Why Steinway Grand Pianos Are So Expensive | So Expensive
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 พ.ค. 2024
- From finishing each piece with a glossy shine to cutting down blocks of wood by hand - it takes over 200 artisans to craft just one Steinway grand piano. Steinway is one of the most famous piano brands in the world, and depending on the model, it can be one of the priciest. A Steinway Model D ebony concert piano will cost you $187,000. Famous pianists and music icons like Billy Joel and Lang Lang play on Steinway pianos. But with several other high-end piano brands on the market, why are musicians so drawn to Steinway? And why are these pianos so expensive?
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Why Steinway Grand Pianos Are So Expensive | So Expensive - เพลง
My parents had a friend who owned a Steinway. It broke his heart when he had to move into a senior living facility and was forced to sell it. Fortunately, the lady who purchased it made arrangements for him to go to her home and play it whenever he wanted to.
Damn that’s really sweet and thoughtful of her. Hope in humanity restored :)
Well she should pay for him playing lol
That's a nice story
He didn’t had to
Why did she got forced to sell it?
“A piano can last several decades” well yeah if I’m paying over a hundred grand my grandchildren’s grandchildren better still be able to use that thing
They probably will as long as your family takes care of it.
@@carlangelo653 well yeah I’ve seen some pianos that are nearly a century old that people still take care of but my question is how..
@@carlangelo653 So true, just as most other instruments require. If it is maintained to be in good condition, it will stay in good condition.
@@carlangelo653 wish i could have got my grandparents but after they died my aunt sold it off :'/
@@carlangelo653 yeah
I have a feeling that the lady working on the pressure of the keys has a very underrated talent and job. She’s responsible for how those pianos feel. Probably one of the most important parts of a piano. Maybe even more than the sound.
I was just thinking that she's kind of a genius in her own right. What a character
@@Aliensathome Clueless comment from an over ambitious drone. With no leadership the group will fail...every time. You could make the argument that in today's society CEOs are overpaid, but to assert that "the company will be just fine without the CEO shows your lack of knowledge".
I was a pretty serious classical pianist up until I graduated high school, had the opportunity to play at Carnegie hall many times on a Steinway grand. I’ve found the sound to be a touch darker/mellower than the other pianos I’ve played. The resonance is unbelievable and the feel/action of the keys is perfect. Just the right amount of pressure imo
i played at carnegie hall for the first time this march ❤️ wonderful experience
Are they as good as a Yamaha or Baldwin ? Asking for a friend
@@tracykingston9668 significantly better in a drastic way I cannot describe, but the price shows.
@@zackl7467 Thanks.
@@tracykingston9668 jeez. Much much better ofc
They really glossed over her saying “I used to dream about the pianos chasing me.”
Exactly! Now Ms. Folk just listens to what the hammer wants… I wonder if the other key weighter also has PTSD? That job better pay well.
That was the best part of the whole video.
I fell in love with that lady!
Like horror movie with piano sound
I thought that would make a good Disney short like the Sorcerer's Apprentice.
That's my dad! An expert ear they say, I can attest to that! He has been tuning pianos by ear his whole life and created his own company designed to make the feel of the piano adjustable to the user. Great video!!!
Your dad is awesome bro.😌
damn you got a cool dad
Jealous of your dad. He’s an awesome guy.
Tell your dad he's a legend
@@ethandeister6567 is this serious? 🙂
I used to work at a museum that had a 100 year old Steinway in the auditorium. I was the janitor, and spent so much time playing it instead of cleaning I got fired.
But that instrument was sublime. No matter what you did, it sounded glorious . It felt invigorating to play.
Smiles... I would have done same 😄
Job is temporary, the joy of playing such a good instrument lasts a lifetime.
You're so lucky to play that kind of piano
Totally worth it 😂
Vandals.
“I used to dream about the pianos chasing me “
*mario 64 piano flashbacks*
Nice.
@@Real_Redstone15 haha, good one!
Reminds me of that PS1 game _RayMan_
My first job outta high school 15 years ago was moving pianos. I wanna say, Steinway's were always my favorite to move. They were beautiful pianos, but from a mover's standpoint they were well built and easily disassembled. Some cheap pianos had weird locking mechanisms for the legs with a piece of wood to wedge them in place. Those would wear out a lot and the leg would become loose making it somewhat dangerous when lowering the piano. Steinway's always had bolts for the legs, 2 large bolts to be exact and they never had that problem, even for obviously old Steinway's that show their age.
Christ I’d probably shit myself if I had to move some rich persons $100000 + piano
@@boozy8659 same, i’d definitely drop it 😂
Maybe they do it differently in the New York factory than in Hamburg, but in my experience from moving grand pianos it's exactly the other way around. Steinways are the ones with the locking wedge and most others have the two bolts.
I moved pianos for 12 years. We had a contract with Steinway to exclusively move all of their pianos. Moved one that was said to be woth 1.3 million. It was just a baby grand, but it was signed in gold on the harp by three members of the Steinway family. It was quite old and the legs on that one were large threaded dowels that screwed on. All the new ones use wedges and bolts which I loved a lot. Way better than those others with the flathead screws :-)
@@eyeamen Oh god I remember the flat head screws. The ones that were always stripped and some one tried to fix it by shoving a bunch of toothpicks in the hole.
“But ultimately the value of the piano is up to how much the musician values it.”
