Thanks Gene! I have heard a couple of tracks from the Mursky album. To be honest, that's not how I would like my Omega to sound, even after allowing for the strange acoustic of the recording venue.

Mine does not sound like the recording. But the recording certainly has a very distinctive tone compared to many piano recordings.

Congratulations, you have indeed gotten yourself a very fine piano. I went by a piano store on the way home today, and they had two Sauters on display. I tried them both, and they were excellent instruments. I also played a Steingräber for the first time, and I found it very, very likeable.

ChatNoir: Thanks for your wishes. All are great pianos. As I said, I would happy with all these top instruments, so the deciding factor would be support from a good tech.

Edit: And a price that minimizes my debt!

Mr Kwan of Emmanuel & Sons, the local Fazioli dealer, just dropped me a line congratulating me on my choice. He also invited me to continue to visit to play on his pianos.

Now how's that for class. I was about to visit him to tell him in person about my decision, and to thank him for being so patient with me. Mr Kwan is an expert tech himself.

Man, I can't believe i'm so late on this thread!

Digitus:

CONGRATLUATIONS!!!

At first I guessed you would go for the Shigeru, so imagine my (very pleasant) surprise that you were going for Sauter, and an Omega no less! It seems like a replay of what I what I went through two years ago. It looks like you made your choice based on the very same factors that I did - Alvin's great service. Don't worry about the debt. Money can be earned back with time. But time once lost, is lost forever.

How are you intending to have it voiced? Mellow? Creamy? Or clear and transparent? Thought about the choice of fallboard and finishing yet?

I'm quite excited for you actually. Just gave Alvin a message to congratulate him on his next sale. I'm so happy that you made this choice. Wish I had the time to actually meet you on your piano hunt!

I do intend to upgrade to an Omega once I get a bigger place. May I have the pleasure of sampling your Omega when it arrives? The offer is open for you to sample my Delta too

Keep us updated!

Bkmdd:

Unfortunately my schedule did not give me chance to visit the Grotrian dealer while in Bangkok. However, I did pass by Robinsons at Siam Discovery Centre. Interesting special edition Steinways they have there! Did not want to go inside - thought it would seem funny for me to just browse. But I did notice the price of the Steinways is significantly higher than what one would pay in Singapore!

Wzkit: Thanks very much!

To be honest the choice was down to a Fazioli F-183, and the Sauter Omega 220. I would have been happy with either instrument. The latter won on a combination of price and service.

It's hard to describe the kind of tone I like so here are some adjectives: round-ish yet articulate, with a slightly harder attack, and a leaner envelope. I like the harmonically rich Sauter sound, but not taken to the extreme like the Omega used in Mursky's album. Probably the best Omega tone I've heard so far is that of the piano used by the Cécile Verny Quartet on their 'Got A Ticket' album. Maybe my taste is somewhere between European and American.

Alvin and I have already talked about cabinet and bench customization. We've picked out a tentative scheme, and I think he'll be in Spaichingen in November to match the veneers.

Although it would have been fun to have you along during the hunt, it would actually have been very difficult for us to meet. You see, I work from home when I'm not traveling. This gives me the flexibility of going to piano showrooms during the weekday, when you would be at work. I have family commitments during the weekends so that works out fine for me.

You are most welcome to pop over to play to your heart's content. It will provide my neighbours with some respite from listening to me struggle with my hands and wrestling with the piano. As I said earlier, I have agreed to Ulrich Sauter's request that I allow genuine prospective customers to visit. And you are as genuine as they come!

Digitus,
I thought that the Fazioli 183 sounded better than its larger cousin too. Mellower, and a slightly heavier touch that was easier to control.

I'm not sure that I would describe the Omega in Mursky's album as harmonically rich. In fact, the attack seems a little too sharp for my tastes, especially when he plays loudly. I prefer a mellower, creamier, yet clear and articulate tone. To my mind, such a sound offers the most tonal possibilities.

I have not heard the album by the Cecil Verny Quartett. Would you be so kind as to lend it to me someday?

Wzkit: By harmonically rich I meant big fat sound. Yes that attack sounds so unnatural particularly when played fortissimo. That album does not give a true indication of what the Omega 220 is capable of. It is a downright bad recording of a wierdly prepped piano. At least one track ('Campanella') was on the Concert 275. Again bad prep - the piano sounded brittle.

About the Faziolis, my initial reaction was, how shall I say this, shock and awe (thank you Mr Bush). Truly stunning pianos in every way, if you can get past the sticker shock.

