Very interesting! Exactly 50 years ago, when I was working at a S & S dealer (!), I was considering a 1098 and a Yamaha U1D. With my employee discount the 1098 would've still been pricier than the U1D, but it wasn't out of reach. I wound up buying the U1D and now, a half-century later, I can attest that it was very well made and has held up very well. Its sound continues to delight.
This was really interesting! I had a Yamaha upright long ago, loved it. Traded it for Steinway Model B, obviously no comparison. However, now, years later, it’s time to downsize. It’s breaking my heart but I was thrilled to close my eyes as you played and find that Yamaha sounded better to my ears. Thank you and I love your videos.
I'll be honest...there are two local churches that I've played at A LOT. One has a U1, the other has a 1098. I have always preferred the U1 over the 1098. For me, personally, it comes down to tone quality and action playability. The 1098 has a very muddy overall tone, while the U1 has a clean, warm tone, and projects beautifully. I'm not sure the age of either piano, but they're each AT LEAST 30 years old (that's how long I've been acquainted with both instruments).
Steinway has an interesting character, and would be perfect for certain things. But Yamaha has a better jack-of-all-trades sound. You could use the Yamaha for any song or genre.
Regarding high quality upright, I've tried the C.Bechstein Konzert 8 (51.5in) and Seiler SE132 (52in). I'm looking to find an August Forster 134K (53in), Bosendorfer 130 (51in), Sauter 130 (51in), Steingraeber 138 (54in!) and a Bluthner S (57.5in!!!!)
The Steinway (to me) sounds much more bright, clear and crisp, whereas the Yamaha sounds far more smooth... (clear and crisp can be a real double edged sword imho) but both sound great!
I am a very happy and long time owner of a Steinway 1098. It's shocking you would demo this piano while it's wildly out of tune! My technician has never had a problem with tuning it so your lame excuses for the lack of tuning just fall flat.
@@chriswalden6519 Yeah the Yamaha is out, I agree, but the Steinway is much more sour. I mean, if you're going to do an audio comparison, tune the instruments. Only then can you make a comparison based on what you hear.
Steinway 1098, not even close, in my opinion. I played several U1/U3 uprights when shopping for a piano and couldn't help but feel a complete lack of character and charm in these pianos. They're very "to the point" and generic sounding, to be frank. I played a vintage 1098 locally and now it's in my living room. The opinion of a technician will be greatly different than that of a musician, keep that in mind of your search. I'd also like to note that both of these pianos in this video don't sound like this in real life. It's very difficult to capture due to microphone characteristics and placements, recording room, etc. However, there are other 1098 videos on TH-cam that capture the actual sound a lot better.
My opinion as someone who has used both; These two are definitely incomparably different pianos. Yamaha is of good quality, but Steinway's key response is definitely absent from Yamaha. The mid-range action of the keys is also absent on the Yamaha. Yamaha's key action is unsatisfying for a concert pianist. The Steinway 1098 is a very satisfactory piano in this regard. Their mechanisms are very different.
Steinways are wonderful instruments, but manufacturing around the world has changed incredibly for the better, so you can get pianos that rival a Steinway for way way less.
Go for best Grand Piano you can get! You get Bluthner, C Bechstein or Bosendofer and you will never want to leave that Grand Piano!! You will play it in your PJs!!!!!
Hard to judge since both pianos are really out of tune. Even a Steinway D when out of tune is awful. Tuning both pianos well, and then comparing them will be a true test for everyone's ears.
I agree with you or maybe the damper are not doing their job properly. The Steinway seems to be ringing by all the string every note. But it's also an edge that the Yahama U1 have, they are easy to tune.
Steinway makes an amazing grand, but their upright IMHO sound... not that great. Yamaha's are bright which makes them a great rock piano. If I were doing classical I'd want a model D (yeah, not apples to apples exactly).
I have never played a Steinway upright but I have played a lot of Yamahas in different sizes including grands and I have hated them all. They don't sing, the action and touch does not work for me and needs konstant regulating. They nearly killed my interest in piano playing. I would choose european pianos like Schimmel or Grotrian over Yamaha any day.
Please tune the pianos. They both sounded as they were tuned at the factory only. The unisons were embarrassing. Please find a real pianist that plays with feeling and not strict percussion as he was tethered to a Seth Thomas. There is always more depth with the Steinway. The bass on the Y brand cannot keep up. Please compare the Steinway K-52 with the U1 or U3. BMW versus Buick. Hmmmm. Bless your heart.
Very interesting! Exactly 50 years ago, when I was working at a S & S dealer (!), I was considering a 1098 and a Yamaha U1D. With my employee discount the 1098 would've still been pricier than the U1D, but it wasn't out of reach. I wound up buying the U1D and now, a half-century later, I can attest that it was very well made and has held up very well. Its sound continues to delight.
This was really interesting! I had a Yamaha upright long ago, loved it. Traded it for Steinway Model B, obviously no comparison. However, now, years later, it’s time to downsize. It’s breaking my heart but I was thrilled to close my eyes as you played and find that Yamaha sounded better to my ears. Thank you and I love your videos.
These are great professional uprights. I went for the U3 and like the intimacy which is missing in the grand pianos.
