So we moved North out of London a few years ago into a project house that has space for a grand. Wife's not convinced we need more than a Bluthner B upright but I'd rather like a small concert grand, 6ft or thereabouts.

House is getting there, and while visiting daughters in London this last week I've been checking a few instruments; played Yamaha, Bosendorfer, Steinway and Bluthner.

Tone wise I got what I remembered and expected. Nicest played was a Steinway D (far too large of course), I recall the grands I liked back in 2003 were all big 7 or 9 footers.

Back to reality, none of the five Steinway B's (211cm) moved me.
Nor tbh. did the Bosendorfer 214vc or Bluthner 210 model 4. I realise being brand new they will play-in, and I'm being picky. They were balanced, could be played extremely quietly.

But wow the prices were a shock, cheapest being £94k Bluthner, and the Steinway B an eye watering £140k.
In 2004 £100k would have bought any full size except a Stuart&Sons. The Steinway D now costs 180 in black. Is that 4% annual increase? Or did covid cause a jump?

Reflecting, and there's no rush, I was wondering about Bluthners other models, or any other makers?

Also interesting were two similar sized refurbished in Bluthner, one 1907 and a 1924 with aliquot. Both pre roller so shallow action, original case frame and soundboard, new strings hammmers action etc. Lovely singing tones from played in soundboard. Was quite taken by the sound.

Open minded to all suggestions. Please.


Perhaps Hurstwood Farm pianos will have something next time I'm down.

Finally I ought to mention there was one piano that was perfect. "This is is lovely" said I to the smiling assistant as I fumbled through My Funny Valentine.
A special edition Steinway B, only 88 of these instruments made; in American walnut, with player piano/recording.. oh yes, beautiful singing tone when played.
£325,000
Good grief

Oh yes, there’s always that one piano that’s five times over budget, that ruins us for all other pianos… my sympathies!

But back to your actual search, sounds like fun!

I don’t know what brands are commonly encountered in the UK (beyond the ones you’ve already mentioned) and it sounds like you’re not going to be interested in Yamaha, for example. Although if it’s in your price range, you might try to play a C3X (new or used if available). The C3X is 6’1” and the CX series is said to be pretty different in sound/tone from the C series. (I have not played any CX Yamahas yet so I don’t have firsthand experience).

I have a 24 y/o Yamaha C2 (5’8”) that I bought used about 5 years ago. This size might be a little small for you, but it is a fantastic piano. The action is amazing (that was the first thing I noticed and liked about it even though it was horribly out of tune when I first played it, it was being sold by a private seller). It is incredibly consistent and stable, I had it regulated and voiced when I bought and it really came into its potential after that. I guess my piano is considered a mid-tier piano, but this piano has shown me why Yamaha pianos are so well-regarded. If you want a reliable instrument you can sit down and play and have a responsive action that really furthers your music making, a Yamaha is an excellent choice.

Btw would you consider a Kawai? Many people in the U.S. looking at mid-tier pianos like them as well (although I don’t like the Kawai action).

Or do you want a European make?

P.S. yes, it seems piano prices have really skyrocketed after covid.

I remember its like setting out to look for a car. You rarely end up with your initial thought.

Im old enough now to have no name bias.
The room is only 6.5m X 5.5m and carpeted. Three large windows, two are full height.

Kawai is a name I'd forgotten! Thank you so much. Must source them in the UK.

I have to admit walking past the Yamahas to look at an upright Bosendorfer, there were none in the country in 2003/4 when we bought the Bluthners (one of my sisters saw mine and also bought one). Bosendorfer only make a handful each year and I just had to peer inside and try the action.

So next time I shall try the Yamahas properly... the c70 was Freddie Mercurys delight at home for years.

Do you remember old Larry saying Bechstein had the top build quality, and some Yamahas sounded like they had a tea towell on their strings LOL
I found Bechstein and Fazioli to be clear in tone but have a very icy high treble (20 years ago).

Budget considerations will come into it at some stage, but not yet. Honestly if I find an Irmler, Boston or used Steingraeber Pheonix with the right tone I'll get it.

Can't help on the piano selection except to suggest the website Piano Tell. Don't know if you're know about it. It spun off from PW a few months ago. Our ShiroKuro is active there and can tell you more about it.

https://forum.pianotell.com/

Good luck with your search and can't wait to hear more about it!