But they aren't for everybody. Tonally they do need rounding out to be less clinical. Touch-wise both the F212 and F183 gave me control that initially felt to be almost other-worldly. On my second visit I spent more time on the F212 and decided that perhaps a much better pianist than I would have more success controlling it. I also discovered that my pedal technique sucks on pianos with long sustain!

That particular Cecile Verny Quartet album was released in 1998 (got this from her website). It's not available on either Amazon.com or cduniverse.com. The couple of tracks I have came from Alvin. I would love to get the album if I could just find it. Cecile Verny has just released another album, but I don't know if the Omega was used on it or not.

Yes, brittle is the word to describe it. From my observation so far however, the characteristic Sauter tone does tend towards a lean and sharp attack when played loud. It may not be for everyone. But the real beauty of the Sauter tone is when it is played softly. That's when the harmonic richness, coupled with the clarity makes for quite an unbeatable combination, in my opinion.

I also agree with you about using the word "clinical" to describe the Fazioli tone. It does have its own beauty, but it may not be for everyone. Personally, I think the Sauter tone may suit me better. But I have to admit I have a soft spot for the Fazioli's action. A pity about the price tag though!

Wzkit: I am sure the Omega will be everything that it promises to be. Your very good Delta recordings were among those that were helpful in getting a fix on the sonic possibilities.

Lucky you! Sauters are beautiful pianos. I tried the grands at Catlady's and uprights there and in NYC.

But what a long wait you have in front of you. It will be worth it and your custom cabinet unique and beautiful. Bet you could even have Ulrich sign it for you along with your name engraved. ;-) LL

lilylady: Yes it is going to be a long and agonizing wait. It has been said that the thrill is in the wanting, not the having. In the Omega's case the thrill is in the wanting and the having.

Alvin suggested having my signature applied to one of the cheek blocks. I'm so tempted to, but it seems just a little crass. And yes, getting Ulrich Sauter to sign it sounds like a good idea! Where, do you reckon? On the soundboard perhaps?

One cannot view the soundboard. I would suggest on the plate. Or on the front of the action which would then be seen only when it was slid out. I was thrilled years ago when I purhchased and antique organ and we had to restore it a bit. When we got to the keys, it was signed on the side of a key and we opened it almost 100 years to the day. ;-) LL

We have 2 showrooms full of pianos but everytime I come home and have our 49"Sauter upright to play, it is a special treat.

Recently I had one of our customer's consider the very same piano, so I invited him home to have a look at ours.

My 13 years old girl who already is a performer, opened the door and said: "Hello, come on in, you can look - but not buy!"

Looks like this piano, which was essentially a gift to my kids, will never be "for sale"....

Norbert

Norbert, out of curiosity, which model of Sauter upright do you have at home?

Ah yes, the plate is a good suggestion.

I love listening to live organ music. And I mean a large pipe organ in a large venue. The immersive sonic and musical experience is one-of-a-kind. Living in Asia means that such experiences are few and far between.

My most recent attendance at an organ recital was at St. Bavo's Church in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Pieter van Dijk played an hour's programme on the church's Christian Muller organ (1738). I am an absolute plebian when it comes to the organ repertoire. But it doesn't stop me from enjoying the music and getting frissons up and down my spine when Bach is played while the setting sun lights up the beautiful stained glass windows.

If you happen to be in Amsterdam in mid-May to mid-October, try to take in a free recital at St. Bavo's. Haarlem is only a short 15 minute train ride from Amsterdam Central Station. There is a recital every Tuesday evening from 20.15 to 21.15 hrs. In July and August there are additional afternoon recitals from 15.00 to 16.00 hrs.

Digitus, [/b] if the download is the one in Real Player format, there's no telling what that Sauter sounded like. IMO Real Player colors the sound way too much.

Wzkit, [/b] because of being so taken with your recording of Ravel's "Pavanne..." I was ready to jump on an antique Ibach, c.190cm. Turned out to have only two pedals. Rats.

FogVilleLad: I have the MP3 of 3 tracks. They were not downloaded from the cduniverse.com website. You are right about Real Player colouring the sound, because the cduniverse.com samples are even worse than the MP3s. :p

FogVilleLad:
I believe that recording does not show the Ibach at its best. The piano was slightly out of tune due to the humidity (it was a college piano). The piano tone also tended towards brittle to my ears, possibly due to a combination of abuse and poor maintainence. And did it have a heavy touch! Far heavier than my Sauter anyway.

