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Bluthner Pianos

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Blüthner, a privately-owned family business, has been making pianos of the highest quality in Leipzig, Germany, since 1853. and today boasts the world’s most extensive selection of transparent “Lucid” grand pianos. When you think of the brown Steinway piano tradition, it is clear that pianos have evolved to stunning new choices.

The Lucid piano is realized in reinforced Plexiglass exposing the beauty of what’s within. Customizable with different veneers and iron frame coatings, the look of the Blüthner Lucid Elegance is born of the client’s desires and imagination. From ebony or exotic burl veneers on the side panels to rose gold or chrome finish of the frame the semi-transparent instrument can be uniquely designed. The addition of LED illumination of the inner and outer rim of the piano case will add a touch a magic and transform your interior into real-life Neverland. Bluthner Lucid is where tradition and know-how of piano-making meet the vision of the future using new materials and latest technologies to make what seemed impossible just yesterday a beguiling reality of today.

Until 1900, Blüthner was Europe’s largest piano factory. During World War II, the factory was bombed, but after the war the East German government allowed the Blüthner family and workers to rebuild it because the Blüthner piano was considered a national treasure (and because the Soviet Union needed quality pianos).

Bluthner Lucid Grand Piano
Bluthner Lucid Grand Piano

Blüthner pianos have beech rims (grands), solid spruce soundboards, Delignit pinblocks, Renner actions, Abel hammers, and polyester finishes. Pianos for export have three pedals, including sostenuto on the grands, and celeste (practice) on the verticals. Blüthner builds about 100 verticals a year in four sizes, and 500 grands a year in six sizes.

Blüthner pianos incorporate several unique technical features. With aliquot stringing, the notes in the highest treble section (about the top two octaves) have four strings each instead of three. The extra string is raised slightly above the others and vibrates only sympathetically. The effect, heard mainly in medium to forte playing, is similar to that of a duplex scale, adding tonal color to the treble and aiding the singing tone.

In what may have been a world’s first, Blüthner designed a piano for left-handed pianists. This is a completely backward piano, with the treble keys, hammers, and strings on the left and the bass on the right. When it was introduced, a pianist gave a concert on it after only a couple of hours of practice! It is currently available in the 6′ 10″ and 9′ 2″ sizes by special order.

With voicing, Blüthner pianos have a very full sound that is warm, romantic, and lyrical, generally deeper and darker than some of their German counterparts. Sustain is good, but at a low level of volume, giving the tone a refined, delicate character. The action is a little light, but responsive. The pianos are built of superb materials, and are favorably priced compared to some of their competitors.

Bluthner Pianos

Blüthner also owns the Irmler brand and the Rönisch and Hupfeld brands.

Warranty: Blüthner and Haessler — 10 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.

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A black and gold logo for steinway & sons.

Steinway & Sons Pianos

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Steinway grand pianos, and the Steinway B (the favorite of many technicians) cannot be ignored when discussing the best piano brands, although the nomadic history of this company, its myriad owners and configurations of business plans, and the uneven quality of existing product put it at the low end of our list of high-end instruments, due to the “noise” and “uncertainty” that its history imparts today. In addition, there is the issue of the New York City Steinway versus the Hamburg Steinway.

Steinway owns a branch factory in Hamburg, Germany, established in 1880. It serves the world market outside of the Americas. The detailing of the pianos at this Hamburg factory is reputed to be better than the one in New York. Both branches have their advocates among the experts, but Hamburg seems to be more favored in considered opinions. It’s possible to special-order a Hamburg Steinway through an American Steinway dealer; or an enterprising American customer could travel to Europe, buy one there, and have it shipped back home.

Heinrich Engelhardt Steinweg, a German cabinetmaker and piano maker, emigrated to the United States in 1850, and established Steinway & Sons in 1853 in New York City. They were granted patents in their ideas for a better piano with a stronger frame, a richer sound, and a more sensitive action. This ultimately revolutionized the piano as it was known then, and gave them the reputation they enjoy to this day. By the 1880s, the Steinway piano was pretty much the same piano we have today, and the standards set by the founder were strictly adhered to in the next generation.

Without heirs willing or able to take over the business, the fourth generation of Steinways also didn’t have enough capital to finance much-needed equipment modernization. In 1972, they sold their company to CBS who in 1985 sold it to an investment group. In 1995 the company was sold yet again, this time to Conn-Selmer, Inc., a major manufacturer of brass and woodwind instruments, and the combined company (called Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.) was taken public on the New York Stock Exchange.

In 2013, Paulson & Company, a private-equity firm purchased the public company and took it private once again. Paulson says he is committed to the quality-first approach on which Steinway built its reputation.

Steinway makes two types of vertical piano in three sizes: a 45″ model 4510 studio, a 46½” model 1098 studio, and a 52″ model K-52 upright. In all three models, the middle pedal operates a sostenuto mechanism. All Steinway verticals use a solid spruce soundboard, have no particleboard, and in many other ways are similar in design, materials, and quality of workmanship to Steinway grands. While technicians have always liked the performance of Steinway verticals, they have complained that the studio models in particular were among the most difficult and would unexpectedly jump out of tune. Steinway made small changes to alleviate this problem so the pianos are now mechanically more stable, but an excess of false beats (tonal irregularities) still make the pianos at times difficult to tune.

Steinway full size upright piano
Steinway full size upright piano

Steinway makes six sizes of grand piano, two of which are new within the last several years. All ebony, mahogany, and walnut grand models come with an adjustable artist bench, the others with a regular bench.

The 5′ 1″ model S is very good for a small grand, but has the usual limitations of any small piano and so is recommended only where space considerations are paramount. The 5′ 7″ model M is a full six inches longer, but costs little more than the S. Historically one of Steinway’s more popular models, it is found in living rooms across the country. Its medium size makes the tone in certain areas slightly less than perfect, but it’s an excellent home instrument.

The 5′ 10½” model L has been replaced with the model O of the same size. Model O was first produced in 1902, but discontinued in 1924 in favor of the model L. Changes over time in both engineering and musical taste, as well as a desire to better synchronize the offerings of the New York factory with Hamburg (where the model O was never abandoned), seemed to dictate a return to the O. The main difference between the two models is in the shape of the tail — the L has a squared-off tail, the O a round tail — but this can also affect the soundboard and bridges and therefore the tone.

Reintroduction of the model O followed the reintroduction of the legendary 6′ 2″ model A. First offered in 1878 and discontinued in New York in 1945, the model A first featured the radial rim bracing and one-piece bent rim construction now used in all Steinway grands. Over the years the model A has gone through several makeovers. The version being reintroduced was made in New York from 1896 to 1914 and is the same size as the model A that has been made at the Hamburg factory for more than a century. Models O and A are suitable for larger living rooms, and for many school and teaching situations.

The 6′ 10½” Steinway model B is the favorite of many piano technicians. It is the best choice for the serious pianist, recording or teaching studio, or small recital hall. The 8′ 11¾” model D, the concert grand, is the flagship of the Steinway line and the piano of choice for the overwhelming majority of concert pianists. It’s too large for most places other than the concert stage.

Steinway uses excellent materials and construction techniques in the manufacture of its grands. The rims are made from layers of maple, and the beams are of solid spruce. The keybed is of spruce, and the keys are of Bavarian spruce. The pinblock consists of seven laminations of maple with successive grain orientations of 45 and 90 degrees. The soundboard is of solid Sitka spruce, the bridges are vertically laminated of maple with a solid maple cap, and all models have duplex scaling.

Steinway Model B
Steinway Model B

It is well known that Steinway’s principal competition comes from used and rebuilt Steinways, many of which come in exotic veneers or have elaborately carved or customized “art cases.” The company has responded by expanding its product line to include modern-day versions of these collector’s items. The Crown Jewel Collection consists of the regular models in natural (non-ebonized) wood veneers, many of them exotic. They are finished in a semi-gloss and, all regular Steinway grands are also now available in polyester high-polish ebony, lacquer high-polish ebony, and polyester high-polish white.

During the early 1900s, ownership of art-case Steinways became a symbol of wealth and culture. Steinway has resumed this tradition by regularly commissioning noted furniture designers to create new art-case designs, usually around a theme. Each year sees new art-case pianos from Steinway.

Steinway & Sons Pianos

As another way of capitalizing on the popularity of older Steinways, the company also operates at its factory the world’s largest piano rebuilding facility for the restoration of older Steinways.

