Hi,

I've just started the quest for a new piano and I can truly identify with the agony and frustration of finding "the one". Sadly, in reality, its a decision of buying the best piano with one's budget.

I've been reading all the earlier posts on how to find the piano. The comparions and comments on the different brands and models have been v v helpful. Following the advice in some of the earlier posts, I've tested several pianos including a bluthner, grotrain, schimmel etc. just to know what a KILLER piano is supposed to be like, though they are way above my budget.Yamahas and Kawais were within budget and their pianos had great action, but was lacking, at least for me, in their tone.

So far, the only ones that could fit my little budget, and sounded good, were either Wilh Steinberg or Bohemia. Would love any thoughts and comments if you have a steinberg or a bohemia or have knowledge of these instruments. The models I am considering are 1) a W Steinberg 1Q 48" or 2)Bohemia Concerto 132 (52" upright).

Thank you in advance for any comments or thoughts. It is really appreciated!

shong

Shong,

I have serviced a few of each. The Steinberg 52 inch that I service regularly is one of the most stable pianos I tune. After the first (free from the dealer) tuning, I went back for the 6 month appointment and found the piano right at pitch. After the 3rd tuning, the piano was so stable that I put the client on a yearly appointment schedule. The action is flawless for an upright, though I needed to ease keys and lubricate keypins to alleviate a slight amount of slugishness at the last appointment(very normal!). Subjectively, I think it has great tonal variation and color. Good value, for certain.

The Bohemia is relatively new on the market. It compares favorably with pianos that cost substantially more, IMO. The bass is deep, rich, and round, and is balanced off by a very clean, warm treble. From a technical standpoint, they seem to be quite good from a tuning stability standpoint. The actions are a bit sluggish when they come out of the box, but basic prep work--key easing, some lubrication, lost-motion and let-off if necessary--can make them play the way they are supposed to.

IMHO, either piano would be a good choice. In your neck of the woods, environmental control will probably be necessary. Is it very humid in Singapore, if that is indeed where you live?

Dave Stahl

I've never played a Steinberg, but have played a Bohemia grand - 5'8" I think. I agree with the poster above that, at least the Bohemias I played, compared favorable with pianos that cost much more. I thought the action was also right up there with more expensive pianos.

Derick

I recently called the Steinberg distributor in the US due to the perceived excellent price/quality balance. I wanted to see whether there were any dealers in the Bay Area.

He said that he is no longer a, nor is there now any, distributor for Steinberg in the US. He said lots of customers had soundboard problems, and the manufacturer would not take care of them. So the dealers and distributors gave up on Steinberg.

The number I called was from the blubookofpianos website for Steinberg listing: 303 765 5775.

Anyone else hear of this?

Add me to the Bohemia list. This is one of the most underrated piano makers in the industry today. In my opinion, if you want to get a premium grade instrument for the price of a mass produced instrument, this is the brand to check out.
I'm not all that impressed with the Steinbergs I've seen, but to be fair I've only seen a dozen or so.

I played a Wm Steinberg 48" and was favorably impressed by it. It has a richer tone than most other German pianos, somewhat like, although a bit less refined than, a Grotrian upright of comparable size. I found its action a bit heavy but maybe that was just a matter of further prepping needed.

It would be a shame if the soundboards are in fact a problem because IMVHO the Steinberg upright appeared, based however on just one piano, to be an exceptionally good value.

Larry: I know you have far more knowledge and experience in pianos than I. I'm interested in specifically why you feel lukewarm about the Wm Steinberg ... I don't mean in general but within in its price category?

Shong,

I've owned a Steinberg grand for about six months now. So far, it's been a excellent piano (I recently posted about its six-month check). I know nothing about the uprights.

I'm surprised that thordeer was not directed to Cathy Harl of Harl Pianos in Alexandria, VA. I think she is now the distributor of Steinbergs in the United States. She has participated in this forum from time to time, and I think her member name is "catlady."

According to my selling dealer, Central Michigan Pianos, there are only seven or so Steinberg dealers in the United States. I don't believe that's because of quality issues; I think it's more related to the relatively low number of pianos produced and dealer unfamiliarity with the brand. Prices are also going up, I hear, and so they are facing competition from better known and more expensive makes.

I'm surprised that Steinbergs would have problems with soundboards because the raw materials used in them are some of the best. I'm also surprised that Steinberg would not support customers. I have found the head of Steinberg, Frederik Steffes, to be very responsive. I have exchanged a number of e-mail messages with him over the past six months.

A local tech, who is Steinway- and Baldwin- trained, and has extensive experience with Petrof and other European pianos, has commented very favorably about the Steinberg.

Good luck with your search.

Kevin

Larry: I know you have far more knowledge and experience in pianos than I. I'm interested in specifically why you feel lukewarm about the Wm Steinberg ... I don't mean in general but within in its price category? [/b]

Please bear in mind we're discussing subjective issues here, and all opinions are valid. While I don't consider the Steinberg to be the caliber of instrument that is usually associated with being of German manufacture, it is certainly a good piano. I just don't like them. I can't really point to any one thing to find "fault" over, they just don't do it for me. They're clunky feeling to me, and not very musical - remember those who like or own them, this is purely my opinion, and as I've said, others may have a different opinion. If your opinion is that it is a fantastic piano, your opinion is just as valid as mine.

I like the Bohemias though. They make one of the most lyrical, musical uprights I've ever sat down to. I actually like their 48" better than their 52". I tend to be more interested in overall musicality and balance than focusing on bass response. This may account for my displeasure with the Steinbergs I've seen. They seem "out of balance" to me, and don't inspire me to play. Does that make any sense at all?

