So as I've been playing a number of pianos this week, I've encountered numerous different types of action. Some seem to be very, very stiff, others much to loose. Some pianos seem to have a shorter distance between pushing down the key and creating sound than others. It's just been interesting playing so many vastly different pianos this last week. [digitals, uprights, concert grands, baby grands, semi-concerts, mid size grands....I've played em all this week.]

I, personally, prefer a bit lighter action, where I feel like I can easily be gliding over the keys, getting to the bottom of them at the velocity I want, without to much trouble. The action on the Yamaha C series pianos I played was generally excellent, and I like the action on most Steinways. Of course every piano, even amongst the same model of the same brand, is different! One of the professors at my school has two steinways [I believe same model - they're at least the same size] in his office - one that i love playing and has a great feel, another that has such stiff action I literally can not play certain things on it - the keyboard feels like I'm doing more of a resistance work out rather then playing piano.

But what do you find creates the "perfect" action for you and why? I'm just curious what other people in the piano world think. Obviously, a good pianist can adapt to any piano and still create music, but what sort of piano action do you find is most conducive to your playing?

Kawai Millenium III, at least the one on the SK-9 I played was perfect.

yamaha. what also contributes to the action's excellence in a meaningful way are the shape of the black keys and the ivorite keytops, the perfect amount of grippiness.

I like them light. The Shigeru Kawai action felt best to me, but I've played some that were inconsistent with my original impression. I suppose they can be altered significantly from piano to piano.

Lighter action, not too bright sound.

I like a rather heavy action and a large dip. This is probably because I have played a Weinbach most of my life and have used a Virgil Practice Clavier regularly. The initial sensation of facility imparted by a light touch I find brief, unstable and tending to loss of dynamic control.

It depends on the repertoire I'm playing sometimes. I tend to like a bit more weight to the action because the greater resistance allows me to give more dynamic range in Romantic pieces, but with Baroque or some Classical, a lighter action is preferred.

Light action with a fairly good key dip and adequate aftertouch for insurance against hammer bobble. I like a very close letoff. I've been able to "dial in" my preferred toughweight with the TouchRail system.

http://pitchlock.com/

I've posted about it before and there are other threads in the archives.

I understand your point, but the composers of the Romantic period themselves played on pianos with a lighter action (because all pianos had a lighter action back then).

If someone prefers a heavier action for whatever reason, I don't think it's relevant that the pianos the composer played on had a lighter action. Why would one choose the action another person preferred or used because it was standard at the time?

I think that hammer recovery is just as important as how the key feels going down.

I like a light, responsive, "buttery" feeling that allows me to play rapidly repeated notes with ease. I also want a piano that allows for good dynamic control such as making it easy to play pianissimo without getting silent notes. (I think I'm talking about a well regulated Steinway. )

Maybe because one really prefers it?
Not really light or heavy action, but Bathaun for example said his piano is tuned to the same frequency as Chopin's and that it sounds great.

What I meant, which I thought was clear from my first sentence, was why would someone choose the action only because another person from a different era preferred it? IOW the idea that the composers from the Romantic era may have played on a piano with lighter action seems irrelevant.

I still agree with what I said based on what the poster I was replying to was saying (that he/she preferred to play music of the romantic period on a piano with heavier action). What is wrong with pointing out that actually composers of the romantic period played on a piano with a lighter action? I didn't say anywhere that it is better or that it should be preferred. I just stated a simple fact. Only because I had stated in another post that I prefer a lighter action and then said that composers of the romantic period played on a piano with lighter action it doesn't mean that everybody should prefer it or that it is better or that everybody should choose it.

Just to clarify: my preference has nothing to do with what composers of a particular era actually played on. It's based on my personal preference when playing their works. Simple.

It is perfectly fine if you prefer a heavier action when playing their works.

I like a very precise, "connected" feel to the action-- predictable response, medium-light, smooth and controllable. Not too much to ask, is it?

I prefer a pretty light action. Maybe this is because I am a small person and it is harder for me to get a really big sound out of a stiffer action. I've liked the action on most Steinways I have played. It also seems that I would rather play on an old piano than a brand new one. (As a side note, I thought this was a pretty universal preference, but then I realized I was the only pianist at my school who chose to play on the old Steinway in my teacher's office rather than the shiny new Yamaha.)

On the other hand, I don't like old, light action uprights whose keys are almost loose, which is what I have at home

I really like this thread! I'm a weird pianist in that I like different actions depending on the piano. For a Steinway, I LOVE a heavy action. It lends itself to the New York Steinway sound. For a cleaner sounding European piano, I like a lighter action. It matches the crisp sparkling sound of Schimmel and C. Bechstein, for example. Now, in general, if I got to pick two favorite actions, they would be the actions in the Schimmel Konzert line and the Shigeru Kawais. In fact, my 15 year career and asset acquisition goals include the purchase of either a 7'6" Shigeru Kawai or Schimmel Konzert. Hey, I can dream right????...........and work non-stop to make the come true

in addition to yamaha i agree with others that shigeru kawai have wonderfully fast, buttery smooth actions. i would also add that c bechsteins that i've played have a 'kräftig' feel in that when you press a key you know you're pressing a key (not to be confused with a heavy feel); the feel of german engineering at its best.

I did play a brand new Kawai six foot grand today and was VERY impressed with the action. For the price, I've found pianos I like much better, but it still was a lovely piano with a great feel!

Also, I'm beginning to see why a heavier action gives greater dynamic control - today on a brand new Weber with a bit stiffer action than I'm used to, once I got used to the feel, I was able to create some wonderful tones and colors with complete control.

RX?

I like the RXs a lot, great feel and control.

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I recently played a Steinway A3 with a WNG carbon fiber action. I was really impressed by it. Great repetition, feel and control, and the tech was still putting the final touches on it. I wish I could have played the final product.

I can't recall what model it was - it did however have the carbon fiber Millennium action, so I imagine it would be quite similar to the Steinway you played. It did have a great feel to it, and I am interested in the concept of a piano that won't lose it's quality action over the years! [Supposedly, this is what the dealer told me would happen with the carbon fiber parts.]

Does anyone know what year Kawai started using the carbon fiber action in their pianos?

I was told 2002 by the local Kawai dealer.

I also like a lighter than standard action. Some (many?) older Steinways have a bit lighter action. My current Grotrian has modified action that also plays lighter than standard.

I can play on heavier actions but it feels clumsy and tires my arms quite a lot. So I can imagine that pros want a heavy instrument, just to be prepared for a concert on a heavy action.

My technique is not strong, and I think I play a little better on a lighter action, with fewer missed notes, but I imagine my technique will more likely improve if I have to adapt to a heavier action, forcing me to hit the notes more evenly. I have played mostly on Steinway and Mason-Hamlins. Both a little heavier to me, but good. I played a brand new Millenium action on a Kawaii and found my figures flew over the keys. Fun to play. Not sure if it was the best for me as I strive to improve, but very nice action.

Heavy action! I think it gives you more control.