The underlying excellence of the Steinway musical designs and the integrity of the construction process are the hallmarks of the Steinway piano. Steinway pianos at their best have the quintessential American piano sound: a powerful bass, a resonant midrange, and a singing treble with plenty of tonal color. The construction process creates a very durable and rigid framework that also contributes to the power of its sound.

Musical and cabinet detailing, such as factory voicing and regulation, and plate and cabinet cosmetics, are reasonable, but have traditionally lagged somewhat behind the company’s European competitors in finesse. Over the last couple of years, however, the company has been making a determined effort to remedy this and by applying lessons learned from its European operations. Examples include: rounding the edges and corners of satin ebony models so they will better hold the finish and not prematurely wear through; more careful woodworking on the bottom of the piano, and applying clear lacquer to the bottom instead of painting over to hide imperfections; protecting the case and plate during stringing and other manufacturing operations so they don’t have to be touched up, often imperfectly, later on; additional time spent playing-in pianos during manufacture in order to naturally harden the hammers so they don’t need quite so much chemical hardening and voicing in the field; and other numerous details that needed fixing.

Steinway pianos require more preparation by the dealer than most pianos in their class, but as the factory preparation has improved, the work required by the dealer is less excessive. Still, some dealers are more conscientious than others, and one occasionally hears of piano buyers who “can’t find a good Steinway.” How much of this is due to inherent weaknesses in some pianos, how much to lack of dealer preparation, and how much to customer bias is impossible to tell. Perhaps all are in play.

Piano technicians who work on high-end pianos do sometimes remark that some Steinways seem to have more potential than others. Many dealers do just enough regulating and voicing to make the instruments acceptable to the average customer, but reserve the highest level of work for those situations of a high-end user who knows the differences.

Most customers for a Steinway will probably find one they like on the sales floor. However, if you are a discriminating buyer who has had trouble finding a Steinway that suits your preferences, I recommend letting the salesperson know, as precisely as you can, what you’re looking for. Give the salesperson some time to have a few instruments prepared for you before making a decision. It may also help to tactfully let the salesperson know that you are aware that other options are available to you in the market for high-end pianos.

In 2008 Steinway underwent a change in management, the first in 23 years. For the first time, the company’s top executives were recruited from its European operations rather than from America. It is speculated that this may have signaled a subtle change of direction with regard to quality issues, and may be one of the reasons that European quality standards are appearing to be more strictly applied to the American-made instruments.

Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.

See Series Of Blog Posts For More Highest Quality/Prestige Pianos

A logo of sauter piano

Sauter Pianos

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Six generations of Sauters have owned the Sauter piano firm since 1819, currently run by Ulrich Sauter in southern Germany. Structural and acoustical parts are made of high-quality woods, including solid Bavarian spruce soundboards and beech pinblocks. Actions are made by Renner, and Sauter makes its own keys. The keybed is reinforced with steel to prevent warping, and all pianos are fully tropicalized for humid climates. The larger verticals use an action, designed and patented by Sauter, that contains an auxiliary jack spring to aid in faster repetition. Sauter calls this the R2 Double Escapement action. (Although the term double escapement does not apply here as it has historically been used, the mechanism has some of the same effects.) Producing approximately 800 verticals and 120 grand pianos each year, their German factory is situated at the foot of the Alps.

Sauter pianos are famous for the variety of finishes and styles in which they are available, many with intricate detail and inlay work. Customizing such rare woods as yew, burl walnut, pyramid mahogany, and genuine ebony in the cabinets, as well as special engravings, are available for any customer’s desire. Sauter’s M Line of vertical pianos features exclusive cabinet detailing and built-in features such as a hygrometer to measure relative humidity.

New Masterline institutional uprights, sold directly to institutions and not through dealers, include protective sidebars, industrial-grade casters, and locking mechanisms.

Sauter Pure in Ebony Polished
Sauter Pure in Ebony Polished

Amadeus is a special-edition 6′ 1″ grand honoring the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, with styling reminiscent of that in Mozart’s time. The natural keytops are of polished bone, the sharps of rosewood with ebony caps. Only 36 are to be made, one for each year of Mozart’s life.

The company has made versions of its 48″ upright and 6′ 11″ and 7′ 6″ grands with cabinets designed by the famous European designer Peter Maly. Some recent designs include the 48″ upright Vitrea, after the Latin word for glass, with a veneer of greenish glass covering the front of the cabinet.

Sauter Vitrea
Sauter Vitrea

Ambiente is a 7′ 6″ grand that is asymmetrically curved on both the bass and treble sides. In the recent past, Sauter has won several prestigious design awards for its Peter Maly–designed pianos.

Some extremely unusual models have been created. One was the 7′ 3″ model 220 has colored lines painted on the soundboard and white inlays on the tops of the dampers as guides for musicians performing music for “prepared piano,” ultramodern music requiring the insertion of foreign objects between the strings, or the plucking or striking of strings directly by the performer.

Sauter Ambiente
Sauter Ambiente

Sauter pianos are high-quality instruments with a lush, full, singing tone, closer to an “American” sound than most other European pianos.

Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.

See Series Of Blog Posts For More Highest Quality/Prestige Pianos

About Euro Pianos Naples

Euro Pianos Naples is a respected distributor of European luxury musical instruments. The company’s origin dates back to 1965. Euro Pianos represents world renowned brands such as Sauter, and it has recently become a manufacturer of its own acrylic instrument – The Aire. Apart from being a successful retailer, consultant, and entrepreneur organization, Euro Pianos is actively engaged in the artistic and community life of Naples, Florida as an organizer and supporter of musical events throughout the years.

Yamaha logo decal sticker

Yamaha Pianos

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Yamaha was established in 1887 as a piano and reed organ manufacturer by Torakusu Yamaha. The company’s origins as a musical instrument manufacturer are still reflected today in the group’s logo—a trio of interlocking tuning forks. Yamaha grew to become the world’s largest manufacturer of musical instruments (including pianos, “silent” pianos, drums, guitars, brass, woodwinds, violins, violas, celli and vibraphones), as well as being a leading manufacturer of motorcycles, semiconductors, audio/visual, computer related products, sporting goods, home appliances, specialty metals and industrial robots.

In 2008, Yamaha made an agreement with an Austrian Bank to purchase all the shares of  the renowned piano company, Bösendorfer. Yamaha intends to continue manufacturing at the Bösendorfer facilities in Austria. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH operates as a subsidiary of Yamaha Corp, but the businesses are run separately, maintaining Bösendorfer’s original quality.

Yamaha entered the world of electronic instruments in 1959, when it introduced the first all-transistor organ. In 1971, to fill its need, it built its own integrated circuit (IC) plant for Yamaha’s relatively low-volume demand. Jumping ahead to 1983, the introduction of the first Yamaha Clavinova, the YP-40, marked the beginning of what we now call the digital piano. Today, Yamaha’s three dozen or so models of digital piano, in many different finishes, constitute the broadest range of any manufacturer. The downside is that deciphering the variety of options—slabs, verticals, grands, stage pianos, ensemble pianos, designer digitals, hybrids—can be a bit daunting. And then there are the sub-brands: Clavinova, Modus, and Arius.

Arius by Yamaha
Arius by Yamaha

Clavinova digital pianos include the standard CLP line and the ensemble CVP line, and are available only through piano dealers. The Modus models (model numbers beginning with F, H, and R), Yamaha’s series of designer digitals, are functionally similar to the CLP line but with modern-looking cabinets. (The Modus H01 and H11 are perhaps the most striking visual designs among digital pianos.) They are now available online through authorized dealers. Arius (model numbers beginning with YDP) represents Yamaha’s entry-level line of digital verticals, with the long-popular YDP223 now replaced by the YDP181.

The CP and CP stage models are intended for situations that require a portable instrument. Available at several price points, they are suitable for a wide range of applications, from live performance to studio recording. Some of the models in this line feature Yamaha’s new Spectral Component Modeling (SCM) technology, or a combination of SCM and Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) sampling. The model CP1 also includes the NW-Stage action.

Yamaha’s apps for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch are unique in the digital-piano world. The NoteStar app brings sheet music into the 21st century, and puts you in the band with real audio backing tracks that you can slow down or transpose. MusicSoft Manager lets you manage the content of your CVP Clavinova, while Repertoire Finder provides complete keyboard setups for songs you want to play.