*Me:* _“Can I have this for free?”_
*Me as a broke person:*
Value =/= cost
@@cupa6285 you mean as a musician?? Same here hahaha
A money is an enslavement tool
@@starseed_Wanderer Ah yes, because slaves are paid.
Trained on a Yamaha, but played a Steinway for a live event. Fingers flew after all the muscle I needed for that Yamaha. Steinway action is unparalleled.
:0
I've had the exact opposite with every Steinway i've ever played. I vastly prefer the Yamaha action 🤷♂️
@@sven-sandershestakov5201 I think these are examples of the opposite ends of the spectrum. Steinways are too heavy, Yamaha is too light. I recently had the opportunity to play an Estonia, which I think feels just about perfect. Very bright sound, too.
@@m_a_s6069 There is no such thing as "too light" with acoustic pianos. The purpose of a good piano (grand) action is to be as light as possible. Only with digital pianos can there be too light since you are trying to mimic the characteristics of an acoustic piano.
@@matthewphillips5483 There is such a thing as too light. My parents' Baldwin Acrosonic upright (that I learned on) is WAY too light. It is nearly impossible to play quietly - every note is loud.
Went for a tour of the Steinway factory in Queens years ago. To say these things are a labor of love is an understatement.
I have mad respect for that Piano dealer. He is all in on his passion
Cheese
I have mad respect for people that don't steal other people's content. I have 0 respect for you.
*sniffs* you got any pianos?? *scratches*
they say that one should never get high from their own supply... I guess it works differently with pianos
My wrist is so stupid they call it Verlisify
my great grandmother bought a steinway, and it’s a family heirloom now. the piano will be 100 years old in two years:)
Wow whether steinway or not incredible it’s been passed down that’s long
Bought in 1923...that's really cool!
maybe it will get a telegraph from the Queen
@@godsinbox haha
I hope someone is still playing it or learning how to play it today?
“Decades” is a massive understatement. I have my grandmothers Steinway Baby Grand. I don’t really play piano anymore but I did when I was a kid which is when she shipped it to my mother so I could practice on it. It’s very beautiful and sounds amazing.. I can hear a distinct difference when I hear someone playing on literally any other brand.
Although it sees very little use, I have it serviced every other year and it stays in a climate controlled room. So unless my house goes up in flames, the baby grand will certainly outlast my existence..
I appreciate all of these artisan's dedication and skills. I hope they're paid well.
It’s a shame that the price often outbids most musicians. Most pianos are either sold to universities or rich ppl who keep them as furniture.
Also Steinway is like Julliard atm. Great but no longer exclusively the best and they’re riding on their reputation/name to overcharge imho.
I know you! I really respect your covers, and the cool piano competitions you would do with your friends
There are some exceptions, Charlie puth has a grand piano in his LA house. That piano is so lucky
@@pratyakshyt Pop musicians are generally millionaires though. Concert musicians typically are not. Charlie Puth is hardly a world class pianist...
@@Debbiebabe69 yeah makes sense, he is not world class , but if I talk of majority of pop musicians, Charlie puth is the one that interest me the most. He is a jazz piano major from Manhattan school of music , graduated from Berkelee school of music in music production and engineering. Songwriter , singer , Guy has perfect pitch , never fails to amaze me with that level of talent
As a piano technician from Europe, my opinion on steinway is same as yours. They are all about marketing. Sure, their pianos are top quality, however many others are at the top with them.
I bought a steinway piano last year, and it is fuckin awesome
I just miss having my left kidney with me
Pitajee Deshpande, now that's funny
lol
Lol
Truck went to buy salmon in wrench
funny, but kidneys are not that expensive. On black market you can have it for $10k. Selling both kidneys won't give you Steinway. But if you sell your liver you will buy the cheapest Steinway for sure.
As a pianist myself - Steinway is not the only great piano in the world. Some people might like Fazioli or Boesendoerfer more, some might like different brands. The fact is each piano sounds different - even two Steinways model D grands will sound different.
What truly sets Steinways apart in my opinion is combination of 2 factors - their Hamburg pianos are fairly balanced quality-wise and second is the fact that EVERY piano technician in the world knows how Steinway is done and how it needs to be maintained. It's really a shame when you get wonderful Fazioli but nobody knows how to take care of it.
Me personally I have an Essex grand at home, a sub-brand of Steinway. It's similar size to Steinway model A and honestly, it beats the model A in sound quality. Steinway is mechanically more percise so mechanically you have better feeling playing it but Essex has better sound.
My friend in salt lake City sells both fazioli and bosendofer. He is also good friends with Paulo. I readily agree with your opinions regarding voicing a fazioli. He is a master at his art, restoring many faziolis and Steinways. It's funny, as accomplished as he is with pianos, he doesn't play them.
Are Fazioli's more common now? I was in piano moving a few years ago and I dont think we ever delivered one to customer, they were always promotional. Unreal quality on those.
@@rogershaffer1 Perhaps, judging by his name, English is not his first language. I understood exactly what he meant by 'sub-brand', and the term makes perfect sense if it were to be regularly used. I'm sure it's better than your attempt to do the equivalent in Czech or whatever his primary language is. And as far as China...having been made in China means nothing. The Chinese can produce as high quality, or as low quality, as anywhere else. It is almost wholly dependent upon the specifications and QA set by the company who engages the factory. The reason so much made in China is sh*t is because the companies selling it are ok with it being sh*t. The higher the quality the more expensive it costs to pay the Chinese manufacturer. I am under the impression that many Chinese manufacturers would actually prefer to make higher quality across the board, but are limited by what their clients, aka our companies, are willing to pay.
