at The Turn of The Millenium

Wednesday, November 24, 1999

Updated, November 26, 1999

Assuming one could get accurate data on all the available new grand pianos that were an average of six feet in length and all in ebony, this is how they might all look, ranked from the cheapest to the most expensive. Imagine putting one of each in a vast cavernous series of studios through which you could pass along and play each of these instruments of course all in tune and fully prepared.

Now that you have sampled all the latest greatest grand pianos in or around six feet in length I have a few questions for you. Notice where all the cheaper pianos are coming from? Notice where the most expensive pianos are coming from? A Steinway L looks to be somewhere in the middle and a Baldwin L looks like quite a nice deal. Some from the Piano Forum will remember that I used to own a nice Baldwin L so I have some basis for comparison. And that's just where I want to begin.

Clustered around that Baldwin L at position 22 are a fine Schulze-Pollmann at 21 and the Yamaha C3 at position 20. Just above it are the Hoffmann at 24 and the Astin-Weight at 25 with the Charles Walter grand coming in at position 23. Haven't had the pleasure of any Charles Walters yet. But that's pretty good company.

The Steinway L at position 32 is surrounded by Broadwood's return at 33 and no I don't know what it's like, Mason & Hamlin's slightly short but grand A at 31 and below that Pleyel's entry at 30. That's excellent company. After this territory almost everything goes German and stratospheric like climbing the alps. From position 34 you are playing on old world classics, each with its own special color and feel, German and then on to Bosendorfer. But topping it all off is Fazioli's entry, probably the most expensive production six foot grand piano in the world.

The territory between the Baldwin L and Steinway L is fantastic, every piano probably a gem. Between the Baldwin at 22 down to their Chickering at position 7 which is the largest model they intend on making this season, you'll find a good half dozen that are good to very good. The question is are any of these as good as the alpine bunch or are the alpine bunch really worth the money? The only way you'll ever know is by going out and finding these pianos and playing them. Only then will you know.

On the other side of things you can see that two Chinese entries are 7' grands. That's really in a different category but their next smallest entries were 5' 3" baby grands. I included them in the sample to give a better idea of what some people might be tempted to consider value. The mighty Steingraeber is only 5' 6" and barely makes the survey but it is still a piano to be respected.

I also added Yamaha's S4, 6' 3" grand and no I haven't played one. They are billed as the hand made Yamaha. A limited production line is used. Yamaha has been putting a few of these out each year and sending them to various festivals to see how they perform. Yamaha technicians have been witnessed at such events doing something that has rarely been seen on a Yamaha; revoicing the piano. They are apparently taking what they learn back to the factory, where they'll attempt to duplicate the best voicings across their cheaper lines. At a price in the high $40Ks, this piano deserves serious consideration when met.