Seven different actions are used in Yamaha digitals. In order of increasing quality, they are: Graded Hammer Standard (GHS), Graded Hammer (GH), Graded Hammer 3 (GH3), Natural Wood (NW), Natural Wood Stage (NW-Stage), Natural Wood Linear Graded Hammer (NW-LGH), and the grand piano action used in the AvantGrand models.

They also have several hybrid models including the “silent” piano and the Transacoustics.

Yamaha Pianos
See Series Of Blog Posts For More Highest Quality/Prestige Pianos

About Euro Pianos Naples

Euro Pianos Naples is a respected distributor of European luxury musical instruments. The company’s origin dates back to 1965. Euro Pianos represents world renowned brands such as Sauter, and it has recently become a manufacturer of its own acrylic instrument – The Aire. Apart from being a successful retailer, consultant, and entrepreneur organization, Euro Pianos is actively engaged in the artistic and community life of Naples, Florida as an organizer and supporter of musical events throughout the years.

A piano with strings and a black handle

Best Concert Grand Pianos


The Concert Grand is considered the epitome of luxurious performance pianos. The most prestigious European manufacturers compete to make their concert grand pianos the ultimate in striking tonal quality and beauty.

The concert piano, by definition, is made to be used on the symphonic stage, grand concert halls and opera houses. But some magnificent private homes with enough space to handle the volume, tone and timbre of such a large instrument do sometimes showcase a concert grand for reasons of interior design or the needs of a professional pianist. But normally the best concert grand pianos are reserved for public venues where their sound is allowed to flourish and resonate as is intended; they are the most magnificent products of the piano craftsmen’s art.

What really defines this largest of all grand pianos is more than its size (roughly nine or ten feet in length or 2.75 to 3.05 meters). Most are around nine feet long, though the Bösendorfer Imperials, of the Austrian concert pianos, are 9½ feet, and some other pianos reach up to 10 feet.
What really defines this largest of all grand pianos is more than its size (roughly nine or ten feet in length or 2.75 to 3.05 meters). Most are around nine feet long, though the Bösendorfer Imperials, of the Austrian concert pianos, are 9½ feet, and some other pianos reach up to 10 feet.

The advantage of a longer acoustic piano is that the strings are also longer, and that is what produces the great power and richness of the concert grands, allowing them to be easily heard clear to the back of a concert hall, even when accompanied by a full symphonic orchestra, all playing at the same time.  The workmanship that goes into these instruments gives them the ability to retain harmonic balance, ensuring that close or spread octaves alike have the purity and brilliance to produce virtually beatless perfect fifths. Concert grands excel in these regards, and the technician’s ability to artistically voice an instrument to bring out these elements of tone depends on the excellence of the soundboard wood, the rim stock, and the hammers.

There are many opinions about the extent to which a pianist can affect the tone of a piano while playing, but it is a fact that, with the more sensitive actions of high-quality instruments, the skilled pianist is able to more reliably control the speed of the hammers’ attack on the strings, and thus create a wider tonal palette, giving the audience a better and more nuanced musical experience. This is readily apparent at international piano competitions, at which many pianists, playing the same works on the same piano, can nonetheless bring forth very different tonal qualities from it. The ultimate experience of action control for the artist, possible with only the finest instruments, occurs when the piano becomes a seamless extension of the pianist’s thoughts and feelings — the action seems to disappear, the music seeming to rise effortlessly from the instrument without the presence of an intervening mechanism.

Because concert grands are more musically sensitive than less costly pianos, they may require more frequent servicing if they are to be kept at peak performance levels. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re delicate and finicky. Most of these expensive instruments are built to be taken down, moved long distances, and set up repeatedly; played vigorously for many hours a day; and tuned and serviced regularly. Most owners find, after an initial settling-in period, and a good regulation and tuning, all high-end pianos require only slight touch-up adjustments on a regular basis, and are actually easier to maintain than less costly ones.

Concert grands are only produced by the finest and most experienced manufacturers, often in very small quantities such as only 10 to 100 a year from any particular brand. They can cost up to $300,000 for stately black models, and even more for those with piano cases having elaborate wood-work, inlays, custom colors and fancy veneers—which in today’s marketplace, are getting attention and lauded like never before by interior designers. But in spite of the magnificent assortment of exterior cases, the interior is the heart of the concert grand piano and its performance values. There are thousands of parts, and it is the quality of the manufacturing and materials of these parts and the expertise of the assemblage of them that makes one concert grand outdistance another. For this reason alone, it behooves people to listen. To truly appreciate the value and magic of a concert grand, you must hear it played in the proper setting.
Concert grands are only produced by the finest and most experienced manufacturers, often in very small quantities such as only 10 to 100 a year from any particular brand. They can cost up to $300,000 for stately black models, and even more for those with piano cases having elaborate wood-work, inlays, custom colors and fancy veneers—which in today’s marketplace, are getting attention and lauded like never before by interior designers. But in spite of the magnificent assortment of exterior cases, the interior is the heart of the concert grand piano and its performance values. There are thousands of parts, and it is the quality of the manufacturing and materials of these parts and the expertise of the assemblage of them that makes one concert grand outdistance another. For this reason alone, it behooves people to listen. To truly appreciate the value and magic of a concert grand, you must hear it played in the proper setting.
Best Concert Grand Pianos

Manufacturers of mass-produced, lower-price pianos seldom make concert grands, because concert halls or professional pianists would be unwilling to buy such a piano from a name with the reputation of a budget brand. The companies that make concert grands have a tradition of hand-craftsmanship and many of them have enjoyed top reputations for almost 200 years. Several of the companies have been owned and operated by the same families since they were started in the early 1800’s, and have a very prestigious image in the piano world. Sauter concert grands and Schimmel Konzert grands (their top line) enjoy this renown along with August Forester, Bechstein, and Bluthner, Bosendorfer, Steingraeber, Grotrian and the Steinways coming from Germany (not New York).

In a lesser-grade piano, quality might actually refer to quality-control, making each piano sound as equal as possible to every other. But in the crafting of high-end pianos, quality means something more: Each instrument is judged not on its similarities to its model, but on its musical excellence as a unique instrument. Since the superior natural materials that concert grand pianos are made from are never completely uniform, and because the craftspeople who make these instruments are trained to maximize the musical potential of each instrument, any particular model of a concert grand piano is likely to exhibit small variations in performance characteristics from instrument to instrument. And professionals appreciate these differences and savor them from brand to brand, piano to piano. Our factory trained technicians may also voice (change the tonal characteristics) of a piano in client’s home to better work with acoustics of a room.

Besides the concert grands, there are parlor grands, studio grands, salon grands, and semi-concert grands, depending on their length. Baby grands are those models that are only five feet long or less, front-to-back.

Economy pianos, like the auto industry, can have parts from anywhere, assembled in any of several different countries. However, the great concert grands are all still pure examples of excellent piano-making by skilled craftsmen from original, highly reputable manufacturers, many with a great history stretching back to the most famous composers and performers from centuries ago; Chopin had his Pleyel, Mahler his Blüthner, Brahms his Bösendorfer, and Liszt his Bechstein.

About Euro Pianos Naples

Euro Pianos Naples is a respected distributor of European luxury musical instruments. The company’s origin dates back to 1965. Euro Pianos represents world renowned brands such as Sauter, and it has recently become a manufacturer of its own acrylic instrument – The Aire. Apart from being a successful retailer and entrepreneur organization, Euro Pianos is actively engaged in the artistic and community life of Naples, Florida as an organizer and supporter of musical events throughout the years.

A piano is shown with the words " most expensive pianos in the world ".

The Most Expensive and Extraordinary Pianos in the World

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The Most Expensive and Extraordinary Pianos in the World

The world loves the most extraordinary and the most expensive. We love it in automobiles like Ferraris, in buildings like New York’s One Trade Center, and we love it in luxury pianos as well. Here is our list of the ten most extraordinary and most expensive pianos available on the market. (Some more available than others!)

There are a few piano builders who handcraft extraordinary instruments – pianos so well made that they have surpassed all others in performance and virtuosity. Brands such as Bluthner, Bosendorfer, Bechstein and Schimmel. What they put under the lid of their pianos distinguishes them from others, producing unrivaled and unique sound. This already makes them expensive grand pianos.

But for the true connoisseurs of beauty, the case that holds that musical magic is just as important. To satisfy the eye as well as the ear, luxury piano builders have designed some unusual piano cases whose exteriors are as spectacular as the inner construction of the instruments.