@@rogershaffer1 I actually hadn't either 😆😅
Sir Elton seems quite taken with Yamaha
I had the pleasure of playing on aged Steinway grands for years as an accompanist at a community college... there ARE other fine pianos, but there is nothing like a Steinway... to be able to take student musicians and back them with such a sound was a privilege... the faculty had number of fabulous pianists in those days as well, and for them to be able to instantly manifest their full ability on an instrument that is best in class even with considerable age and heavy use made them imparting music to their students that much easier.
I will likely never make the investment in owning a Steinway grand for myself... even if it were possible, it would not be the best use of that much money. Nevertheless, I fully understand why they are so expensive, and in the years in which I worked daily with and around them, I learned what justifies the price.
Pianos get worse, not better, with age.
@@thebubbacontinuum2645 damn not like that was implicitly stated in the text but thanks sherlock
@@thebubbacontinuum2645 The value appreciates a ton though
not really, unless it's a really old one with a highly respected legacy @@DefenestrateYourself
I’ve had the opportunity to play on a grand Steinway piano and I remember the first time I touched the keys it felt like butter. I’ve had been practicing on midi keyboards, weighted electronic pianos (Yamaha), and other upright and grand pianos. So that first time touching and playing it was amazing. The sound was so alive and it sounded so amazing, it filled the whole room and concert hall. Since then I’ve gotten practice on a Steinway and it’s changed the way I thought about expressing the music through the piano. It’s an awesome experience knowing an instrument can be so powerful and so captivating!
Whoaaah damn lucky
I've been playing a digital keyboard that I own ('cause that's what I can afford). My aunt has an upright piano that's old in which I play when there's a family reunion only and the feel's much magical than just playing the one at home. And finally, we went on a mall we usually don't go to (because there are closer malls) and there I saw a grand piano. At first I was hesitant because it's a public piano (and I was feeling quite shy) but I still went for it. And ohgod, I didn't want to leave it but had to. After that, I was determined to save money to buy myself a piano that'd have the same feeling I had with the grand piano.
Yes, it's like butter. And it gets rancid if not stored properly.
I love the fact that pretty much all pianos also have a slightly different feel to them, creating a “personality” with each piano
a church i go to just has a steinway piano laying in the basement storage area
So sad that many of this Grand Piano ended up in richman's house being a decorative luxurious item rather than an actual hard working piano.
Don't worry. I know of one that's in a mountaintop cabin. It had to be transported there by boat and then walked up through the forest by hand so a family could practice while seeking refuge from the cities during wartime. I know of several others that have been donated to small colleges by rich people who bought them originally as furniture. Kids that only knew them as a name and a few trained musicians could come by and plonk all they want on a well-maintained top tier piano. One in particular was a century old and played fantastic, though the sound had mellowed due to some loss of deflection in the soundboard. My father had a tenant who was semi-disabled, semi retired, and the only thing he did was play his steinway that my dad removed a window to have moved in. The guy was poor but he'd been given the piano by a wealthy person way back when. They do get around, slowly.
@@jcarry5214 that is one big ass window.
@@fVNzO if you stand them on their side and take the legs off, not really.
@@fVNzO I sincerely hope that the 'ass window' never becomes a thing. 😂
Kinda like expensive supercars that rich people store it in the garage instead of driving them
The craftsmanship of these pianos is amazing. Everyone is so meticulous. Truly a magnificent piano.
That energy and emotions held by the piano throug generations is just incredible!
i remembered playing on a Horowitz's steinway. My god it's so easy to play. The sound of heaven singing in front of you.
Sounds magnificent
How did you get the chance to play on his piano? I'm jealous
My highschool had one of the concert Pianos. It was so beautiful to play on it brings me to tears
The piano my mom wished to buy is a steinways piano since she also has a taste for music and luxury so yeah she really wanted one and ordered it.Still waiting for the delivery to arive for about 6 hours
@@samuraiboi2735 thumbs down for the waiting duration. Thumbs up for mama
My family has a 130 year old Steinway that is an insured family heirloom, some great memories
Who?
How much wear and tear? Could you take an axe to it?
@@tomr6955 Found the edgy manchild who still lives in his mother's basement.
@@alvinsmith3894 Am i missing something? the comment you are responding to isnt even that "edgy"
@@judypatooty4234 yes, you are missing something. Asking the question who? On the internet is like 90% of the time a bait to follow up with “who asked”
It's hard to describe just how nice it feels to play on a Steinway. They have perfect touch and key feel. They also have a distinct immediately recognizeable sound. It's weird how playing on one doesn't seem loud to the player even though they're super loud instruments.
It is sometimes possible to tell the vintage of a Steinway based; n sound alone. The pianos from the mid-50s have a distinctive sound to them that makes it fairly easy to tell them from one from a different decade.
That's probably because big momma is listening to the keys as she is wont to do.
My great grandfather worked at Steinway in Astoria in the late 1890’s. From my research it seems the quality of the pianos decreased in the 1960’s and later and never recovered. A great book that gives insight into Steinway is “ A Romance on Three Legs” about Glenn Gould and his tuner Vern Edquist.
