Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Coming soon... a new Baldwin 6' 11"

I haven't been following PianoWorld threads consistently, so I don't know if anyone else has "leaked" the information, but Baldwin will be marketing a new mode, the BP211, due out this summer.

Reports from industry pros who have played one of the two prototypes have been very impressed. More details to come......

Hey Steve,

I have never seen the new Baldwins. Do the use the designs of old? Like the Accu just hitch pins?

Are accu just pins like the micro adjust ones Steingraeber lists as one of their features? What is the purpose of them?

I have see the seen the new Baldwins before and was very impressed.
Being made by Parsons [same as Brodmanns..] I have no doubt they will be a great success.
"Despite" being made in China....
Norbert

Baldwin pianos are now made in China? That seems so strange. Almost like buying a Chinese Harley Davidson. Do those exist too?

That said, there's no reason China can't have good craftsmen. I'd think Renner or Abel or other parts would be the same as everyone else's, and they'd have to import the Spruce for the soundboards, but everyone else sources parts too. The only question I'd have would be how are they getting high quality wood for other parts like the case and lyre and desk? My son's got Tama Starclassic drums. Very nicely made in China, but they actually ship in their wood from the US or other countries to make the shells. The cheaper lines tend to incorporate Luan instead of hardwoods like Birch, Maple, or Bubinga. It probably makes almost zero difference in the sound of the drums, but Luan is softer and weaker. Also potentially more likely to move/split/etc with humidity changes. Do they import the wood used to make the Baldwin grands into China?

Hi Rod,

My understanding is it will be a new design, not a copy of the SF.

Who does Baldwin have designing their new pianos? I have heard they have a few Americans still working on staff (in China), but did Baldwin in the latter years, whether in America or China, have anyone on staff who could design a piano? Weren't they just making the same models they had for decades (M, R, L, SF10) until production was shipped off to China? Are their new pianos designed by Chinese (Parsons) engineers?

I really like the new Baldwins I've played. They aren't up to the level of the top tiers anymore, but the ones I've played have been quite nice and represent a real value. I'm excited to see them come out with a bigger model, and look forward to playing it.

I also keep hearing rumors that they will be bringing back the American-made SD-10. I'm still dubious about the economics, but I sure hope they can do it!