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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43 |
Hey Everyone,
My 1st post but I have been lurking for 3 months.Around Christmas I decided it was time to retire my Steinway upright(17 years) for a grand.I wanted to find something for about 25k and did so.I found a Steinway M (1917) that was about to be rebuilt.I jumped on it. Over the last 3 months i decided to educate myself more...YES i did this totally ass backwards.I live in Durham,NC I went to our local dealers.I played a lot of pianos that I have not played so much..I am a jazz pianist and its what I do for a living,so its pretty rare to play Bluthners,Bechsteins,Schimmels..ect...I normally get Steinway Ds..some I love and most I fight with for an hour and a half and then move on to the next city.I am a huge fan of Steinway but I did come to love most of the European pianos.I must admit this took time cause it really is a different sound for me.
Well I really did love the Faziol's I played and the dealer here sells them.If money was not an object I would have gotten one....one day for sure..
So on Saturday my Steinway M arrived and the rebuild was great..The piano looked amazing.The action needed some more fine tuning but it was great.The problem is,its too small..It is powerful for a little piano,but there is little to no color.I was very disappointed but determined.So I went back to Ruggero piano and started going back to the pianos that caught my ear..I wanted to stay under 6 and a half feet so...So my contenders were Mason AA..Becstein 190..Schimmel K 189
I played them for hours over the last few months but didnt want to pay extra..the plan would be to upgrade in a year or so..
The Mason was nice and warm but after playing the German pianos,the Mason was the 1st to go..I loved the Bechstein,the action was amazing and the tone was warm and clear..There was just something about the Schimmel..So I traded in the Steinway and they delivering the Schimmel in 2 days..
Dealing with Richard (the owner) was an absolute pleasure.In this process,we became friends.
this is getting long,but I wanted to thank everyone for all the info I learned here!!
all the best,Joey
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 486
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 486 |
Congratulations! Schimmel has a unique "airy" treble, and the best action (my favorite action). It was my close friend's favorite piano as well, his comment was among all the brands he has heard, Schimmel has the unique tone of "happiness", which he would love to sit back and hear someone playing it all day.
PLEYEL P124
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,564
4000 Post Club Member
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4000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,564 |
Congrats! Bigger really helps and the Ruggero family does everything well.
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,714
6000 Post Club Member
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6000 Post Club Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,714 |
Most of the Schimmels I have played/serviced were well made.
The tone color does not change much with dynamics-which I find boring.
Also they tend to be loud and louder, no real soft playing possible.
Don't mean to rain on your parade-I am glad you are happy with your new piano and I wish you well.
In a seemingly infinite universe-infinite human creativity is-seemingly possible.
According to NASA, 93% of the earth like planets possible in the known universe have yet to be formed.
Contact: toneman1@me.com
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43
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OP
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43 |
No rain Ed..I am sure you are aware of the C and K lines of Schimmel(Kbeing the top of the line).
I was able to play soft and loud no problems..Maybe the C series is a bit different that way,but I never even tried them..
I will know a lot more in the near future..
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 171
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 171 |
Welcome and congrats on the new Schimmel! And can't resist saying... love your music! I've been keeping an ear out since I first heard you with Michael Brecker in Boston in 1990.
Schimmel 130T
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 13,236
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
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Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 13,236 |
Most of the Schimmels I have played/serviced were well made.
The tone color does not change much with dynamics-which I find boring.
Also they tend to be loud and louder, no real soft playing possible.
Don't mean to rain on your parade-I am glad you are happy with your new piano and I wish you well. Ed, I understand your post, but I would suggest some work that would get rid of most of the initial attack (string noise). The front duplexes tend to whine and working them does a lot of good. Some well placed hammer work (alignment and sugar coating) helps a whole lot as well, IMHO. My 2 cents,
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,760
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,760 |
Hey Everyone,
My 1st post but I have been lurking for 3 months.Around Christmas I decided it was time to retire my Steinway upright(17 years) for a grand.I wanted to find something for about 25k and did so.I found a Steinway M (1917) that was about to be rebuilt.I jumped on it. Over the last 3 months i decided to educate myself more...YES i did this totally ass backwards.I live in Durham,NC I went to our local dealers.I played a lot of pianos that I have not played so much..I am a jazz pianist and its what I do for a living,so its pretty rare to play Bluthners,Bechsteins,Schimmels..ect...I normally get Steinway Ds..some I love and most I fight with for an hour and a half and then move on to the next city.I am a huge fan of Steinway but I did come to love most of the European pianos.I must admit this took time cause it really is a different sound for me.
Well I really did love the Faziol's I played and the dealer here sells them.If money was not an object I would have gotten one....one day for sure..