I love how the black lady explains her job, it’s like when you ask your grandma how she makes that unbelievable dumpling dough and she says that she eyeballs the ingredients and goes from there, because “the most important thing is to listen to what the dough is telling you”. I think that is just how people explain things that are second nature to them. They know how exactly it should be done, they don’t know how they know, they just know
That means she breathes piano key balancing.
Respect
you mean african american lady.
@@lemarcoX No, I said what I meant to. There is nothing bad about being black. And I don’t acknowledge the stigma that some people may associate with that term. Also using the term “African American” here would be inaccurate, as a Moroccan person in America would also certainly fall under the definition and Moroccans are of rather pale complexion compared to other African peoples. So, in summary I said exactly what I meant, and I don’t believe you need to educate me
Also, I made a positive comment showing respect and appreciation and yet the only part you chose to notice was that I used a term that you didn’t like. How very saddening
@@lemarcoX You mean American?
@@piotrzwirowski8435 so what do you call a middle easterner, that brown guy? 😂 how very saddening
@@lemarcoX yes, because he would likely be brown?
"I used to dream about the pianos chasing me" I'm sorry what 😂
I thought that was funny too!
lsd
I believe she is talking about the counterweight of each key and when as a pianist, you let go of a key and it follows your fingers!
@@oliviao2238 what utter horse bollocks.
did she stutter
One of the best docos I’ve ever seen, I really appreciate how you interviewed these very gifted people
I have a 1932 model M. Still not learned to play but it’s lovely to have it and when guests play it who really are good it’s a real treat.
8:03 Chopin's Nocturne in B Flat Minor Opus 9 No.1 if anyone's wondering.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Really Thank You ,, I Spent A Lot Of Time For Searching and Didn't Found Any Result .
Thank you
THANK YOU :D
I love how everyone building the pianos seems to do their job so meticulously, then there's the woman sawing wildly and crazily banging her chisel! 😂
I'm curious how you think saws and chisels work if that seems unusual to you.
@@Gamer2k4 I didn't say it was unusual to me. I find intertesting the juxtaposition of the aggressiveness in this particular task to the lack thereof in pretty much all of the other assembly tasks. I'm not sure how or why you read anything else into my comment.
once you start a saw cut properly, you can pretty much go ham, especially when using a saw like that women did, because the cut is narrow
Or the team of people using raw force to bend the lamination around the form before the glue set up
@@thomasprovencher4611 Yes, that also. With the huge, heavy clamps that are probably covered in grease and old, dried glue. This guy understands what I'm saying!
I’ve always taken this for granted. I and my three other siblings grew up playing piano (span of 20+ years) and we had a Steinway. Never knew how much my parents paid for it but looking back it is the nicest piano I’ve ever played on and I wish I still knew how to play
Always a joy and treat to play a Steinway piano! The most expensive grand I ever played was $500,000 in a concert hall
The difference in a high quality and especially time proven grand piano compared to an "average" home piano is gigantic. You can study a piece for years and you might get it so good at your own house instrument wheere you can do many interpretations of it. But once you sit on one of those masterpieces the instrument is so godlikely good you feel like you don't even need to do anything to make it sound THAT good. Even better - for you a whole new encyclopedia opens up in what you can do with that piece. It's an insane feeling.
agreed
Conversely it's a sign of a good non distractible pianist whom when faced with the situation of having to play on a honky-type discard will face the challenge and not back down in rendering a plausible interpretation of said manuscript.
the difference is the resonance. It's soundwave.
Yeah true
Exactly. I had the same experience playing on a Steinway Model C many years ago. The action was so responsive. The sound was so beautiful. I never felt so connected to a piano before and each piece played was magically so easy. Sadly, I saw the sticker price: $99,999. I then cried. However my credit card laughed.
Steinway is the master of PR. It makes it very easy for music schools and concert halls to have a fleet of them, regularly serviced. It also has its so-called Steinway Artists who are not allowed to mention or be seen playing any other brand.
Reminds me of the days when IBM used to own the corporate computer market.
Not to mention their chokehold on the market - if a technician who's not "Steinway certified" works on a Steinway piano, it immediately drops in value or loses it entirely, regardless of the technician's skill.
The part of the Steinway Artist is wrong. The program is not a contract. Steinway artists are loyal to the brand, have own Steinways. They choose Steinway on stage because they are convinced of the piano, because they also own one not because a contract (which does not exist) tells them. And in fact you see Steinway Artists playing on other brands too, when there is no Steinway available, when the Steinway available is in bad shape or if it does not fit the repertoire. Yamaha and other brands are making real contracts with artists. Steinway artist program is based on loyalty and solidarity.
@@LrdVnm Just like Ferrari and Lamborghini.
@@DBCisco ferrari especially so, i recenty saw a video where a guy tried to buy a certain ferrari, but they wouldn't sell him that car because he wasnt a long time customer and tried selling him a cheaper car instead
like, you arent allowed to buy certain cars if you havent owned the required 10 other ferraris for years..
@@Numnutz At the NYC auto show in 1978 I was tempted to buy a 308 Ferrari. They were selling the show car at half price so they wouldn't have to ship it back to Italy.
We had a stunning Steinway grand piano at my music school in a small town right by Saint Petersburg. It was donated to our school by one of our graduates who went onto having a phenomenal career as a pianist. I’ll never forget how proud we all felt about having such an incredible jewel of an instrument
I used to work at a place that had a 1920 Steinway. It was in rough shape, unable to hold a tune for very long. It was replaced with a brand new Steinway D. I would stay at work well into the night just so I could play that amazing instrument all alone.