Shirokuro-"It is incredibly consistent and stable, I had it regulated and voiced when I bought and it really came into its potential after that. I guess my piano is considered a mid-tier piano, but this piano has shown me why Yamaha pianos are so well-regarded. If you want a reliable instrument you can sit down and play and have a responsive action that really furthers your music making, a Yamaha is an excellent choice."
Thanks
I like that. I like my upright Yamaha. I have not had it long but I note that I am happy with it every time I play it.

Are you certain you wish a new instrument? At least here, there are may people selling/donating instruments as the market has become quite soft.

A month ago, an individual gave away model D Steinways, another gave away a Steinway B. They allegedly weren't used up "core" instruments. In another case, the individual sold a concert grand for $1,500 - recently rebuilt - but the owner had passed - and the executor wanted the instrument gone - immediately.

I haven't been attracted to the new Bluthners - liked the pre-war instruments much more.

Do keep us up on your hunt for your piano - it's fun from afar.

klurrs brings up a good point: since you currently have a piano, you could get something that needs to be re-whatever (e.g., restrung or more intensive work)....

Still, that's always a risk, because you really don't know what you'll get until it's done.

I would advocate for just getting the very best used piano you can (since your money will go farther). Or if you can afford new, consider new...

Re Boston grands -- I have played some really, really nice Boston grands in the 5'5" to 6' range. When I was piano shopping, there were a few Bostons I absolutely loved, but they were new instruments and way out of my budget.

But definitely include them in consideration. The ones I played had a very different tonal quality from my Yamaha, so I was sort of interested in how much I liked both brands.

And re Kawai, def. play as many as you can. My piano is 5'8" but there's a 5'11" Kawai grand, I can't remember now which one I played. But I played a 5'11" Kawai that was maybe 20ish years old, I really liked its tone (I just didn't like the action, but that is so individual, and a lot of people do like the Kawai action).

Anyway, keep us posted. I love vicarious piano shopping

And yes to what WTG said, visit Piano Tell! I think there are some UK folks there as well, so you may get additional suggestions/ideas.

Kluurs you have picked up on the one pleasantly surprising thing that came from my first dip into the current market.
I really liked the two reconditioned Bluthner grands. Stripped out and rebuilt by Bluthner I would quickly add.

From my notes one was 1925 Style 8 and 6'3" with aliquot; the other was 1907 style 7. Both singing old soundboards, two pedals, original case with victorian style legs...so nice furniture to go with the replaced action
and both a snip at £25k.

I like the used Steingraeber idea. It seems from your post you like the European sound, and I think Steingraeber is among the very best of these.

Also look at Schimmel. Or an older Ibach is a wonderful instrument.


I personally could not tolerate the asian pianos at all. Unfortunately many wonderful old European piano makes are now made in asia. Or have Chinese parts.

Those prices are shocking. Especially since so many people have switched to electronic keyboards.

With those prices I would be looking hard at the used market.

Bluthner isn't my sound, but if that is what you like, you might also like the Erard, and of course the Boesendorfer.

Everything is drastically more expensive since the pandemic.

I've found that the differences between individual pianos mean more to me than the differences between brands.

The two most memorable pianos I've played were Steinways. One was an eye-wateringly expensive one in a stupendous art case. One was in a music professor's office and it looked like your usual piano department practice piano. (And by this I mean that it looked like it had been beaten with chains.) I've played many other Steinways and they ranged from very nice to perfectly fine to kinda awful. It all depends on the instrument and the player's taste, which means you're going to have to play a lot of them, but that's not a bad thing.

Last time I bought a piano, twenty years ago, I owned an ancient Hamilton Baldwin that I really liked, but it was on its last legs. I expected to like a 7-foot Baldwin that was new old stock, which at that time meant that it was American-made. And I did like it, but I loved the 7-foot Yamaha sitting next to it. I've now owned it for twenty years and moved it five times. The last move went poorly, so it now looks like it's been beaten with chains (lightly and only in a few places, but still). It doesn't sound the same in this house, so I need to put down some rugs and hang some curtains and get it voiced, and I want to get its case repaired, but it's still lovely to play and it will be amazing again when I get those things done.

Have fun shopping!