I'll be honest...there are two local churches that I've played at A LOT. One has a U1, the other has a 1098. I have always preferred the U1 over the 1098. For me, personally, it comes down to tone quality and action playability. The 1098 has a very muddy overall tone, while the U1 has a clean, warm tone, and projects beautifully. I'm not sure the age of either piano, but they're each AT LEAST 30 years old (that's how long I've been acquainted with both instruments).
Please tune your 1098. It was hard to get by your playing hearing not a decent unison. Thank you.
That Yamaha is so clean sounding!!!
Really? I thought the Steinway was more 'clean' sounding, but perhaps too much so... I found the Yamaha sound to be much more smooth.
Steinway has an interesting character, and would be perfect for certain things. But Yamaha has a better jack-of-all-trades sound. You could use the Yamaha for any song or genre.
I'm from a school of clunk. Proud owner of one too. I've tried a lot of them. Some of fun to play, some are brutal to hear.
Regarding high quality upright, I've tried the C.Bechstein Konzert 8 (51.5in) and Seiler SE132 (52in). I'm looking to find an August Forster 134K (53in), Bosendorfer 130 (51in), Sauter 130 (51in), Steingraeber 138 (54in!) and a Bluthner S (57.5in!!!!)
U1 = winner !!!
I think playing some classical pieces when comparing would be more noticeable.
The Steinway (to me) sounds much more bright, clear and crisp, whereas the Yamaha sounds far more smooth... (clear and crisp can be a real double edged sword imho) but both sound great!
I like the most Steinway and sons piano. ❤❤❤
I had no idea Steinway makes uprights
I am a very happy and long time owner of a Steinway 1098. It's shocking you would demo this piano while it's wildly out of tune! My technician has never had a problem with tuning it so your lame excuses for the lack of tuning just fall flat.
Unfortunately the comparison is skewed. The Steinway is out of tune.
sounds like honky tonk
The Yamaha is also out of tune, some really bad unisons and you can hear bobbling hammers which is a sign of poor regulation
@@chriswalden6519 Yeah the Yamaha is out, I agree, but the Steinway is much more sour. I mean, if you're going to do an audio comparison, tune the instruments. Only then can you make a comparison based on what you hear.
@@michaelmoore-kelly5542 Steinway 1098 pianos are notoriously difficult to tune, sometimes when they are showroom-new they impossible to tune cleanly.
good chat guys
Steinway 1098, not even close, in my opinion. I played several U1/U3 uprights when shopping for a piano and couldn't help but feel a complete lack of character and charm in these pianos. They're very "to the point" and generic sounding, to be frank. I played a vintage 1098 locally and now it's in my living room. The opinion of a technician will be greatly different than that of a musician, keep that in mind of your search.
I'd also like to note that both of these pianos in this video don't sound like this in real life. It's very difficult to capture due to microphone characteristics and placements, recording room, etc. However, there are other 1098 videos on TH-cam that capture the actual sound a lot better.
Bias steinway fan 😂
@@silver_c1oud Sure random prejudice guy. 😂
I love my U1
My opinion as someone who has used both; These two are definitely incomparably different pianos. Yamaha is of good quality, but Steinway's key response is definitely absent from Yamaha. The mid-range action of the keys is also absent on the Yamaha. Yamaha's key action is unsatisfying for a concert pianist. The Steinway 1098 is a very satisfactory piano in this regard. Their mechanisms are very different.
U1 IS THE UPRIGHT PIANO KING.
Steinways are wonderful instruments, but manufacturing around the world has changed incredibly for the better, so you can get pianos that rival a Steinway for way way less.
1098 sounds like digital, U-1 much better
Go for best Grand Piano you can get! You get Bluthner, C Bechstein or Bosendofer and you will never want to leave that Grand Piano!! You will play it in your PJs!!!!!
OMG, this Steinway sounds like there was no tuning in some decades...
Hard to judge since both pianos are really out of tune. Even a Steinway D when out of tune is awful. Tuning both pianos well, and then comparing them will be a true test for everyone's ears.
I agree with you or maybe the damper are not doing their job properly. The Steinway seems to be ringing by all the string every note. But it's also an edge that the Yahama U1 have, they are easy to tune.
@@michelprimeau4531 I noticed one of the pianos had double striking hammers🎹🎶
@@michelprimeau4531 AND unlike *every* Steinway, in a U1D there's no inharmonicity/false beats (which drive the tuners nuts)
Steinway makes an amazing grand, but their upright IMHO sound... not that great. Yamaha's are bright which makes them a great rock piano. If I were doing classical I'd want a model D (yeah, not apples to apples exactly).
What would be the best upright for classical do you think
What’s the second song name
I have never played a Steinway upright but I have played a lot of Yamahas in different sizes including grands and I have hated them all. They don't sing, the action and touch does not work for me and needs konstant regulating. They nearly killed my interest in piano playing. I would choose european pianos like Schimmel or Grotrian over Yamaha any day.
Dla mnie yamaha lepiej
7:25
The steinway sounded awful. Yamaha sounded just right ;)
What's the point of any of this if your gonna play like that? Lol
Please tune the pianos. They both sounded as they were tuned at the factory only. The unisons were embarrassing. Please find a real pianist that plays with feeling and not strict percussion as he was tethered to a Seth Thomas. There is always more depth with the Steinway. The bass on the Y brand cannot keep up. Please compare the Steinway K-52 with the U1 or U3. BMW versus Buick. Hmmmm. Bless your heart.