In my experience, Steinways produce a very large sound, and the highs and lows are very well balanced in tone, making it perfect for solo performances. However, the weighting is rather heavy, and the sound may be too dark for some applications, such as concertos and dense studio mixes. In these cases, a Yamaha might be better suited.
I agree. I've played both and had the same interpretation. Both are well balanced but the Steinway is noticeably more mellow
I think Yamaha's factory downweight is heavier
Meh that could be said for any concert grand. I like the sound of the Yamaha way more. Steinway is a luxury brand that you buy just for the name and to feel rich just like other stupid crap these days.
@@kishascape from what I understand Steinway stand directly behind a lot of the innovation that the piano has undergone over the many decades, they also iirc have patents on quite a few of the mechanisms of action and pedals. That said, yes they're expensive, but they're also probably one of the only piano brands that can appreciate value with age.
The sound of Steinway is clearly the best.
Answer: they only use a specific type/quality wood, and have meticulous quality standards.
and have a lot of qualified people working in the process, built by hand all patience and care.
And it's the name and brand.
thank you, now I can go to the next video
Welp, thanks but I'll still watch the video
The real answer: it's all in a name-brand and marketing. Pianos aren't complicated machines by the 21th century standards, but if you start today from a blank page, you will sell nothing. Bösendorfer made magnificent instruments and nevertheless they went bankrupt few years ago, saved only by Yamaha. Steinway is ages behind Yamaha in the terms of mechatronics, but stays afloat just fine.
I played a Steinway a month or so ago for a small concert. I loved it! I didn't want to stop playing….EVER!
I played Steinway pianos frequently during my college days. I relish the memories decades later. Steinway grand pianos are still my favorites because of the awesome tones and responsive feel.
Im an aspiring pianist and i havent touched an acoustic piano for a while. Well i touched an upright piano in my school 2 years ago and that sparked my love for the piano. But ever since then i am only playing at my cheap 25$ digital piano. You are very lucky to have played steinways my friend.
My father used to own a wood trading company and Steinway in Hamburg was one of his costumers. They were extremely particular in what they needed. Last year my father got my mum a Steinway piano.
Hamburg Steinways are among the best in the world. They have to compete with the other amazing European brands. I'm the USA, NY Steinway pushed all other piano brands out via aggressive tactics, so their quality has slipped (Mason and Hamlin still exists but they are so small of an operation that they lose no threat to the Steinway mafia).
Damn ur lucky
mad respect for craftsman out there, tuners and everyone who've worked hard together to make every single masterpiece. many pianists shines out there bcs of you guys
The lady at 5:01 is lovely, "you see the hesitation, it's no good"
I am fortunate to have a Steinway piano and it is wonderful. Now that I have seen this I'll appreciate it even more. It was made in 1955, so I am 10 years older than it is. My daddy was a piano tuner and my brother also tunes and restores. He is 84 and still tunes at least one per day.
"I used to dream about the pianos chasing me," I love this woman!
I had the opportunity to play one and it's hard to describe. It feels amazing and it really fills the room with sound in a unique way. There's something very inspiring about a Steinway. I found myself play less notes and letting them ring out more. Controlling the dynamics is very easy compared to other pianos I've played. If I ever get rich, I'll definitely buy one. Truly an amazing instrument
So this was information I didn’t think i wanted to know! New appreciation for pianos and their builders.
Around 2 weeks ago I had a piano concert and I got the opportunity to play a model d Steinway and it sounded absolutely amazing
"That was a priceless Steinway!"
"Not Anymore"
Inspector Clouseau: Who are you? I'm Mrs Livalili... Inspector Clouseau: Mrs. Loveliver where were you at the night of the kidnaping?
I almost died laughing at that scene!
I got to play a Steinway once. I will never forget the incredible dynamic range which is both softer and much louder than anything else I have tried. the responsiveness of the instrument to my touch took me to a new level of awareness which nothing in the decade since has touched.
I love seeing the workmen on things like this, treating wood like it really is just wood until the final thing is assembled with strings. It's amazing!
Worked as the assistant production manager for Spivey Hall in Atlanta in the late 90’s.
During my almost 4 year tenure we had some of the greatest pianists in the world that got to choose between a 9’ grand out of the Spivey home built in the 40’s and a newer one bought when the hall opened in the early 90’s.
The temp and humidity was meticulously maintained and recorded and we had an amazing tuner on retainer.
Both models sounded amazing and it was always a treat to see which instrument a musician would pick based off the repertoire, style, and tone they were going for in the performance.
The hall was and still is pristine and has some of the finest acoustics in the world.
NPR asked for every concert on our series to be recorded for later broadcast.
Cut my teeth their as a production manager. Still 25 years later in the business some of the shows I worked are locked in my memory as to the sound and feel or the night.
Was a spiritual experience for sure.
Many years ago, my paternal grandfather bought some land and had a house built. He did this as he had just bought a Steinway Concert Grand Piano and the only way to get it into half of the lounge was to have the house built around it!! Many years later when he sold the house, the Piano stayed as there was no way to get it out of the house!! I only found out after he died that my Grandfather was a millionaire who used to conduct Industrial Espionage during WWII!! They are truly beautiful instruments!!
Seriously, damn !
Very amazing story. Thank you for sharing!
"it's on the internet, it must be true"
Samuel Lee Jackson.