Luxury piano cases are customized for buyers who seek interesting piano motifs. There’s almost limitless possibilities for the bespoke art case and the customized piano bench, as well, using rare woods, gemstones, metals, paintings, mosaic, etc.

Given that a truly superior piano purchase is likely a once in a lifetime investment, it seems appropriate that such pianos should be customized for the client, personalized and made as unique as possible.

1. SCHIMMEL PEGASUS

Schimmel Pegasus
Schimmel Pegasus

This astounding piano was, at first, just a daring flight of fantasy on the part of the eccentric German designer Prof. Luigi Colani and Nikolaus W. Schimmel who inherited a pioneer spirit from his grandfather and father before him. They had a desire to free the grand piano from its traditional form which had hardly changed in the last 150 years. What resulted was a bold sculpture and their most expensive grand piano. Schimmel captured the imginations of the industry with this futuristic design, naming it Pegasus. Long the symbol of poetry (among other things) the winged horse offered inspiration to the artist, and in its modern iteration, breaks the mold of traditional grand piano design to offer that and more to pianists and lovers of art objects. The great musician Prince owned a Pegasus grand piano in his Toronto home.

The Pegasus costs in the range of $350,000.

2. BLUTHNER PH GRAND

Bluthner PH
Bluthner PH

Amazingly, Bluthner’s PH Grand Piano was designed in 1931 by Poul Hennigsen, the famous progressive Dane (often known as PH) who was a prolific designer, author and critic, between the world wars. He was quoted as saying “All political art is bad – all good art is political.” And indeed this uber-modern grand piano carries the cultural avant-garde aura of pre-war “das Kabarett” (the birth of Munich “cabaret” which sprang to life as a new and vital form of entertainment at the turn of the century then exploded into Berlin’s popular political and uncensored forum for artists fighting the moral hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie and performing satirical and variety and music hall extravaganzas into the 20’s and 30’s.)

His futuristic design and Bluthner’s excellence in German piano building (this is the manufacturer that built the piano for the airship Hindenburg) created an iconic instrument that holds its own to this day with clean Danish lines and German craftsmanship.

The price range of this amazing instrument is $155,000.

3. BLUTHNER LUCID IDYLLIC EXCELLENCE

Bluthner Lucid iDyllic
Bluthner Lucid iDyllic

The most dazzling vision of any piano dreamer: a fully transparent, crystal grand piano that appears to be floating: the Lucid iDyllic Excellence. This super luxury grand piano is transformed into an illusion of fantastic lightness and fragility by its transparency. The precise geometry of the architecture and the micro precision of the custom facets give the lucite the reflective attributes of crystal, making it jewel like and the stuff of dreams. Customized orders sometime add LED lights to further enhance the magical qualities of this fairytale art piece.

Prices for the 7’8” range from $255,000.00

4. BOSENDORFER OPUS 50.000

Bosendorfer Opus 50.000
Bosendorfer Opus 50.000

A collector’s item, the 50,000th Bösendorfer Grand, made on the occasion of the 185th anniversary of Bösendorfer, combines exquisite sound with the aesthetic beauty of neoclassical Vienna. Its incredible art case presents itself as perfect in form and elegance. Opus No. 50.000 is inspired by two instruments that were created for the 1867 World Exhibition in Paris, both of which were neo-classical in concept. One was designed by Theophil Hansen (this year is the 200th anniversary of his birth), the famous Danish architect who designed many major buildings in Vienna including the Parliament and the world famous concert hall, the Musikverein, with its extraordinary Goldene Saal and Brahms Saal. The other was designed by Anton Grosser who incorporated golden caryatids. Inspired by the golden caryatids that still adorn the concert hall of the Wiener Musikverein, two of these figures decorate the front of the piano. The caryatids were cast in bronze using the traditional lost wax technique, before they were gilded using 24 carat gold.

The Most Expensive and Extraordinary Pianos in the World

A vital stylistic element – the elegant and delicate use of gold – characterizes the quintessential design of this piano. Covered with gold leaf, the sublime golden interior of the piano is extended to the outer trim of the body of the instrument. Not boastful pomp but exquisite elegance. The Opus No. 50.000 is a neo-classical instrument for the 21st century – opulent, beautiful yet not out of place in any setting.

This unique piano is not only an enchanting instrument, but also an unforgettable piece of Vienna. This seven and a half foot Imperial model piano has 92 keys.

The price to replicate this collectable would be in the range of $750,000.

5. BOSENDORFER WOMAN IN GOLD

Bosendorfer Woman in Gold
Bosendorfer Woman in Gold

Gustav Klimt ( 1862-1918 ), one of the most famous Austrian painters and artists of the Viennese Art Nouveau, and Bösendorfer, both greatly represent Austrian culture, dedicated craftsmanship, as well as artistic expression. The Woman in Gold model is dedicated to the portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, and is the second of Bösendorfer’s Klimt Series In 1903, Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer, wealthy entrepreneur and connoisseur commissioned Gustav Klimt to paint a portrait of his wife. Klimt agreed and in the same year, traveled to Italy. The gold-decorated church mosaics inspired him to translate this rich artistic expression to contemporary art. Over the following years, Klimt produces more than 100 sketches and studies for the dedicated painting. He experiments with various techniques until he succeeds in applying extensive amounts of silver and gold leaf to the oil painting.

With sophisticated reprographic techniques the high resolution image of the original painting was replicated on the inside of the Bösendorfer Grand Piano lid. Because the Klimt painting had the skilled application of gold leaf, the Bösendorfer artisans additionally lavishly gilded the music desk and the leg tops to reflect the golden expression of Art Nouveau. The Klimt model is limited to 25 instruments and each Grand Piano carries an individually crafted brass plate. 

The approximate price range would be $170,000 to $185,000 depending on size.

6. C. BECHSTEIN SPHINX PIANO

C. Bechstein Sphinx
C. Bechstein Sphinx

The first model of the C. Bechstein Sphinx was built in 1886 as a special exhibition piece for C. Bechstein, London. A grand piano fit for a king, the rococo styling and the array of gilt adornments on the case are an homage to the great Empire style, a period dating back to the time of Napoléon Bonaparte.

Mythical sphinxes, figures from Greek mythology, are creatures with the head and torso of the graceful human female coupled with the lower body of the lion. They, half human, half animals, appear to stand guard over this valuable piano treasure.

Wings give this hybrid creature a sense of weightlessness. Greek, Egyptian and Roman motifs in the Empire style, such as lion’s feet, laurel or oak leaves, are presented in lavish form. The basic shape of the decorations to be applied are carved to scale in wood and then used as a mould for the bronze models, using a wax-melting process. The bronze castings are then cleaned and refinished before finally being fire gilded. The fire-gilded figurines are given their fantastic, elegant sheen by means of extensive hand polishing using polishing stones.

Bechstein’s unique research centre has revived old manufacturing techniques to hand-craft this one-of-a-kind grand piano. The reproduction of the historic, fire-gilded bronze figurines was overseen by a leading restorer and master wood carver of Dresden’s Frauenkirche and other famous buildings.

The Most Expensive and Extraordinary Pianos in the World

The acoustic body of the Sphinx grand piano, the musical heart inside this replica, is the C. Bechstein B 212 model, a professional grand piano of the master class series. Its touch and tone qualities fulfil the highest of requirements and enchant anyone that plays the instrument.

The 24 Karat gold and 1800 hours of production make this one of the most expensive pianos in the world with a price tag of $1,2 million dollars.

7. BOGANY BATPIANO

Bogany Piano
Bogany Piano

One of Europe’s leading pianists, Gergely Bogányi has designed a new piano sometimes called a ‘Batpiano’ with a tone to match its bat mobile looks according to those who’ve played it in Budapest.

Franz Liszt is bigger than Bat Man in Hungary so perhaps the country that produced the idolized 19th-century composer should also produce a startling upgrade to the instrument that made his name: the piano.

Gergely Bogányi, its Hungarian creator, has already spent 8,000 working hours on it in his workshop in Budapest. The sheer visual presence of the gleaming “Bogányi” belies the fact that the instrument is only a few centimetres shorter than a Steinway model D.

From behind the keyboard, the sound is sustained and airy, as the curved left leg – it has only two – directs the sound from under the piano, as well as from above, creating a spacey effect.

