Schimmel Pianos?
BETH GRIMES
I am close to purchasing a Schimmel grand (5'10" model 174T). The
piano sounds and feels great, but why haven't I heard much about them?
The saleman compares them favorably to Steinways, but this is hard to
understand considering the immense name recognition of Steinway. Is
the Schimmel model 174T really worth 25K?
Any and all comments appreciated.
Beth
Alec Norton
In article <32F44E...@Sun.COM>, BETH GRIMES <beth....@Sun.COM> wrote:
> I am close to purchasing a Schimmel grand (5'10" model 174T). The
> piano sounds and feels great, but why haven't I heard much about them?
> The saleman compares them favorably to Steinways, but this is hard to
> understand considering the immense name recognition of Steinway. Is
> the Schimmel model 174T really worth 25K?
>
Hi Beth,
Schimmel is a good make. It will sound different than a Steinway L,
not necessarily better or worse. Spend plenty of time playing them
both and see what you prefer. Steinway may hold its value better,
if that's an issue. If the salesman is telling you that Schimmels
are BETTER than Steinways, then he may have a minority opinion.
You can read about Schimmels and all other brands in Larry Fine's
"The Piano Book" -- required reading for anyone shopping for a piano.
alec
Richard Gillmann
In article <32F44E...@Sun.COM>, beth....@Sun.COM says...
>I am close to purchasing a Schimmel grand (5'10" model 174T). The
>piano sounds and feels great, but why haven't I heard much about them?
>The saleman compares them favorably to Steinways, but this is hard to
>understand considering the immense name recognition of Steinway. Is
>the Schimmel model 174T really worth 25K?
>
>
>Beth
Get yourself a copy of "The Piano Book" by Larry Fine before you spend
$25K on a piano. You'll save yourself lots of money. Check out the
author's website at http://www.tiac.net/users/pianobk for more info.
The Schimmel is an excellent piano, though most would not consider it
quite the equal of Steinway.
bo...@thepianosource.com
r...@nwlink.com (Richard Gillmann) wrote:
Steinway has had over 130 years in this country to build up name
recognition. Schimmel only makes about 1200 grands a year with about
half coming here in the past 10 -15 years. However in Germany it's
name recognition is the highest and most sought after in schools,
stages, concert halls and the like. They just have never had an artist
program here and don't produce enough pianos to cover the globe so to
speak. However they are excellant, and more appropriately compared to
the Bechstein and German Steinways. Full Renner actions, bavarian
spruce soundboards, etc., . While the sound is certainly different
than the average American sound, it is delightful, full, more of a
solo instrument almost more chamber music as compared to orchestral.
If you bought a piano by judging which one more people heard of, those
of us over 40 would only play Baldwins or Wurlitzers or drive Buicks
or Cadillacs.
Are you in a location where you can play several different Schimmels
in various sizes?
Bob S
Glenn
I too was just recently introduced to Shimmel. I am drooling over a 5'10"
unit myself. I am not sure of the model, it is probably the same. The
shop where I first met it carries Young Chang, Shimmel, Bosendorfer and one
other. They even have a Grotrian laying around (used). I sat with each
piano for about a half hour each. I fell in love with the Shimmel. It
felt and sounded so much nicer than the Young Chang. The Shimmel seemed
worth $15,000 more than the Young Chang. The I went over to the $70,000
7'10" Bosendorfer. That was nicer than the Shimmel but in no way worth
$45,000 more!
Let us know what you decide. If I had 25K I could spend on a piano I
wouldn't hesitate to spend it on a Shimmel. I like the red gloss stain
unit.
Where are you located???
Glenn.
BETH GRIMES <beth....@Sun.COM> wrote in article
<32F44E...@Sun.COM>...
PIANOFCTRY
Schimmel is a very good piano... but it is the most mass produced piano in
Europe. In no way does it even come close to a Bechstein or Hamburg
Steinway. it is also 25% owned by the Yamaha company.
b...@thepianosource.com
piano...@aol.com (PIANOFCTRY) wrote:
However, at 1/3 to 1/2 the price, I would challenge anyone to justify
the difference in the real world of buying pianos. You can argue all
the esoterics you want, but when it comes to buying, the manaufacture
usually aims at the person who is going to buy the product and not
just talk about it.