@@charlesimagoodguymanson1337
Somebody had poo in their cereal this morning
The guy up above said Steinways were the easiest to move. Obviously they were made to be moved otherwise they wouldn't leave the Steinway factory
I grew up on a Kawai baby grand to which I didn't really understand or think about comparing it to other pianos because I thought that all pianos sounded and played the same. Later in my early years in college, I discovered there definitely was a difference.
So, not only is the sound different, but also how they play. How much force it takes to push down the keys, how far down the keys go, and all around what it takes to make the music the way it's meant to be played factor into the quality of instrument you're using to play the music. In contrast to many other pianos, Kawais (at least the one I had) are darker sounding. They take a lot more energy to put out the music (force to push down on the keys). If you want to play something bright and soft, it is something of a trick. This is where I could see somebody, just cresting into playing more difficult pieces on the piano, would probably get frustrated and think they couldn't produce good sounds.
For anybody considering getting an instrument, think about what music you want to play, how you want to play it, and what sound you want from it.
Incredibly complex instrument. Props to all the skilled craftspeople who make them!
Steinway is my favorite piano. Whenever I go to a concert that's usually the piano on the stage and it's heaven hearing it. I got to touch one and try to play it and wow it felt so easy to play. I'm cheese at playing a piano but it was an experience.
*Love how Steinway still uses "tuning by hearing" method. Salute.*
Pretty much all piano tuning ultimately is done by ear even if a device is used on the first string of the note. I can also pretty much guarantee that an accutuner or similar device is also used at steinway too in the same way. Just because it wasn’t in the video doesn’t mean they don’t use it.
All piano brands do "tune by ear" Yamaha, Kawai, Pearl River, etc. Fyi, if you can't tune by ear you aren't a piano tuner, more so if you are working in a piano factory! There's nothing wrong with using electronic tuner btw (actually they speed up the process). Only a fool drives a car without power steering.
An analogy is that you use a GPS to get to an address but the GPS doesn't tell you how to get from your car to the front door of the house, that's where the aural part of tuning is important.
Yoh bigfoot !!
How wonderful to see that humans are still integral to building every stage of this lovely instrument.
I am delighted that the ending of the piano piece is my favourite chopin 's nocturne! Thx for the amazing video :)
Beautiful! That Nocturne at the end gave me chills.
Just crafting these pianos alone can be considered as a work of art. They're truly worth it in the end though.
Again on your recommended page, mine too.
3rd 🥉
Imagine not having one
found you again
Wherever I go I see him.......
I have a Steinway from the late 1890’s. It still sounds amazing.
That's a treasure lucky you, I would be curious to know who from the famous may have had played it.
Wow i think i just learned how i can spot a decent acoustic guitar by the ring spacing on the sound board. Rings closer together is a more desireable trait i see.
I am a member of the City of Edinburgh music school, in Scotland, and we have no less than 5 Steinway and Sons grand pianos, and about 15 upright pianos. The music school has about 50 pupils in it (naturally there's always a high demand to get to practice on one of the grand pianos) and I think we take for granted the sound, and the fact that we have access to such incredible instruments. Plus, from what I gather, Steinway and Sons gave our school all of those pianos for free!
I have a Steinway upright from 1902 and it’s one of my most prized possessions. It tells such a beautiful story whenever it’s played.
If you ever had the dream of owning a Steinway, try to get one that has been built in Hamburg, not NY. Since Steinway basically owns the market in North America, the quality of their NY-produced pianos slightly dropped over the years - when it comes to Europe though, Steinway has to compete with manufacturers such as Fazioli, Bechstein, or Bosendorfer, which are pretty much on par or sometimes even better, which is why the quality standards of the Hamburg Steinways are generally a little bit higher.
yeap... agree!
Good point. No offense to the folks shown in this video, but the fact is that piano craftsmanship is largely a lost art in the States. Not in Europe.
Bosendorfer's are better in my opinion, at least those with the extra keys. Steinways are expensive because they have really good marketing and force their pianos on aspiring pianists. Fazioli as well are very nice.
ahh yes i shall look up the prices online after finishing my bowl of cup ramen
The 9 foot Steinway D concert hall piano is the hugely expensive piano noted at the beginning of this story. Thats misleading. Very few people put those in their homes. Steinway C is the perfect size for any large room smaller than a concert hall, less expensive, but only available in Europe. Steinway B is the ubiquitous home piano, forever hyped by Steinway … and imho, one out of every 10 is a decent instrument. When you start playing 7+ foot pianos, there are many that are considered superior to Steinway. My favorite - Bosendorfer 225. An astoundingly diverse sounding instrument, with harmonics, and subtleties hard to elicit from a Steinway. Steinways on the other hand are tanks, in a very good way mind you, … loud, brash, (perfect for Billy Joel) and project to the last row of a concert hall. To each his own. I’ve had several 7 foot Baldwin SF10s that blow away Steinway Bs in the low end. Baldwins until late 1990s - especially the SF10 - were remarkable pianos (used by artists like Lenny Bernstein, and Seje Osawa), and extreme bargains compared to Steinway sales hype. If you are in the market for a used Steinway B (6 foot, 11inch) I strongly urge you to look for good 7 foot Baldwin SF10. 1/10th the price and equal in sound and quality - if you find a good one. Just offering my experienced opinion. I’ve owned them all. If budget is no issue - Bosendorfer 225, Fazioli, C. Bechstein (if you’re ok with their 1930s German gov. affiliation), Bluthner, or a Steinway C, which is only made in Hamburg (if your fixated on Steinway) - are probably the best you can buy. All Very different, yet exquisite sounds. If you’re a pianist, Do what I did - travel a bit and try them all.