While the tone of the instrument, with its patented carbon composite soundboard, is rich, the action is incredibly light, recalling older models from the dawn of the piano, before manufacturers began to prioritize power to appeal to romantics such as Liszt. Bogányi explained that this smoothness is down to his use of the modifications first suggested, but never widely used, by the 19th-century Hungarian piano maker Lajos Beregszászy. He installed an agraffe system – a guide anchoring the strings – on the bridge.

Tamás Horváth, a sound engineer at Bartók Rádió, said “It has a unique tone, although this is characteristic of all great piano producer products, such as Steinway, or Bösendorfer – they all have a specific sound.”

Gerald Clayton, a four-time Grammy award winner who has had more playing time on the Bogányi than most, said “It feels like you are in a spaceship, like you are hovering above gravity. When you play a lot of notes, or you play a chord, the sensation is different. It’s super-clear.” Horváth agreed that the Bogányi had “a great sound for jazz pieces.”

Boganyi’s partner Francois Bandura is a wood craftsman and sculptor who channeled his artistic energies into a state-of-the-art luxury automotive interior decoration. The combination of his unique skills proved just the ticket to create the Boganyi piano, which has as its motto: “Sound Beyond Time.” The piano also has the capability of recording and automatic playing as an add-on.

Bogányi estimated the overall project has cost him over a million dollars over the past decade, mostly funded by Hungary.  The piano debuted in the United States in 2016 at the Newport Music Festival.

So what is the cost? “You will have to save up,” Bogányi said. “With these materials, it will definitely not be cheap.” The bare bones price of the piano is $375,000.

8. STEINWAY & SONS FIBONACCI

STEINWAY & SONS FIBONACCI
STEINWAY & SONS FIBONACCI

In celebration of Steinway’s production of its 600,000th piano, master artisan, Frank Pollaro using natural Macassar ebony, handcrafted a grand piano named “The Fibonacci.” The piano’s veneer depicts the iconic Fibonacci spiral made entirely from six individual logs of Macassar Ebony, creating a fluid design that represents the geometric harmony found in nature.

The lines of The Fibonacci spiral on the top of the piano’s lid are projected down to its unique curved base. Synthetic ivory inlay adds a breathtaking effect to the design, which also features unique patinated bronze details. In the end, over 6,000 hours of work over a four-year period were devoted to the creation of The Fibonacci, from design to finish. The superior craftsmanship of the piano’s exterior is matched by Steinway’s Hamburg interior.

According to Frank Pollaro, “Designing Steinway’s 600,000th piano was an honor and a challenge. To me, knowing that this piano would become part of history meant that it had to be more than just a beautiful design, but also needed to visually convey a deeper message.” Pollaro added, “As I considered the number 600,000, the Fibonacci spiral came to mind. The way in which it continues to grow but stay true to its form is very much like Steinway & Sons over these many years. Combining the universal languages of music and mathematics suddenly made perfect sense.”

The Fibonacci is destined to become an important piece of cultural history, taking its place of honor amongst previous milestone models that the company has created. The 100,000th was originally given to the United States White House and is now part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., while the 300,000 piano currently resides in the East Room of the White House.

The Most Expensive and Extraordinary Pianos in the World

In 2015, the internationally celebrated pianist, Lang Lang, had the honor of being the first artist to perform on the piano. The Fibonacci is a Model D piano, nine foot concert grand, priced at $2,400,000. (In addition to the original version, there are six exclusive, limited edition Model B pianos , 6’10.5″ inspired by the same design, at a lesser cost.)

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Due to a revolution in piano design by the best of the European piano makers, it is very difficult to narrow a list of the most extraordinary pianos down to eight. But given the diversity in design, price and location of the builders, we thought this was a fair sampling of what the world would appreciate. There are, of course, many more and we hope to visit them all in time.

A piano is shown with its lid open.

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About Euro Pianos Naples

Euro Pianos Naples is a respected distributor of European luxury musical instruments. The company’s origin dates back to 1965. Euro Pianos represents world renowned brands such as Sauter, and it has recently become a manufacturer of its own acrylic instrument – The Aire. Apart from being a successful retailer, consultant, and entrepreneur organization, Euro Pianos is actively engaged in the artistic and community life of Naples, Florida as an organizer and supporter of musical events throughout the years.

A gold top ten sign sitting on top of a white floor.

The Top 10 Best Piano Brands In The World

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The Top 10 Best Piano Brands In The World

What are the best piano brands?

There are a few piano builders who handcraft extraordinary instruments – grand pianos so well made that they have surpassed all others in performance and virtuosity. These best piano brands are lauded as Top Tier performance brands, infinitely higher quality than the mass-manufactured pianos with perhaps the more familiar sounding names. It stands to reason that these European pianos with artistic designs are proportionally more expensive, most coveted, and chosen by pianists who treasure excellence in both sound and art in a grand piano.

A true connoisseur demands the piano’s musical magic under the lid but also to be reflected in the exterior case. A piano should satisfy the eye as well as the ear.  European best grand piano builders work with designers to create exquisitely unusual piano cases both in traditional piano and in uber modern piano styles.

Custom pianos or luxury pianos feature interesting piano motifs, using rare woods, gemstones, metals, glass, intarsia, paintings, mirror, acrylic – an almost limitless array of bespoke art case pianos and benches.

Given that a truly spectacular piano purchase is likely to occur only once in a lifetime, it seems entirely appropriate to celebrate by personalizing the piano in some small discreet or entirely extravagant way!

We are going to look at the top 9 Best Piano Brands today (in alphabetical order):

1. C. Bechstein

Bechstein D 282 Concert Grand Piano
Bechstein D 282 Concert Grand Piano

With German origins dating back to 1853, the C. Bechstein pianos cannot be ignored.

Bechstein makes two quality levels, the lower- priced “B” series that say only “Bechstein” on the fallboard, while the higher – priced line says “C. Bechstein instead. The company says that both lines are made in Germany, though for cost-effectiveness some parts of “Bechstein” and components may originate in the Czech Republic.

The C. Bechstein cabinetry is much sleeker and more sophisticated than the B series. The C. Bechstein plates receive the royal hand-rubbed finish; while the other plates are conventionally sprayed. When the two lines are compared side by side, there are differences in their sound quality and piano actions. Although the B-series pianos are, generally speaking, very good instruments with a slightly warmer default tone quality, the C. Bechstein models clearly outperform this less expensive line.

Bechstein grands are impeccably made and are “orchestrally” voiced, a concept that the company says is related to the change of timbre at different velocities of touch.

Some unfamiliar of the brand customers might prematurely assume that the piano is voiced too bright for the American musical taste. However, many experts have had high praise for the wide dynamic range, tonal color, and responsive action of the redesigned 7’ 7” model C 234 grand as well as the new concert grand D 282. Voicing is a matter of overall piano design, and Bechstein artisans voice pianos at the factory to their tonal standard. We believe that it should not be significantly altered. Some customers may still prefer the slightly warmer sound of the B-series grands (as opposed to the brighter but more pure European sound), which are also about half the price of the C. Bechstein models.

Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.

Price Range of Bechstein Grand Piano Models: 

C-Series: $119,000 – $320,000

Bechstein D 282

Bechstein C 234

Bechstein B 212

Bechstein M/P 192

Bechstein L 167

B-Series:  $67,000 – $110,000

Bechstein B 228

Bechstein B 208

Bechstein B 190

Bechstein B 175

Bechstein B 160

2. Blüthner

Bluthner iDyllic Excellence
Bluthner iDyllic Excellence

Blüthner has been making pianos of the highest quality in Leipzig, in the eastern part of Germany, since 1853, and which has always remained under the management of the Blüthner family.

Blüthner builds approximately 100 verticals a year in four sizes, and 500 grands a year. Blüthner pianos have a very full sound that is warm, romantic, and lyrical, generally deeper and darker than some of their German counterparts. Sustain is good, and at a low level of volume, gives the tone a refined, delicate character. The action is light, but responsive. The pianos are built of superb materials, and are favorably priced compared to some of their competitors.

Also Blüthner pianos incorporate several unique technical features. With aliquot stringing, the notes in the highest treble section have four strings each instead of three. The effect, heard mainly in medium to forte playing, is similar to that of a duplex scale, adding tonal color to the treble and aiding the singing tone.

Blüthner ranks as one of the best piano brands not only for the quality of their pianos, but for their corporate philosophy.  Bluthner is into innovation and risk-taking with new and exciting designs and ideas. Bluthner modified a grand piano (reduced the weight) for use on the Hindenburg airship.  

