On the quest to find my first piano, I came across a completely unexpected piano. A new Schimmel Grand 6'8 that I fell head over heels in love with the action is perfect not to light but not heavy and the sound was simply amazing. Call me crazy,but I felt drawn to the piano couldn't stop looking at it or thinking about it when I tried other pianos at the shop. What I wanted advice on is this piano to wonderful for a person who has been back playing piano for less than two years; and under 30k to much to spend on a piano when I am still learning? I know I am still a newcomer to the piano, but I feel quite seriously that I want to play the piano for the rest of my life.

I know exactly what you mean. A Schimmel K213NWS did it for me. I didn't buy it, though.

It sounds like you have found "THE ONE" and haven't dismissed it for lack of room, so that leaves only one question; is it within your budget. I'm assuming it is or you wouldn't be asking.

As far as should someone with only two years experience have such a nice piano, my answer is YES!! If you don't deserve it, then who?

We want a picture when it arrives.

Charles

If you can afford it, and are head-over-heels in love with the thing, who are we to say you can't? This is the PIANO FORUM after all! Enjoy and best wishes...

Buying the best piano you can will encourage you to practice more, and thus, improve. Just be sure to keep it well maintained!

If you can afford it, why not?

"but I feel quite seriously that I want to play the piano for the rest of my life."

Yes, you should buy it.

Yes of course you should buy it! Just think of the amount of money people foolishly waste on cars and other stuff when they could have the piano of a lifetime. I have a Schimmel upright and it's wonderful - but a grand would be absolutely fabulous.

+1... especially the pictures part!

The Schimmel K213NWS bug bit me a few years back and it now sits in my piano room. No regrets!

PS,
Under 30K is a good price.

Your only question should be "will they take my Mileage Plus Visa" so you can get a first class ticket to anywhere when you make the purchase!

I bought mine after a few years of playing, I wasted time and money on 2 wrong pianos. If you got the money and you love it just get it. I know I did.....

I do wonder what model you are talking about, there is currently no 6'8 model available?!

I love Schimmel! Get it!

Just don't let people get into your head about Steinway envy and buyers remorse because you didn't get a Steinway for only "Twice as Much":)

Schimmel is just as much of a piano as Steinway. Its just a matter of taste and if you like it then do it.

Theodore, why the Steinway comparison? Steinway is great, so is Schimmel. They are different characters that's all

you are right and i love them both, why can't i have them all?

Theodore, as for model its one of their classic pianos and the size might be 7ft I forget what the guy said it was in centimeters. There has been so much happening afterward.

What is coming down to in the end, is what my Dad wants to pay for. The Schimmel I feel confident will last me forever, but the other contender is a 1920 Steinway model M that I saw a two weeks ago. It had a lovely sound for its size and I liked the touch, but now that I have played the Schimmel I don't know if I would feel the same about the Steinway. Its half the cost, but it is probably due for serious work as its only had new hammers, strings, though its only had two owners both of whom kept it up. If I can not convince him to get this Schimmel should I just wait until I can get another Schimmel? I don't want to have my parents get me a piano that I don't adore. I know its apples to oranges, but I would greatly appreciate everyone's opinion.

The Schimmel is a very well made, heavy duty piano that will last you the rest of your life. You can't find a piano made with better precision, materials, etc. There might be some room to argue if it's the best piano in the world, but Schimmel is a world class piano that really "speaks" to people. I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

I have had many conversations with people about Steinway much more learned than me in the musical world and their input has been similar to my "opinion", and that is Steinway m's are one of the worst pianos ever made. However i have heard some amazing M's in person, just not that many.

Especially if its that old. I have been told by Steinway people directly that the best years for a Steinway are the first five, then progressively they loose ground due to their special woods and action parts. Ironically the very things that make them sound so awesome hurt their longevity.

Schimmel on the other hand, and other euro pianos, from what i understand don't have that problem and are rock solid both in holding their tune, resisting cracking on the soundboard and pin block and are very consistent due to the use of the standardized Renner actions.

If you love the Schimmel sound and your dad doesn't want to spend that much money then get a Schimmel/Vogel. Side by side with the Classic Schimmel line its nearly identical in sound, looks and parts and is a true German piano. Its simply assembled in Poland with German engineering and parts just like how the Porsche Boxster is German but assembled in Finland. Still a Porsche. Plus it sounds a heck of a lot better than a Steinway M!

Just an amateur's input.

Oh by the way, to prove my point, i just posted this video on another thread from well's piano and it simply is the best recording i have seen of a Vogel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/wellspianos#p/u/0/6cB9tHEEr7Q

An under-restored Steinway isn't a bargain even if it will satisfy your current needs. To find the value in Steinway, you should get new, late-model used, or fully-restored. I'm guessing this is the 6'10" Schimmel C208T that you're talking about. It's a tremendous home piano, easily balanced, clean and lyrical. The only downside is that they are often shown next to it's slightly bigger, more expensive brother, the K213T .

Few things will bring you the lasting joy of an instrument that inspires you.

I am in nearly the same position as you and have been following this thread with some interest. I, too, have only been seriously playing for about two years. I, too, am convinced that playing the piano will be a lifelong activity of mine. I, too, have fallen love with "more piano than I need."

Just now I read Sam Bennett's thoughtful comment about the lasting joy that an inspiring instrument can bring, and it really made me stop and think. I've played most of the quality instruments available in my area, and I've found one so far that's given me goosebumps.

I say get the Schimmel if it's even close to being in budget. Don't walk away from it if you're afraid you'll regret it forever, unless it's just completely out of your price range.