Love the Chopin at the end, he played that intro beautifully.
Do you know the name of the piece? I really like it
@@leahbrownmusic It’s one of the Nocturnes -
Op. 9 No 1
Such a beautiful piece.
My university I went to has a Steinway in its auditorium, I was involved in tons of of different ensambles so I ended up in that building all the time. Sometimes after hours I would play on it for an empty audience, my God was that a beautiful sound.
The craftsman are the real masters here
Its the piano of choice for so many concert pianists as Steinway contracts ensure it is their only piano of choice. As for American Steinway's this past 30 years quality has been a real issue. Steinways aggressive marketing has pushed so many piano brands both in Europe and the US to the wall to the point we only have here in Europe a small handful left. How many concert stages do you know that doesn't have the obligatory Steinway Model D? From a music perspective it is really quite sad!
yeah true that, it feels like they are shoving steinways down our throats. But still this video is relevant to answer why grand piano are so expensive (except the ok tier ones they make in indonesia and china)
@@TheMusicalKnokcers masa
Yamaha grands are incredible, and the CFX concert grand is one of the best concert grands I’ve played on for the price
I don't think it's Steinway's aggressive marketing that's done that... It's mostly down to a general decline in the industry. We used to have a whole section of London dedicated to piano manufacture. Putting the demise of other manufacturers at their feet is no different to complaining that Rolls Royce are responsible for Morris and Austin going out of business.
Bosendorfers and Faziolis are better made these days. As some have mentioned Steinway is coasting on their name value. The 97 key Bosendorfer (I think it’s the 290) sounds incredible and Steinway can’t touch the quality/sound of a Fazioli
I get to play Steinway pianos at competitions that I take part in, and I can only say that there is NO other piano that feels so good to play. I always look forward to those 15 min. performances that I get to play on a Steinway piano every year.
Is it worth 1.2 million dollars to play that feel good piano?
@@axshman6914 Thats why I dont own one. I would probably still not pay that amount, but I will take the chance if I get to play on one for free!
Fascinating of Steinway's birth roots to the artisans' nurturing craft of its unique and individual sound to present a divine soul.
Is about marketing. Fazioli, C. Bechstein concert, Steingraeber and Sohn, Bosendorfer, heck Shigeru Kawai and Yamaha CF as well all have the same amount of workmanship and quality as Steinways. Hamburg Steinways are wonderful pianos but Steinways are one of the fine pianos made, not the only ones made. Steinway has done a great job creating an image of the ultimate piano unlike others but those familiar with pianos know this isn't really the case.
Absolutely! If I ever have the disposable income for a good piano, I'm getting anything but a NY Steinway (which were incidentally the only kind I got to play in college). There are so many amazing, smaller brands out there that exceed NY Steinway in quality. Heck, I might even consider a Mason and Hamlin just to spite Steinway for making every other American competitor go underwater.
@@vitaminluke5597 Yes, Mason and Hamlin's are wonderful pianos, every bit as good as Steinways. Charles Walter are very good as well, if not quite the same tier.
Exactly. And that marketing includes providing the musicians with the piano, not making them pay for it. Get the performers on a Steinway and the minions will follow.
Steinway has nothing on Yamaha. Agreed that it's all about marketing. There's a story that Glenn Gould tried a Yamaha and liked it better than Steinway. Steinway had a fit and Gould was in the doghouse for a while.
@@vitaminluke5597 Steinway has nothing on Mason and Hamlin. Steinway is like IBM computers. A lot of people think it's the best, but there are other pianos that are as good or better. It's all about marketing and perception.
As a professional pianist the best piano is the piano that most moves you- The piano that makes you want to play. I've been moved by unexpected brands: a 6 foot petrof I played on a cruise ship for a few months for example. It helped that it was less than 2 years old. I've never come across one again.
A friend of mine had a Petrof 6 foot piano. I thought it was a very good piano.
Petrofs indeed have something special in them, in our college, all instruments are very old and worn, but even a very uneven Petrof makes it hard for me to stop practicing
I’m not a professional, but I completely agree with you. I’ve played lots and lots of pianos including a Steinway. While they are amazing instruments, I always come back to the warm sound of a gently-used Yamaha C3 or C5. I love the warm tone and the action. It shouldn’t be about the name or the price tag, but about what instrument speaks to you as a musician.
7:43 - 7:50
I love this little slide show with world banknotes in the background when they talk about prices.
From minute 5, you see what dedication, craftsmanship, and professionalism are. Wow! You are inspiring, ma'am.
My piano teacher used to be friends with the owner of a steinway and sons so we'd have our recitals on this 9ft steinway :') It was 176k I believe, i didn't know how lucky I was to play on it
lucky.. Steinway is like the Gucci of pianos except it’s not exactly over rated
@@jackthecommenter2768 try going to all Steinway schools🎹🎶
I have played on a Steinway once, I had about a minute to do so, and I thought it would be pretty good, but it was truly as if I had sat down at a completely new instrument. I don't know if I'll ever get to play one again but I think about it often.
Amazing work, Steinway guys! My big respect to all of you.
I've played a couple of Steinways, and both times I was so impressed... oh to have one in my living room!
