the Grands)

How much Boston is better than Kawai? I played a very limited time on both... but in different shop! In fact I cannot compare them directly because the Boston I played is a smaller size GP-163 (5'3"), while the Kawai is RX-2 (5'10").

I have to say that the Boston does sound a bit richer, open-up, and larger than its size! But I strongly think that the local Kawai dealer did not prepare the RX-2 well enough! Which makes me hesitate to make a secound purchase with them - really!!

I do prefer Kawai than Yamaha because of its richer and mellower tone, and its slightly heavier touch. (However I do understand that many Jazz/Pop piano players prefer Yamaha because they have a brighter tone.)

i think steinway and yamaha are the best..but i only own a kawai at home..

Those of you who have never had the opertunity to play a Stienway have no idea what you are missing. 90% of performers ask to play a Stienway. Thing is, its different for everyone. Some like a soft touch with a mellow tone, others (particularly with older pianos) may prefer or are used to a hevier touch. At home I play a Schrimer circa. 1969. It sounds fantastic for its size, but the touch is light so on transfering to a concert quality piano is quite a change. There is nothing like bashing the heck out of high-quality grand. Yamaha have it licked too. The touch isn't as good but the sound brilliant.

Good luck all.

Just to add...

as they did for the Leeds International Piano Fetival...and spend £140,000 on a piano, you would hope it be the best thing on 3 legs! And guess the make? STIENWAY

Just to add...

as they did for the Leeds International Piano Fetival...and spend £140,000 on a piano, you would hope it be the best thing on 3 legs! And guess the make? STIENWAY