So on Saturday my Steinway M arrived and the rebuild was great..The piano looked amazing.The action needed some more fine tuning but it was great.The problem is,its too small..It is powerful for a little piano,but there is little to no color.I was very disappointed but determined.So I went back to Ruggero piano and started going back to the pianos that caught my ear..I wanted to stay under 6 and a half feet so...So my contenders were Mason AA..Becstein 190..Schimmel K 189
I played them for hours over the last few months but didnt want to pay extra..the plan would be to upgrade in a year or so..
The Mason was nice and warm but after playing the German pianos,the Mason was the 1st to go..I loved the Bechstein,the action was amazing and the tone was warm and clear..There was just something about the Schimmel..So I traded in the Steinway and they delivering the Schimmel in 2 days..
Dealing with Richard (the owner) was an absolute pleasure.In this process,we became friends.
this is getting long,but I wanted to thank everyone for all the info I learned here!!
all the best,Joey Congrats on a great instrument. I gotta ask, are you THE Joey Calderazzo? If so you're one of my greatest musical heroes. If not, well I like you anyway:)
Jazz/Improvising Pianist, Composer, University Prof.
At home: C. Bechstein Concert 8, Roland RD88
At work: Kawai GX2, Dave Smith Prophet Rev2 16-voice
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43
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OP
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43 |
hey Adrean,
lol..yeah its me..not too many with that name i dont think..
I have been hanging around here and decided to join the other day..
see you around,Joey
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,760
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,760 |
Well it's an honor to have you here. I met you an number of years ago at the Top O' the Senator in Toronto when you were playing in Brantford's quartet. I was just starting out then and you were really kind and supportive. Thanks for that.
Ps. Bri's Dance on Haiku is still one of my all time favorite solo piano tracks. (Ok I'm gonna stop gushing now:)
Cheers,
Adrean
Jazz/Improvising Pianist, Composer, University Prof.
At home: C. Bechstein Concert 8, Roland RD88
At work: Kawai GX2, Dave Smith Prophet Rev2 16-voice
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,621
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
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Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,621 |
Most of the Schimmels I have played/serviced were well made. The tone color does not change much with dynamics-which I find boring.
The statement fails to differentiate between the several different lines of "Schimmel". For example, the Classic and Konzert series are so different, they may as well be made by different makers. While the statement may be perhaps partially true for the one series, it definitely does not for the other. Small detail worth mentioning especially since OP bought the formidable K 189.... Congrats to a great, dynamically awesome piano! Norbert 
Last edited by Norbert; 03/14/13 02:02 AM.
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43 |
ha,thanks Norbert..i was thinking of buying a clavinova after reading that post!!!
Its all good..I did some research and feel that the K series is very good...and Richard Ruggero was a huge help in this process..it was a tough choice between the Schimmel and the Bechstein A 190 but I think I made a good choice..I think I will be very happy..and then I will most likely buy a Fazioli in the next 5 years..I played the 6 foot Fazioli the other day and it really blew me away..I would get bigger but it was amazing ..
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4 |
I have played a grand schimmel one time, it was a great pleasure. One of the best !
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43 |
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 7,439
7000 Post Club Member
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7000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 7,439 |
Just remember to keep breathing!
Marty in Minnesota
It's much easier to bash a Steinway than it is to play one.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 12
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 791
500 Post Club Member
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500 Post Club Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 791 |
Welcome to the wonderful world of Schimmel pianos.... Congrats! Enjoy it 
Schimmel Konzert 189 Tradition
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,840
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,840 |
Welcome to the forum. I am a member of the Schimmel fan club. And, after an enjoyable hour of youtube, I can now say, I am a fan of Mr. Calderazzo. Denver on your touring schedule?
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43
Full Member
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OP
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43 |
well the piano arrived and I am thrilled..everyone is sleeping but I am playing very quietly!!!.
Honestly I never knew pianos could sound like this..As I told Richard,I LOVE Steinways cause it was what I was used to.Its basically the only piano I play on the road. Every now and then I get a great one and its heaven but most of the time I am just avoiding the bad octaves..I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to be able to play the entire piano..It sounds really good to amazing through out the entire keyboard..
I have always been a huge fan of the tenor area in Steinways and was somewhat concerned about not having that at home..well after a few hours I can say I am fine..Its really nice to HEAR everything I am playing so clearly.. I almost feel a little naked!! I do plan on doing some recording with this piano so we will see..Joey
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 448
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 448 |
What a pleasure to have you here and add your vast experience to our threads. You bought a great piano and you should enjoy it until you find your "dream". The Schimmel and Fazioli seem to have a similar sound. To me it's a more "fundamental" sound, very pure and clean. Certainly different than a Steinway D. I was wondering if you noticed a difference overall of NY Steinways vs. Hamburgs as you have probably played many of both.
Quid est veritas et mendacium, cum orbis terrarum.
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