I got to touch and attempt to play one of these pianos, they really are a piece of art and a marvel of engineering. I can’t play well but I can respect the craftsmanship put into these pianos.
I've played several (German) Steinways in my life, and each one feels beautifully unique. The power I felt when playing the initial F in Debussy's Suite Bergamasque prelude gave me shivers when I first did it. Dynamically, they are just astounding to play.
So glad that robots can't make a good piano yet.
The college I’m attending has two Steinway grands, and I’m one of the lucky few that the music director lets play them. I’ve played dozens of pianos and absolutely nothing comes close to the full Steinway grand. It is mesmerizing to play on and a song never gets old when playing on one.
You can’t compare the sounds between brands of piano just by a TH-cam video, seeing it in person, hearing it and playing it is a totally different experience.
if you cant tell the difference in a recording then the difference was in the hype of that in person experience not the actual sound waves
@@michaelsmith953 Not true at all. Recordings can't catch everything. Recording technology isn't that advanced as you think it is.
@@abouttime2569 I agree. Also you need the best quality microphone to record with the top notch audio equipment to even get a sense of the quality difference from a recording.
EDIT: But don't be confused. It doesn't mean the difference is small. Far from it.
@@michaelsmith953 not really, your tiny speakers and cheap consumer grade components cannot hope to reproduce the sound of a real piano. it introduces distortion and ruins harmonics. you can only hear them live.
which is why they're pointless. just get something that sounds as good in a recording and be done with it, no need to spend house money in a damn piano.
@@abouttime2569 Indeed, as grand piano is probably the hardest instrument to record. Every recording engineer may tell you their way to record grand piano but none of them is perfect.
Steinway's are nice, there's no doubt, however I can't help but listen to a Bosendorfer and know that when I win the lottery, I'll be buying one of them!
true that ! bosendorfer's sound is so warm i love it. However if i win the lottery i would get more tan one Grand depending on what i play i feel different piano tones matter.
If not for Steinway's aggressive, predatory marketing, we in the English-speaking world would be able to more frequently enjoy the sound of Bösendorfer, C. Bechstein, Blüthner, Shigeru Kawaii, and of course Fazioli. Instead, we have musicians whose fundamentally precarious position in life cause then to understandably sign a "Steinway only" contact, which then forces every concert hall of worth to need a Steinway on hand, otherwise they would not be allowed to host many pianists. Because a good piano is expensive, most smaller concert halls only have one concert grand, which because of the above is usually a Steinway. This is how they have maintained their illusion of superiority, not because they're somehow the best. They're good, don't get me wrong, but to use a car analogy, they're like Lexus while the aforementioned brands are the true ultraluxury, hand crafted Rolls Royce and Bentleys.
Tori Amos' choice of Piano, and she could play anything.
Say it louder! 😂. My partner is a hard core fan of Bosendorfer (we got 2 of the GF in the house) as he plays almost exclusively Chopin’s pieces. Bosendorfer and Chopin are just a match made in heaven 😩😻.
@@irioagungkalabak3627 i can't agree more on the chopin bit. Hence my sorrow when i got to a recital to hear it and it's a Steinway (basically evrytime)
LOVE how there are so many POC working there making those beautiful pianos!!!
Had the opportunity to play a $40k grand piano at a music center in San Antonio. Something about the feedback, and how the keys felt when I pressed them was unexplainably elegant, perhaps 'perfect' although I don't know in which context. I couldn't imagine how it feels to play a piano 10x the price of the one I got to mess around with.
I'm a terrible pianist, but a really good singer. I remember the first time I stood next to a concert Steinway to rehearse before a performance. The richness of the sound was a pure joy. I wish I could play in a way that could show the world these instruments true greatness, but in the absence of that ability I'll be grateful that those people exist and that I know several of them.
Here in Midland, Michigan, we have this thing called Keybordfest where a bunch of local piano students learn piano duets, and then the Detroit Steinway Gallery brings up a bunch of pianos for the performance. It’s really fun, and definitely one of the best parts is getting to play on a Steinway. A couple years ago I played on this $100K+ white piano, it looked amazing, it felt amazing, it sounded amazing, and I really wanted it, but it was so dang expensive.
And worth every piano. Say why? There is nothing like playing a Steinway… the sound, the touch and the emotion are as one when the music flows from this instrument ❤️
I love the woman balancing the keys and hammers. Her explanation of her job was perfect.
I have a steinway from 1920 and its the most beautiful sound i've ever heard.. especially the higher notes are singing for ages and lower octaves are like a insane subwoofer!! i like other brands like Bösendorfer,Fazioli,Bechstein but there is nothing like a Steinway & Sons!! i want to dedicated my life for these beautiful piano's to let people hear what is like to have a steinway, and YES its soo expensive but also a great investment! I'm also enjoying my Yahama keyboard everyday, but you can feel the emotion of a Steinway. its simply amazing!!
I don't even play instruments, just purely listening to them. For so many years I've been watching people on TH-cam performing in different pianos, I always found myself drawn into the sound of Steinway & Sons piano more than any other piano I've listened to. The intro to this video what I was expecting. Great
Great video thanks. Been a massive fan of Steinway for roughly 8 years now
Mr. Scott Jones has an incredible ear. I only dream about having such precise sound perception
"I used to dream of the pianos chasing me."
When you are good at your job, sometimes there is a little stress.
God bless her.
Super Mario 64 type beat
What does she mean by that?
@@sgocllewsgocShe dreamed of getting chased by pianos