Another example is their ambitious transparent piano. The Lucid piano is realized in reinforced Plexiglass exposing the beauty of what’s within.

Customizable with different veneers and iron frame coatings, the look of the Blüthner Lucid Elegance is born of the client’s desires and imagination. From ebony or exotic burl veneers on the side panels to rose gold or chrome finish of the frame the semi-transparent instrument can be uniquely designed. The addition of LED illumination of the inner and outer rim of the piano case will add a touch a magic and transform your interior into real-life Neverland.

This manufacturer with their roots in the 1800’s comes up with wonderful futuristic designs.

Bluthner designed by Poul Henningsen
Bluthner designed by Poul Henningsen

Warranty: Blüthner  — 10 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.

Price Range of gand piano models:  $83,000 to $300,000

Bluthner Model 1

Bluthner Model 2

Bluthner Model 4

Bluthner Model 6

Bluthner Model 10

Bluthner Model 11

3. Bösendorfer

The Top 10 Best Piano Brands In The World

In 1828 in Vienna, Austria, Ignaz Bösendorfer founded his luxury piano company and rose to fame when Franz Liszt endorsed his concert grand. Liszt had destroyed every other piano set before him and was unable to destroy this one no matter how hard he played it.

Bösendorfer was named the official piano maker to the Emperor of Austria in 1830.

The Imperial Grand model is over 9’6” in size and boasts a 97-key keyboard with 8 octaves, making it a special looking and special sounding concert grand on many stages even today. Several composers have taken advantage of the extra bass keys including Busoni, Bartok, Debussy and Ravel.

The Top 10 Best Piano Brands In The World

After Ignaz’s death, the company changed hands. This is similar to what happened the to Steinway piano company.  A financial institution owned it for a while until Bosendorfer was purchased by Yamaha, the Japanese piano maker, in 2006.  Yamaha maintains Bosendorfer as a totally separate business and has promised to make no changes to the location or methods of production.

Bösendorfer , another tier one boutique brand , is one of the best acoustic piano brands who manufactures fewer than 500 pianos a year, with close to half of them sold in the U.S.  They make a 52″ upright and eight models of grand piano, from 5′ 1″ to the 9′ 6″ Imperial Concert Grand. The 5′ 1″ grand, new in 2012 and unusually small for a Bösendorfer piano, is considered one of the best baby grand pianos.  It has the same keyboard as the 5′ 8″ grand, ensuring a great touch despite the instrument’s small size.

Due to a unique design of their rims and scale design, Bösendorfers tend to have a more delicate treble, and a bass that features the fundamental tone more than the higher harmonics.

Although the cliché  that “Bösendorfers are better for Mozart than Rachmaninoff” may be an exaggeration (as evidenced by the number of performing artists who successfully use the piano in concert for a wide variety of music), the piano’s mellow sound is certainly ideally suited for the classical repertoire and for chamber music.

Bosendorfer offers many choices in customization with rare woods, and many classical  and baroque designs (named after Strauss, Lizst, Chopin, etc.)  Its rich history and survival shine through in the quality and classiness of its instruments.

Warranty: 10 years, parts and labor, transferable to future owners within the warranty period.

Price Range of grand piano models:           $118,000 – $520,000

Bosendorfer 290

Bosendorfer 280

Bosendorfer 280VC

Bosendorfer 225

Bosendorfer 214

Bosendorfer 200

Bosendorfer 185

Bosendorfer 170

Bosendorfer 155

4. Grotrian

The Top 10 Best Piano Brands In The World

The Grotrian brand began as a partnership in 1853 between Friedrich Grotrian and C.F. Theodor Steinweg.  Theodor was the son of Heinrich Steinweg who in 1850 emigrated to the US and established the firm of Steinway & Sons. Theodor followed his father in 1865, selling his share of the Grotrian  partnership to Wilhelm Grotrian, son of Friedrich.  For generations it was a family run business until 2015 when a majority interest was sold to Parsons Music Group in Hong Kong Grotrian remains a Braunschweig, Germany product.   6th Generation Grotrian family members are still involved in management.

Grotrian pianos are known for their treble’s extraordinary sustaining characteristics, and have a pronounced sound of attack which is subtle and light. The tenor is darker than many other pianos, with a powerful bass. Grotrian pianos are endorsed and appreciated by many famous pianists.

The Top 10 Best Piano Brands In The World

The Grotrian Duo is a famous innovation of two grand pianos joined together so they can be played as one instrument. (They come apart for moving).

Warranty: 5 Years parts and labor, transferable to future owners

Price Range of Grand Piano Models: $67,000 to $165,000

Concert Royal

Concert

Charis

Cabinet

Chambre

Studio192/208

5. Sauter

The Top 10 Best Piano Brands In The World

Six generations of Sauters have owned the Sauter piano firm since 1819. The company is  currently run by Ulrich Sauter in Spaichingen, Germany. Structural and acoustical parts are made of high-quality woods including the famed Val di Fiemme soundboards. Producing approximately 800 verticals and 120 grand pianos each year, Sauter factory is situated at the foot of the Alps.

Sauter Pure
Sauter Pure

Sauter pianos are famous for the variety of finishes and styles in which they are available, many with intricate detail and inlay work. Customizing such rare woods as yew, burl walnut, pyramid mahogany, and genuine ebony in the cabinets, as well as special engravings, are available for any customer’s desire. Sauter’s M Line of vertical pianos features exclusive cabinet detailing and built-in features such as a hygrometer to measure relative humidity. This year Sauter celebrates a 20 year relationship with  renowned European designer Peter Maly, whose designs have resulted in several prestigious awards for the Sauter company.

Sauter Ambiente is a 7′ 6″ grand that is asymmetrically curved on both the bass and treble sides.

Sauter Ambiente
Sauter Ambiente

Some extremely unusual models have been created. One was the 7′ 3″ model 220 has colored lines painted on the soundboard and white inlays on the tops of the dampers as guides for musicians performing music for “prepared piano,” ultramodern music requiring the insertion of foreign objects between the strings, or the plucking or striking of strings directly by the performer.

Sauter pianos are high-quality instruments with a lush, full, singing tone, closer to an “American” sound than most other European pianos.
Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.

Price Range of Grand Piano Models: $95,000 to $230,000

Concert 275

Omega 220

Delta 185

Noblesse 160/185

Alpha 160

Queen Anne 160

Chippendale 160/185

Ambiente

Vivace

6. Shigeru Kawai

The Top 10 Best Piano Brands In The World

When one thinks of luxury grand pianos, European brand names usually jump to mind.  But the Japanese company Kawai (founded in 1927) decided to spin off a bespoke piano branch to build the finest quality grand piano money could buy.  Shigeru Kawai is the dream product of Shigeru, the son of company founder, Koichi Kawai.  Fewer than 300 limited-edition pianos are handmade each year at a separate special facility where Kawai’s EX concert grands and six SK models of grands are built

Using only high-grade woods, the latest technology and traditional craftsmanship, Kawai has succeeded in being noticed for all the right reasons with their Shigeru pianos. Each buyer of a Shigeru Kawai receives a visit within the first year by a Kawai master technician from Japan assuring top quality service and proper set up. These pianos, on the market since 2000, are ranked among the world’s finest instruments, and are frequently used in international piano competitions.

Having achieved prominence among educators and prestigious venues around the globe, Shigeru pianos have been selected by many of the leading musical institutions and conservatories all over the world.

Warranty: 10 years, parts and labor, transferable to future owners within warranty period.

Price Range of Grand Piano Models:      $64,000 – $239,000

SK-EX Concert Grand

SK-7 Semi-Concert Grand

SK-6 Orchestra Grand

SK -5 Chamber Grand

SK-3 Conservatory Grand

SK-2 Classic Salon Grand

7. Steinway & Sons (Hamburg)

The Top 10 Best Piano Brands In The World

Heinrich Engelhardt Steinweg, from Seesen, Germany, emigrated with his family to the United States in 1850, and established Steinway & Sons in 1853.  Responsible for patenting revolutionary changes to the grand piano, Steinway’s ideas would eventually be adopted or imitated by others. Some of these patents created a stronger frame, a richer sound, and a more sensitive action. By the 1880s, the Steinway piano was already in most ways the modern piano we have today, and in the next generation the standards set by the founder were strictly followed.