Final disclaimer: I've said nothing about construction quality, material quality, or workmanship. Both brands are just fine. I'm only giving my personal opinion on a subjective issue in an area where the only opinion that matters is the opinion of the person who will be playing the piano, and do not intend to leave the impression that anyone should agree with me. It's a purely personal taste issue. Radios have tone controls built into them for this very reason....

Hi all,

Thanks for all the comments and inputs. Hmm...the soundboard problem is worrying as rightly pointed out by velopresto, it is humid around here in S'pore. I'm not sure how this piano will react here as it seems to be a rarity in this part of the world as well. Generally, most german pianos do ok here, although one dealer I met told me they had problems with baldwins previously where the soundboard cracked after landing on our shores which was why they gave up on it in the end.

The W Steinberg I tested is solely distributed by an established piano shop that has been around for the last 30 years or so. That was why I'm considering it as it was recommended by the nice old gentleman that owns the shop. It has an incredible tone and for a little 48", it certainly sounded "bigger" than its size.

Actually, I had a very different experience on the Bohemia. It had a rich tone, good action, but the pianos I tried were generally not very balanced. The bass being brighter and richer than the treble. Perhaps its becoz the piano was not properly prepped??? There was even a problem with one of the 52" where the keys "jumped" everytime the soft pedal was pressed. That was why I had concern over quality of this piano. Or maybe they just sent the sub-standard ones over to this part of the world???!!! Horrors...

There was even a problem with one of the 52" where the keys "jumped" everytime the soft pedal was pressed. That was why I had concern over quality of this piano.[/b]

This is actually quite common, and in no way indicates a problem with the piano. You're lifting the hammers closer to the strings, which takes weight off the keys. Raise the lid and look inside as you push the pedal and you'll see what is going on, and why the keys jump. Every piano which functions this way will do this.

Or, is it is the soft (left) pedal you are pressing [too quickly] te bridle strpas may be even slightly jerking the keys up slightly.

P.s, I am not surprised to see any piano, made by any facility, display SB cracks, when placed in the right/wrong climate conditions.

The jerking of the keys can be easily remedied by regulating the bridle wires properly so that there is still a small amount of slack in the straps when the pedal is depressed. Actions--particularly bridle wires and backchecks--are often regulated by the factory so that the they are very even looking when you open the front panel, not necessarily for optimum performance.

Dave Stahl

Larry,

Do you see a difference between Steinberg uprights and grands?

I have never seen/played an upright, and my experience is limited to the IQ77 grand, which I find very musical and expressive -- it has a deep, rich, powerful bass and a warm, bell-like treble. Striking the keys with varying intensity (intentionally or by accident!!!) really shows the range in "color" of tone.

shong,

If you are able, you might want to get in touch with Steinberg directly and ask about humidity control (the e-mail address and phone number are on Steinberg's web site). I can't imagine that given the quality of soundboard material used in Steinbergs, soundboard cracks would be a problem, unless there were environmental issues.

Have you asked for some local tech opinions of the specific pianos you've found??

Kevin

Dear All,
The rumors I have heard in the last week or so are being proliferated by a disgruntled former employee.
Yes, I am now the Steinberg rep for the USA and Canada. I am very proud of the instruments I sell.
The former rep was fired. This was the second job he was fired from in the past year.
As Larry himself would say, usually when someone starts slamming a brand that they no longer sell, it's because the brand was taken away from them.
Nuff said.

Thanks Kevin. I think I will email Steinberg and find out more.

Thanks to all for the feedback on the jumping keys, though I've never seen that happened before in any piano I've played, except for the shift that happens on a grand. But, I'm glad to know that it is not a problem and can be easily rectified.

Will be off to test the Bohemias again tomorrow. From the replies, it is a good piano and I did enjoy playing on it. Am keeping fingers crossed that I will meet "the one" tomorrow.

Cathy,

Is it still possible to order the Steinberg uprights with the Fandrich Vertical Action as an option?

Thanks.

Just my $.02 worth - I owned a Steinberg IQ22 for a couple of years. I found it to be a very decent upright. The bass is particularly nice, but the treble is rather thin and on the bright side. The build quality is excellent, but be aware that the action is nowhere near the quality of the average grand. When I finally got an M & H model A I knew right away the limitations of the Steinberg. I think this would apply to all but the most expensive uprights. Perhaps, the Fandrich action is an option to seriously explore. I've never played one so I don't have an opinion.

I E-mailed the Steinberg company several months ago and was told that the Fandrich Vertical Action is no longer available on their uprights. Maybe Cathy has more up-to-date information about that.

Shong,

Is Music Gallery at Tanjong Katong Road the only Bohemia dealer in Singapore?

PS: Good luck in your search! Hope you can find a piano that you can spend the rest of your life with.

When I was at the Fandrich's shop in Washington a while back they did have 1 or 2 Steinberg uprights. I believe they had the Fandrich action installed.

You can call Heather Fandrich @ 360-652-8980 to find out.

JD,

LOL. He's from Singapore.

Hi all,

I've good news to share....I've decided on the Wilh Steinberg!!! Not the model that I saw previously, but the Q122. I just couldn't resist it after I played it again. Loved the sound and I believe it has gotten my heart.

I know its not in the same league as some of the other German pianos, but its my baby still....

Thank u all for sharing your experiences, thoughts and comments. This quest has been so much fun and I realised too I've so much to learn from you guys here in this forum. So, I'll be hanging around...

A BIG thank you to all...

shong

Congratulations, Shong!

I'm sure you made a good choice. And I wouldn't underestimate the Steinberg in comparison with some other European pianos: I almost fell into that trap, but after doing my homework and trusting my ears and hands, I knew that Steinberg makes great pianos (and a great value, as long as prices hold).

I look forward to hearing more about your ownership experience.

Kevin