Good luck!

Mastiff

All pianos deteriorate with time and use. What are these special woods and what is it about the action parts that make Steinways deteriorate differently from other piano? If Steinways really did deteriorate faster than other pianos I can't imagine that this wouldn't become common knowledge and a disaster for Steinway...yet I have never read this before and PW has no shortage of people ready to criticize Steinway.

I think a statement like "M's are one of the worst pianos made" is beyond silly. Even the model S gets a very positive reivew from Fine with the caveat that it has the limitations inherent in that size piano.

An update, I have convinced my parents to put the piano on reserve; so now I have a few days to sell my Dad on the benefits of owning a Schimmel. Wish me luck!

When I first mentioned to my tech that I wanted a grand piano and asked for recommendations, the first word out of his mouth was Schimmel. Not only did they sound great, but had a build quality that gave them a durability second to none. So you can tell Dad that it will cost him less in the long run to own a Schimmel! Then again, having 3 girls myself, Dad's are pretty much at their daughters mercy when they really want something(within reason of course).

There are no tangible benefits anything music-related (well, other than the theories about making kids smart). In which case, the only answer you should need to the question "Why should I buy the Schimmel instead of Xxxxxxx?", would be "Because that's the one I want.".

Now, parents don't have to buy anything. You could also tell them that you'll eventually buy a Schimmel anyway, so might as well buy one now before inflation and the global recession really mess things up

Good luck!!

I enjoy Schimmels very much and think its good value compared to other pianos of similar lovely sound.

I am not able to relate to the thought of spending someone else's money on myself. Personally I think US$30000 is a bit too much to spend my dad's money on myself. I'd wait until I earned it myself.

Just my personal perspective to your question.

Go for it. Pianos are priced so competitively now. I have owned a 6' Schimmel for 20 years and love my piano. My tuner can't believe how stable it is. Only needs tuning every couple of years and it's played daily. If I could get a 6'8" Schimmel I'd grab it.

Since, I am having some difficulty convincing my Dad of the merits of the Schimmel grand; the same store just got in Schimmel Upright 132T of their concert series. The con against the upright is that it was made in 2003, but the lady had kept it in pristine condition, and it is a fair amount less than the grand. They are offering a five year warranty on the upright and a lifetime trade in on the upright. When I played the piano I was shocked at how much I liked the piano and it didn't sound like and upright. When the tech played a Chopin piece on it, I have to say it was divine. I am still a little more in love with the grand, but in reality I would be very happy with the upright.

That's an awesome upright. It just shows that because we expect so much less from uprights that most piano makers only worry about production efficiency and durability, not the performance potential. That's one upright that really shows the potential. I would consider it a fine compromise while still on path to the Schimmel grand and the sound that inspired you.

Yes, I finally got my Dad to agree to come see the Schimmel with me tomorrow. Hopefully, once he hears its wondrous sound he will agree that the piano is perfect; and I will finally have a piano at home. A dream a long time coming!

Hey everyone... isn't it great to see someone so excited about music in this period in history?

I just came home from long hard day of work and a bombardment of bad news from around the world on the tv and I cant think of a better way to unplug and de-stress than playing music with my baby girl and wife in the other room.

Its just good to see someone young and unspoiled by the world around them.

Irene good for you... go get your piano and practice your heart out... and be grateful!

To your dad...

"Dad there a lot of other things she could be asking for that would be much worse than playing piano. She will be playing music at home with you and not going out and getting in trouble. Just get the piano and let her enjoy it."

Thanks,Theodore. I wish my Dad would see the piano a little more like that. Sometimes, he is very much like Salieri's father to paraphase "Amadeus". He annouced this evening that he decided postponed our trip till Thursday. I will try to remain hopefully, but when he does this in the past, we don't end up doing what we had planned. Why must he treat me as if I am asking for an ultra expensive handbag? 'end of rant against parental unit, but I should try and get some mileage out of this teenage angst.'

Maybe he's thinking about retirement? :p

Worst case, you'll probably still get some sort of a very nice piano even at half the cost of the Schimmel. Which is still great! You're a lucky young woman.

The recent Schimmels that I service are fabulously expressive to play on, and internally show an attention to detail and features that will extend its life. For example, on a recent 189 Konzert, I went through my lubrication routine, and found that the keyframe had nylon inserts to reduce friction from the cheekblock (I added some lube anyway!). Good design shows.

--Cy--

I played the Schimmel upright and was really impressed.

Dad, Be proud that your daughter is so passionate about learning the piano. It's a gift and there's no monetary value that can be attached to it.

Thanks for the words of advice. I have only one more hoop to jump through and then Schimmel upright can be mine. Even though I was completely in love with the grand, I can see that the upright is more practical for me right now as it will fit in a small apartment better when I do go off to college. Also I went back to the store and played the upright a few more times and I am really beginning to be quite attached to it; and after seeing me play the upright my Dad has come around to my side of the discussion, which is grand in itself.

Just by way of a footnote: I played a Schimmel upright for years to accompany a violinist friend of mine. It was (and is) a wonderful piano--much better than one might expect from an upright. Good luck in both obtaining it and enjoying it!

BTW, is it Irene Adler as in Sherlock Holmes?

Excellent deduction, yes I did take Irene Adler from the Sherlock Holmes stories. I have been a fan of the stories for years. My sister who plays the violin has promised to learn the opening theme from Granada productions one day. I really hope this is the piano I get to take home. In my long quest for a piano I lost out on a piano that I really loved, but C'est la vie.