Also Yamaha's interest was purchased on the open market (max allowed
by German law) they have no management authority or involvment.
Bob S
Frank Weston
I'm not saying Schimmel or Yamaha are cheap, but....
A cheap piano can be the most expensive. Buy a Steinway or Bechstein,
and after 20 years, it's worth almost as much as the day you bought it,
the same can not be said for a lot of other names.
Consider the long range economics, and it's almost always a better bet
to purchase the more expensive instrument. The rich get richer.
Frank Weston
Greg Sanders
PIANOFCTRY wrote:
>
> Schimmel is a very good piano... but it is the most mass produced piano in
> Europe. In no way does it even come close to a Bechstein or Hamburg
> Steinway. it is also 25% owned by the Yamaha company.
Whoa whoa.
The Hamburg Steinway, like the NY Steinway, has a Steinway-type sound.
Steinway vs. the other two is a cornet vs. flugelhorn type comparison.
Schimmel and Bechstein both have a traditional-European type of sound.
Both have high-quality actions (although they feel different) and
both are built of quality materials (Bechstein really is better woods,
but can you tell the difference?). The important differences, in my
opinion, between these two come down to your preference in action feel
and your ability to aurally distinguish the characteristics of the two.
To be fair, you should voice and regulate (i.e., prep) the Schimmel
to your satisfaction before making the comparison. Have someone play
several *varied* pieces of the types of music you like, as well as
play them for yourself. If you like the Schimmel, I don't see that
you'll go wrong with it--they're far from junk.
-- Greg
K A Kohn
After reading all that has been said about current piano prices, I am happy
with buying my Schimmel several years back. BTW I always looked at buying
a piano as a better deal than buying a car. Boy do cars depreciate
instantly.
Karen
C.J.
>Karen
I've got a news flash - so do pianos.
C.J. Flaum, RPT
James Nichols
All,
I'm curious, why is it so relevant whether the piano is hand made or
not? If the factory has high tolerances and automation, I would think
the product superior to say, a potentially indifferent worker,
particularly one with a hangover.
The Fine Piano Book raves about Schimmel. What's not to like if it's
more automated in its manufacture? The Fine book also talks quite a bit
about manufacturing sloppiness with Steinway - are they resting on their
name, or is there real concern here?
- Jim
Frank Weston wrote:
>
> b...@thepianosource.com wrote:
bo...@thepianosource.com
Greg Sanders <gsan...@erols.com> wrote:
Investment is a really strange word to use with pianos. No piano is
really a good investment. Sure the good ones keep up with inflation
and it really is questionable whether the same money invested in real
estate, stocks etc., wouldn't have returned more over the same period
of time. Also investmentis relative. When I sell a used Kimball cosole
for $1500 that was sold originally for $750 20+ years ago, does it
mean that the Kimball was a great investment. There is not much
different than spending $15000 for a Steinway 20 years ago that could
not be sold for $30,000. It is related the amount of the intial
investment. Pianos are good in that the good ones retain their value
but I would daresay that $15,000 put into the right stocks 20+ years
ago would be worth a sight more than $30,000 today.
Just a thought for the day!
Bob S
Gil G Silberman
In article <330deec7...@news.atl.mindspring.com>,
<bo...@thepianosource.com> wrote:
>Investment is a really strange word to use with pianos. No piano is
>really a good investment. . . .
[bob proves the point]
Investment is the wrong word, but it does get at something important.
When you spend $25,000 on a piano it isn't all consumed immediately.
It's not like buying a vacation, which gives you a week of pleasure
and then it's all over except the memories. It's more like buying
a car. If you turn around and sell it quickly you'll lose some
of the money. If you wait longer, you'll lose more of the money,
probably. If you wait for 100 years and sell it you might lose most
of your money. . . but then again, maybe not. And it takes upkeep.
Actually, it's about halfway between buying a house and buying a
car. Even a house is not a great investment, when you consider all
the insurance, maintenance, property taxes, and so on. It still
consumes money. But when you buy a $200,000 house, you don't think
of blowing your whole life savings for it. . . . no, you think of it
as a prudent lifestyle choice. So it is with a piano. In a pinch,
you can always sell it quickly and get much of your money back.