The underlying excellence of the Steinway musical designs and the integrity of the construction process are the hallmarks of the Steinway piano. Steinway pianos at their best have the quintessential American piano sound: a powerful bass, a resonant midrange, and a treble with tonal color. The construction process creates a very durable and rigid framework that also contributes to the power of its sound. Although the quality of Steinway grands fluctuates because of the many changes of the many ownership, Steinway has managed to hold on to market share.

Steinway grand pianos, and the Steinway B (the favorite of many technicians) cannot be ignored when discussing the best piano builders, although the uneven quality of existing product put it at the low end of our list of high-end instruments. Steinway pianos require committed dealers with technical resources to manage the uneven quality of the product. That being said, when a dealer has properly done his work, Steinway pianos can be absolutely excellent.

The 6′ 10½” Steinway model B is the favorite of many piano technicians. It is a popular choice for the serious pianist, recording or teaching studio, or small recital hall. The 8′ 11¾” model D, the concert grand, is the flagship of the Steinway line and the piano of choice for the majority of concert pianist. Steinway company has done an incredible job over the past decades signing up pianists to their roster. A Steinway artist is required to play on a Steinway grand piano during a performance (and also buy a Steinway piano), therefore many institutions don’t have a choice but to buy at least one Steinway grand for stage.

The Top 10 Best Piano Brands In The World

Warranty: 5 year, parts and labor, to original purchaser

Price Range of Grand Piano Models:                    $66,000 –  $215,000

Model D

Model B

Model O

Model A

Model M

Model S

8. Steingraeber & Söhne

The Top 10 Best Piano Brands In The World

We can’t talk about the best piano makers without highlighting one of the world’s best kept secrets, a company founded in 1852 by Eduard Steingraeber  in the old part of Bayreuth, Germany (famous for the annual Wagner festival). An innovative designer, Eduard exhibited his first cast iron piano frame at the Paris world exhibition in 1867.  From 1872 on, his company was commissioned for pianos for Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner, and opened Bayreuth’s first concert hall in 1873.

Steingraeeber is one of the smaller handmade piano builders in the world, making fewer than 80 grands per year for the top end of the market.  Today the sixth generation of Steingraebers hand make their outstanding instruments in the traditional ways at a factory they’ve occupied since 1872.

Their three sizes of vertical pianos are also excellent, and their grands come in five sizes from 5’7” to 8’11” models.  The smallest one, model A-170 has an unusually wide tail which accommodates a larger soundboard area and longer bass strings than usual for a baby grand.

Steingraeber have a reputation for innovative technical improvements to the piano, introducing many unique features under the lid as well as a introducing the world’s lightest lid made of modern aircraft material with a honeycomb interior, nearly 50% lighter than conventional piano lids.  They made a piano for the physically handicapped (who lack use of their legs,)  as well as working with furniture designers for commissioned projects, and consulting with Pearl River in China toward the end of a new line of premium pianos.

Steingraeber pianos have a unique sound, and an extensive tonal palette with a mix of clarity and warmth.

Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor, transferable to future owners within the warranty period.

Price Range of Grand Piano Models:           $102,000 – $ 270,000

Concert Grand E-272

Semi-concert Grand D-232

Chamber Concert Grand C-212

Salon Grand B-192

Salon Grand A-170

9. YAMAHA

The Top 10 Best Piano Brands In The World

We are inclined to include a special group of Yamaha grand pianos in this compilation because of their popularity and acclaim by professional artists. The new CF Series, one of two Yamaha Premium Collection lines, comprises the 9′ model CFX (replacing model CFIIIS), and the 6′ 3″ model CF4 and 7′ model CF6 . The pianos in this collection are made in a separate factory to much higher standards and with some different materials than Yamaha’s economy lines,: e.g., maple and mahogany in the rim, which is made more rigid, for greater tonal power,; higher-grade soundboards, a treble “bell” (as in the larger Steinways) to enhance treble tone; German strings, and hammer and scaling changes, for a more mellow tone. The result is an instrument capable of greater dynamic range, tonal color, and sustain than the regular Yamahas.

The new CF-series pianos have a thicker rim and more substantial structure than their predecessors. The models CF4 and CF6 have an open pinblock design reminiscent of some European pianos, which gives the tuner slightly greater control over the tuning pins. Yamaha says that the CF series represents 19 years of research and development by its craftsmen, designers, and engineers. The Yamaha concert grand is endorsed and used by a number of notable musicians, including Olga Kern, Michael Tilson Thomas, Chick Corea, and Elton John.

Warranty: Yamaha — 10 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.

Price Range of Grand Piano Models:           $105,000  – $260,000

DCFEX3PRO

CFX

CF6

CF4

ABOUT EURO PIANOS NAPLES

Euro Pianos Naples is a respected distributor of European luxury musical instruments. The company’s origin dates back to 1965. Euro Pianos represents world renowned brands such as Sauter, and it has recently become a manufacturer of its own acrylic instrument – The Aire. Apart from being a successful retailer, consultant, and entrepreneur organization, Euro Pianos is actively engaged in the artistic and community life of Naples, Florida as an organizer and supporter of musical events throughout the years.

A piano that is sitting on top of a table.

The Top 10 Best Upright Pianos In The World

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Upright pianos have stood in the shadows of the grands for many decades, but we think it’s time to take another look. Uprights date back to 1805 and were sometimes called “Cottage” pianos because they took up less floor space. Lower production costs and a smaller footprint propelled the upright piano into most homes by the end of the 1800’s. By the beginning of the 1900’s, the vertical piano became the space-saving alternative to the grand piano. The soundboard and plane of the strings of a vertical piano run vertically, perpendicular to the keyboard, from 36” to 60”, thus taking up less floor space than the horizontal grand piano.

There are four types of Vertical pianos:

Spinets are the smallest (approx. 38” tall and 58” wide);

Consoles, slightly taller than spinets (up to 43”) and made with direct action for better sound;

Studio, taller still, up to 48” are used in schools and music studios

Upright (50” to 60” tall , originally “the Parlor” piano.

The action (hammer and damper mechanism) of the upright pianos differs from the grand-piano action mainly in that upright action is returned to a resting position by means of springs rather than by gravity alone, as in a grand. This, in part, accounts for the characteristic “touch” of uprights, which is distinct from that of grands. The chief advantage of upright pianos lie in their compactness; they are instruments for the home, casual commercial venues (like small restaurants and bars) and schools–not for the formal concert stage.  But that’s not to say one has to give up concert performance quality.

We are in the middle of a piano revolution, and because of this renaissance in upright pianos in recent years, both in design values and technical innovations, it is useful to take a look at the BEST PIANO BRANDS.  You will see that the best uprights are now hand made for and with concert quality components. Even practice pianos for professionals need to be exemplary, and with the uprights available today, good brands offer sound quality that is comparable to  smaller grands, as well as eye appealing, beautiful upright instruments that home designers and art collectors can embrace.

It stands to reason that most of the same Top Brand piano builders who handcraft grand pianos now also produce infinitely higher quality uprights. 

We are going to look at the top 10 Best Upright Piano Brands today (alphabetical order):

1. Bechstein Pianos

C. Bechstein Concert 8

C. Bechstein Concert 8

If you wanted to buy an upright piano that epitomized the top ten, you couldn’t go wrong  with  C. Bechstein’s Concert 8.  Its 131 cm (51 ½ “) height provides room for a remarkable acoustic assembly similar to that of their C. Bechstein grands in the Masterpiece class. Among the features found in both the Concert 8 model and their grands are the sophisticated dynamics of a graduated and subtly colorful timbre, with optimized sound development, even further improved recently.  Such outstanding characteristics explain why several revered musical artists, including Simon & Garfunkel, Sir Simon Rattle and the Beatles, made this piano their favored working instrument. The C. Bechstein Concert 8 lays claim to the ‘king of uprights’. This might not be the best upright piano for beginners because of a hefty price tag.

C. Bechstein  Elegance 124

C. Bechstein  Elegance 124

But Bechstein also produces the slightly smaller Elegance 124 cm (48.8”)  upright. Another professional level instrument, it has the distinctive Bechstein tone; warm, hollow and delicate, sings out beautifully on this piano.  Both models have top of the line Renner action and offer great control. It also has a lower price tag, but is favored by many for its tone.

With German origins dating back to 1853, the C. Bechstein pianos, both grands and verticals are formidable, of the highest reputation in Europe and the world.

Bechstein pianos are impeccably made and are “orchestrally” voiced, a concept that the company says is related to the change of timbre at different velocities of touch.

Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.