Nonetheless I have to agree that this particular Ibach had a glorious singing treble, one of the very best I've encountered, and absolutely ideal for the repertoire which I recorded on it. Unfortuntaely the bass was somewhat lacking in depth. I felt for example, that my 6 foot Sauter Delta had a deeper and more resonant bass.

I wondered about that bass. I think that bass strings lose their musical qualities faster than do treble strings and did wonder - re this being an institutional piano - if part of their shallowness might not have been because they needed replacement.

If that antique Ibach had had three pedals, the first thing I'd have checked would have been its bass notes.

Wzkit, hopefully next time you are in Bangkok, our schedule might work out a bit better.

Digitus, personally, I think I would definitely be happier with Sauter or Grotrian than Fazioli. The 183 that I heard many times, initially really impressed me but after awhile, the tone kind of got on my nerve a bit. The crystal clear tone of Fazioli initially was attractive but its clinical, sterile or cold aspect was hard to live with in a long run. Personally I prefer the warmer, more romantic tone.

I have no idea how expensive a Steinway is in Singapore. When I made an enquiry about Hamburg A and B a little over a year ago, it was 4.3 million bahts and 3.7 million bahts (about $US 125,000 and 107,000 at current exchange rate)
retail. Fazioli 183 is somewhere in between, I think.

Digitus:
I recall u mentioned that the touch of the Sauter Alpha in Alvin's showroom was a tad heavy. Did you request to have the Omega's touch lightened?

Wzkit: Alvin says that the Omega's 'standard' touch is a little lighter than the Alpha's. That's likely to be enough for me. I don't want it so light that control becomes difficult (like the F212).

Digitus,
The Delta's touch is indeed slightly lighter than the Alpha, so I would expect the same for the Omega as well. But it is not just about light vs heavy - the feel is very different as well. The Delta has a deeper key depth to my fingers, likewise for the Omega, I suspect. That can make a surprisingly large difference in the overall action feel. Whether a shallower or deeper key depth is a matter of personal preference.

Ideally, I would prefer the Delta to be just a tad lighter still - perhaps closer to Steinway or Shigeru Kawai/ Fazioli F183. I noticed that the Steinway 'B's that I have played have a relatively
shallow key depth as well, which I like.

So if I were to trade up to an Omega (which has been on my mind for awhile - pending the purchase of a larger home), I would customise the action somewhat, opting for slightly lighter and shallower touch, and a mellower, creamier, yet still clear tone.

Wzkit: I suspect that we have similar tastes in tone and touch. And I know what you mean about the key depth and feel. I'll see how things go with the Omega first, and then adjust accordingly. Sigh. April is so far away.

Under normal circumstances I would never ever buy a piano sight unseen, particularly one that costs so much. But when you know that your dealer/tech can tweak the piano the way Alvin can then it removes a lot of the risk and anxiety.

P.S. Aren't you supposed to be at work??

On MC today. Had my IPPT yesterday and can hardly walk!

Ah, OK. Fortunately I am well past the age when I have to do such things anymore. I guess you have quite a few more years left before you get the lovely thank you letter from MINDEF!

MC? IPPT? MINDEF? You're going to have to clue in us "foreigners".

Okay, here's the quick and dirty on our very Singaporean acroynms, for the benefit of "foreigners"

MC: Medical Certificate, what your doctor gives you to pass to your employer when you need to go on medical Leave

MINDEF: Ministry of Defense

IPPT: Individual Physical Proficiency Test, the annual fitness test that Singaporean males have to take as part of compulsary military service.

Just a little more detail. At the age of 18, all Singaporean males have to serve 2 1/2 years (recently cut to 2 years) of compulsary full time miltary service, or National Service (NS) as it is called here. Thereafter, we have to go for reservist training duties once a year, maximum of 40 days a year (but usually 1-3 weeks) for around 10 years or so, until the age of 40 at maximum. That's a disruption from our civillian lives, and can start as early as the first year after full time military service, when most of us are in university.

As part of the reserve training duties, we have to go for our IPPT tests once a year. Its not a big deal when you're in your early 20s and fresh from full time military service. But into your 30s it just gets harder - our bodies just aren't what they used to be, plus add the fact that a civillian, sedentary lifestyle doesn't exactly do your body any favours - unless of course you exercise regularly, which I don't.

Mine was yesterday and though I managed to pass, it is clear that age is catching up with my body! Had a bad cramps in my legs after that