More information on Seiler

[kendi group]

We visited the piano store to check out the Seiler.  I am not a professional, neither I know how to play piano. like most members here, we are buying it for our kids.

Not sure whether the information below is really relevant to a piano player or not. Just want to share them with everyone here.

 

In US market, there are 2 lines on Upright, Seiler SE and Ed Seiler. (Seiler made in Germany and Ed Seiler made in Indonesia).

In German and Europe market, there are 3 lines on Upright, Seiler, Eduard Seiler and Johannes Seiler.

 

I tried to ask the salesman to give me the fact sheet on the parts origin for the Ed Seiler. Salesman did not provide, He said, they don't have it. And seems they are not really clear on where the part source is.

 

The salesman gave me some documents on Seiler SE(German) and Ed Seiler's specification.

 

From the documents, I found some difference.

 

1) Soundboard:

 

Seiler SE: made from White Spruce. And it is only European bavarian white spruce cut from old growth trees, grown at high altitudes on northern slopes. Also the wood were cut during cold dormant months and stored/seasoned in controlled conditions for several years. If the spruce with less than 5.5 growth rings per cm is not used. In average the soundboard has 7 to 10 growth rings per cm. The wood is quarted sawed only. Each soundboard is tapered to the edge, this wil allow the soundboard to vibrate more freely. ( not sure Ed Seiler has this process. this is Seiler patented)

 

Ed Seiler: made from Solid Bolduc. There is no detail description on how the soundboard made and what's the standard to pick up the material. ( from the sticker on the back from piano, indicate all wood materials are from USA and Canada). 

 

2) Treble Bridge

 

Seiler SE, it is vertially laminated from Solid beech layers and covered with maple cap. this enables high performance sound with extreme stability.

 

Ed Seiler, it is made from Solid hard maple

 

3) Bass Bridge

 

Seiler SE, is made from Solid beech. It claimes the construction method is considered to be the best construction method and it is used by concert level makers from Germany, Austria and Italy. No detail description on how.

 

Ed Seiler : is made from Hard maple and plywood maple. (Didn't say whether it is used the same construction method as German version.)

 

3) Rim

 

Seiler SE: Outer rim made of 2.4mm thick mahogany veneer. Inter rim 3mm thick European beach ( specific gravity of .68)

 

Ed Seiler: Spruce. ( no furthur detail )

 

4) Action,

 

Seiler SE: No plastic parts are used

 

Ed Seiler: Premium grade action.

 

5) Keyboard & Keys,

 

Seiler SE: made from best spruce, individually balanced, use Abel Hammer

 

Ed Seiler: Premium grade spruce. Use the same Hammer as Seiler SE.

 

6) String

 

Seiler SE: made from finest quality polished German string steel.

 

Ed Seiler: no information. But from one of the label found on the back of piano. ( something made in German) I didn't understand the terminology. forgot to write it down. The salesman said  it means the string to link all the keys to connect each other all made in Germany. It means, all keyword and action, whole piece. So I assume the String should be same from Seiler SE german version one. 

 

7) Cabinet

 

Seiler SE: Woods used are dried in a slow and long process outside in a natural environment. and then dried in a computer controlled process.

 

Ed Seiler: No information. ( from some online forums, somebody said Yamaha/Kawai is not using Solid wood, So I assume Ed Seiler must not use solid wood either.) 

 

The above information are from the documents and specification on the paper.

 

 

About sound,

 

Between Seiler SE and Ed Seiler, with my untrained ear, I do feel ED Seiler's bass sounds are quite blur. Not as clear as Seiler SE. In that store, they don't have brand new Yamaha U1, only Kawai. but between Ed Seiler and Yamaha/Kawai, I cannot figure out much difference. my husband said, the moment he heard it, Yamaha/Kawai's sound is a little bit dull, not lively compare to Seiler. Not sure this one can be fixed by a tuning?

 

And salesman tried to explain how the different technology/principle between Yamaha and Seiler technology, all those terminologies and theories are beyond my understanding. Also I am not really sure his statement is right or not. Seems that Yamaha shoots the sound out. vs Seiler resonates the sound out if my understanding is right.

 

 

The last point is price. I know I don't have very good negotiation power, I didn't try to bargain with him even. Plus, I still didn't make up my mind which brand to go yet.

 

Seiler SE 126: $17000.

Ed Seiler 126: $6500.

Ed seiler 132 ( taller than 126): $7000.

 

In the beginning, they offered 126, $7000 and 132 $9000. This is my first time to a piano store. I am not interested in make any commitment. But that salesman seems really want to make a deal. I didn't bargain, he himself dropped the price on 132 to $7000. But 126, he said, there is no much room to play.

 

The price will include 2 tuning and free delivery and bench and some free piano lessons...

 

If pay cash, no tax.

 

If your registered address ( on file ) is out of state, but delivery address is in NJ. still no tax. for example, your current address is NY, but 2 months later when delivery, you move to NJ. you can change the delivery address to NJ, still no tax. 

 

 

Since Ed Seiler is so new to the market. All good review on Seiler are based on German version. Somebody say, no bad news means good. But still feel quite uncertain on the Ed Seiler.

 

[beibeimama]

Thank you so much for the info. From the Piano book, it says the
yamaha sound is more brighter while most european pianos sound more
warm. From your detailed information(thank you for the typing and the
visits), I feel seiler from indonesia use better material, I am more
inclined to Seiler. Everyone else is buying Yamaha or Kawai, I just
feel if they use chinese parts, why not buying a pearl river or
hailun? How do you like the sound between Kawai and Seiler ED? I
suggest we all go to the edison store to listen the sound between
seiler and kawai, since we are buying for kids, when the two prices
are closer, the sound determines. Again, thank you Kendigroup.

[AngieMom]

Thanks for your first hand info with such great details. Very helpful.

[beibeimama]

I found this chinese website, may help to understand,
http://www.seiler-pianos.net/Index.asp

> > feel quite uncertain on the Ed Seiler.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[kendi group]

thank you. I did some search on the sound board, what is "solid bolduc "? There is no tree named bolduc. There is famous Canadian named Bolduc, who is famous to restore antique, classic piano, then start to manufacturing Soundboard for piano using Quebec white spruce.  So Soundboard of ed seiler is made in Canada. It's a independent company, don't know the standard.  though, they claims very high standard. Vs, Yamaha, Even though made in China, but as claimed, the parts are made in Yamaha facility and follow Yamaha standard.

Regard the sound on kawai, since it sit on different side of room, hard to compare.  Yamaha only 2, 3 feet from seiler. When play a single notes, seiler sound has longer life. Following the theory of shooting the sound out vs resonating sound out. Yamaha sound goes to dead quicker.  But when play a song,  there is no much difference. As salesman saying,  kawai has same disease as Yamaha.

[pianoNewbie]

Thanks a lot for your detailed information!

Actually we went to Edison store today, the salesman strongly recommended ED Seiler 132. We were looking for a Charles Walter one, but my daughter likes one Seiler very much. If possible, could you please share us your followup experience on Seiler pianos? Did you eventually buy one of Seiler piano?

[Kendi]

I got w.hoffmann t series instead of seiler. Was not sure Indonesia thing. 

But recent ratings and reviews on seiler Ed still one grade higher than yamaha u series.

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 17, 2013, at 10:31 PM, pianoNewbie <pul...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks a lot for your detailed information!

Actually we went to Edison store today, the salesman strongly recommended ED Seiler 132. We were looking for a Charles Walter one, but my daughter likes one Seiler very much. If possible, could you please share us your followup experience on Seiler pianos? Did you eventually buy one of Seiler piano?

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