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Jeff's comment evoked the question - which would be on your shortlist and why?

The preparation matters more than the brand

I think statements like this are very misleading. It could even be interpreted by some that if one buys a low quality piano but has it prepped by a terrific tech the result will be an amazingly good piano.

A tier one or two piano will not sound good if poorly prepped. But many/most of them, especially tier one pianos, come from the factory already prepped quite well from everything I've read. So the chances of having a tier one piano in very poorly pepped condition is very small. Most dealers who are trying to sell a top tier and expensive piano will have it well prepped. Sensational prep on a lesser piano will make it sound the best it can but not as good as a top piano very well prepped.

In conclusion, I don't think either the quality of the piano or its preparation can be deemed more important.

I don't think there are many low-quality pianos in the 9-foot size range.

If it's prep that counts then a Fabrinni Steinway or Bosendorfer, a Yamaha or Shigeru/Kawai, or say a Cunningham for those on a budget?

Many of the lower tier makers don't make concert grands. I think the reason is that buyers of concert grands would usually not choose pianos from those makers even though they might well be much less expensive. If it was true that prep was more important than make, it would make major economic sense for lower tier makers to produce concert grands and for buyers to buy these concert grands and just hire the best tech to transform them into sensational pianos.

I doubt the concert grands from Pearl River or Heintzman can be made to sound/play near tier one concert grands no matter how good the prep is.

My guess is that you would say the same thing about comparing 7' or 6' pianos which are much more commonly made by low tier makers, so the issue is not so much about concert grands only.

IMO it's not very reasonable to say that between maker and prep one of them is more important.

My recommendation for one of the halls in San Francisco was Steinway and Yamaha, because most of the pianists playing would be on either of their rosters.

Prep does not last. I have seen any number of pianos that used to be top quality, but no longer are. So the most important thing is to have a top quality technician.

Yep, you are right.


Darrel Fandrich can get those Pearl River grands to play smoother than silk.


Nope.