CAUT

Expand all | Collapse all

Great upright needed

  • 1.  Great upright needed

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-24-2019 11:36
    I am helping a client find a premium upright piano, preferably new. So far, we are considering the Yamaha YUS5, the Bosendorfer 130, the Steingraeber 138 and the Bluthner "S" (145 cm). If anyone has either personal experience or constructive input about any one of these, or any other high-end upright we should add to the list, please let me know (on these lists, or privately).

    Thanks,

    Alan

    ------------------------------
    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Great upright needed

    Posted 07-26-2019 19:22
    If you can, add Sauter to that group (and maybe drop the Yamaha)

    ------------------------------
    Jurgen Goering
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Great upright needed

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-26-2019 20:40
    I agree, Sauter, if available, should be in the mix. 
    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    "Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it." Brecht






  • 4.  RE: Great upright needed

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-29-2019 15:04
    The very first response to my OP was Gene Nelson, advocating for Sauter. With your posts, the drum beat intensifies!

    Our local Sauter dealer stocks pianos with designer cases. They sell more readily at that price point, he explained, than a piano that looks just like one that sells at a small fraction of the price. We are shopping for touch and tone alone, so a black box is acceptable (as long as it plays and sounds freakin' amazing!). The client may be in the position of playing a model of Sauter she is interested in, but with a designer case that she will not pay for. In this case, we may have to decide whether or not to order one of the same model, but with a relatively inexpensive case.

    Alan

    ------------------------------
    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Great upright needed

    Posted 07-26-2019 19:23
    SEILER SE132SMR

    Richard Cromwell
    Owner & Piano Technician

    w: AlignedHarmonics.com
    e: detroit.pianoworks@gmail.com
    p: 248-894-6778





  • 6.  RE: Great upright needed

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-28-2019 10:13
    Your missing 2 more of the highest rated uprights 
    C. Bechstein and Grotrian





  • 7.  RE: Great upright needed

    Posted 07-28-2019 10:21
    I have a new Seiler SE132 SMR (super magnetic repitition) and their new leadless keyboard arriving from Germany in October As far as I know it will be the only one available for purchase in the United States.

    If someone is interested let me know!

    Richard Cromwell
    Owner & Piano Technician

    w: AlignedHarmonics.com
    e: detroit.pianoworks@gmail.com
    p: 248-894-6778





  • 8.  RE: Great upright needed

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-28-2019 22:51
    Richard,

    What is the MSRP? And you are in Detroit?

    Thanks,

    Alan

    ------------------------------
    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Great upright needed

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-29-2019 12:58
    Hi Michael,

    Thanks for your input. The local Steingraeber dealer suggested that we also try out the Grotrian when we come to play the Steingreaber, but yours is the first recommendation of these uprights from a technician. Two recs have come in so far from techs about Bechstein, so that gets added to the list as well.

    Alan

    ------------------------------
    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Great upright needed

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-28-2019 21:32
    Alan, I do a custom vertical action that produces a significant stronger positive hammer return center of gravity than any other vertical piano available. I do not use springs or magnets to produce this effect. It stays in regulation better than the standard vertical because I use less spring return force.

    I have a pristine 1910 or so Ebony Steinway upright in my shop with intact soundboard, no cracks or deterioration that I can rebuild for your customer. I would put in new pin-block, bridge caps, and Hybrid Wire Scale. The keysticks are in superb condition but the ivory has quite a few chips.

    I would love to put this piano in prime condition with state of the art technology for your customer.
    Ed

    ------------------------------
    Edward McMorrow
    Edmonds WA
    425-299-3431
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Great upright needed

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-29-2019 12:40
    I have every confidence that, were you cut loose to do as you propose, you would come up with one humdinger of an upright, Ed. I also fully expect the client to ask if there is an existing piano that you have already done these things to that she could play. Without that audition opportunity, it would be a long shot.

    Thanks,

    Alan

    ------------------------------
    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Great upright needed

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-30-2019 22:04
    I have done a couple of them. I could take her to see one in the customers home. The feel is very close to a fine grand action because the CG of the hammer butt keeps the action from being typical flyaway vertical. The action allows a very precise feel for the hammers momentum. Piano would also have Hybrid Wire Scale. The one I would show her doesn't.

    ------------------------------
    Edward McMorrow
    Edmonds WA
    425-299-3431
    ------------------------------