Price Range:

Elegance 124: $42,400 – $47,000

Concert 8 : $70,000 -$78,000

2. Blüthner Pianos

Model S

Model S

Blüthner builds approximately 100 verticals a year in four sizes, with a very full sound that is warm, romantic, and lyrical, generally deeper and darker than some of their German counterparts.   The pianos are built of superb materials, hand made and are favorably priced compared to some of their competitors.

While the dimensions of a standard full-sized upright piano have long been set across the musical world, Blüthner, always the innovator, has lengthened the height, width, and depth of the Model S instrument in a beautifully proportioned design, for a sound only comparable to the experience of a Blüthner grand piano.  145.6 cm (57 ½”) Model S is best suited to a location where a large grand piano sound is required without requiring a grand piano floor-space: it is the crowning achievement of the Blüthner upright piano collection.

Model B

Model B

The Blüthner Model B upright while being smaller and less expensive than its S big brother, nevertheless is still in the running as a professional class upright with that remarkable rich tonal color and dynamic range that put Bluthner on the map.

Warranty: 10 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.

Price Range:

Model S $63,600 – $85,700

Model B $47,700 – $63,900

3. Bösendorfer Pianos

Grand Upright 130

Grand Upright 130

When Bösendorfer made an upright, they made only one, and it’s a doozy!  The Bösendorfer 130 upright piano surprises with subtle nuances and the powerful bass of a grand piano. Bösendorfer is renowned for their refined craftsmanship and sound philosophy, and it was transferred into upright form in this instrument. The precise action offers freedom in articulation and play with maximum controllability. The grand sound of this upright shouldn’t be a surprise since the very Bösendorfer artisans who build their Imperial Concert Grands design have crafted the Bösendorfer Grand Upright 130, with nearly two centuries of sound crafting experience.

Warranty: 10 years, parts and labor, transferable to future owners within the warranty period.

Price Range:

Grand Upright 130 : $74,000 – $100,000

(choice of ebony, white or various rare woods)

4. AUGUST FORSTER Pianos

AUGUST FORSTER  134K

AUGUST FORSTER  134K

Even to those who have seen pianos in all shapes and sizes this is an instrument that is of large proportions, 53” x 60” x 24” and likely not for use in a small apartment.

The 134K is, however, a special instrument and is not just big for effect. This piano plays like a grand piano with an action that responds with precision and tremendous effect. The tonal qualities are superb. There is nothing run-of-the-mill about this piano and anyone wanting something distinctive need look no further. Playing an upright piano means that one has the music score lower and closer than if one were seated at a grand piano. Not here. The music desk is ingeniously designed to be adjustable both in angle and distance from the player; it is also much higher that one would normally expect.

The  53″ model 134K anniversary upright, intended for pianists who don’t have space for a grand, has such grand-piano–like features as a full sostenuto; the music desk; and black keys of real ebony.

Most of the same quality of materials and workmanship that go into the Förster grands also apply to the verticals. The cabinet of the vertical is of exceptional width, with extra-thick side panels of solid-core stock. Counter bridges are used on the outside of the soundboard to increase its mass. The verticals have a full set of agraffes, and all the hardware and handmade wood parts are of elegant quality.   The verticals possess the same warm, rich, deep bass tone as the grands.

Model 125G

Model 125G

If the 134K is a Forester super star, their Model 125G is the darling of the professional upright world.  Considerably less expense, and smaller (46”) it nonetheless carries the same hand made technical superiority of its big brother.  A best-selling upright, Forester has sold this piano as a suitable substitute for a baby grand.  It comes in choices of ebony, white and many wood cases, and this, with medallion.

Warranty: 5 Years, parts and labor, to original purchaser

Price Range:

Model 134K – $40,900 (polished ebony only)

Model 125G – $27,600 – $28,500 (choice of woods, ebony or white)

Inquire about August Forster Pianos

5. Grotrian Pianos

Concertino

Concertino

The Concertino is a true concert upright. Designed with substantial dimensions in every respect, the case consists of high-quality woods, the top panel carries an elegant inlaid oval, the star-shaped back-frame is made of two strong layers, the bass is full and rich, and the tone in the treble lingers with a large dynamic range. The touch and repetition have been reworked recently to give an even more full and sensitive response. This piano stands alongside the very best but its price is lower than many competitors

Grotrian pianos are known for their treble’s extraordinary sustaining characteristics, and have a pronounced sound of attack which is subtle and light. The tenor is darker than many other pianos, with a powerful bass.  This excellent brand is known for their unique and expressive sound.  They have been endorsed and appreciated by many famous pianists.

Classic 124

Classic 124

The Classic 124 is among the finest upright pianos. The tone is absolutely clear and refined, with a truly sculptural quality. The 124 is one of the most in-demand models produced by Grotrian-Steinweg, because an upright piano of this size already delivers excellent acoustics and a comparably large action. And yet this instrument is exceptionally versatile. The touch gives the finest response. You can control this piano, creating with dynamism and a real character in tone.

Many institutions have used the Grotrian-Steinweg Classic 124 for decades. You may imagine, therefore, how long the piano will last in private use: this is a dream upright piano for a lifetime.

Throughout the piano world, the Classic 124 model is well known for its strengths and stands as a benchmark for upright pianos in the industry, 100% made in Braunschweig, Germany.

Warranty: 5 Years parts and labor, transferable to future owners

Price Range:

Concertino $43,300 (ebony and walnut choices)

Classic Model: $34,400 – $37,100 (ebony, walnut and white choices)

6. Sauter Pianos

130 Master Class

130 Master Class

Sauter produces about 800 Uprights per year (and 120 Grands) in their German factory.

The larger verticals use an action, designed and patented by Sauter, that contains an auxiliary jack spring to aid in faster repetition. Sauter calls this the R2 Double Escapement action. The added tongue-shaped spring on the jack keeps it against the butt of the hammer much like gravity does on a grand piano. Repetition is nearly instantaneous, but doesn’t put any “lost motion” in the key. This makes Sauter uprights a great choice among professionals.

We heard a piano salesman say the other day, “Of those brands that build uprights, the Sauter 130 Masterclass is my favorite for quality of sound and performance. I’ve played some of the best uprights in the market, but to me they didn’t have the depth of the Sauter 130 which is warm and lush and very bell-like.”

In addition, the Sauter M-line uses Val di Fiemme spruce (of Stradivarius fame) for its sounding boards.   The Sauter 130 Master Class instrument rates high in every comparison.  Its 51” size makes it a contender in any upright competition.

In technical terms, the uprights in the Master Class line are among the very best pianos built. They are ideal for playing demanding pieces and achieving concert-quality sound. Unique is the sostenuto pedal, which is usually only found on grand pianos. This is how these Sauter uprights achieve the tone of a grand piano.

122 Master Class

122 Master Class

The 122 Master Class is the smaller version of the Master line instruments at 48” but with the same enormous attributes. The differences between standard Sauter 122’s & 130’s and their Masterclass counterparts are that the Masterclass pianos have a full sostenuto, and there are other cabinet and accessory features  and detailing specific to the Masterclass (such as a built in Hygrometer to measure relative humidity) that are not available on the standard models. These (standard 48” Sauter 122’s) are structurally identical otherwise. Allegedly, Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, (who could afford whatever he wanted) purchased a standard Sauter 122 after seriously considering the Sauter 130 Master Class, Bosendorfer 130, Steinway K, Steingraeber 130, Schimmel K132, Bluthner B,  Bechstein Concert 8, and Grotrian Concertino.

Part of the Sauter 122 Standard’s success is owed to the famous European designer, Peter Maly who exclusively designed cabinets for Sauter. The charm of the Maly designs put these 122’s in competition with the Master Class models.

Some recent designs include the Vitrea, after the Latin word for glass, with a veneer of greenish glass covering the front of the cabinet; and Ambiente,  Concent. Sauter has won several prestigious design awards for its Peter Maly–designed pianos. The white upright pianos in particular seem to be a favorite as sophisticated additions to many modern homes and apartments.

Sauter Pure
Sauter Pure
Sauter Vitrea
Sauter Vitrea

Sauter pianos are high-quality instruments with a lush, full, singing tone, closer to an “American” sound than most other European pianos.

Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.

Price Range:

51” 130 Masterclass  $53,000 (ebony)

48” 122 Masterclass $47,000 (ebony)

Inquire about Sauter Pianos

7. Schimmel Pianos

Model K132

Model K132

One of Europe’s most prolific piano makers, Schimmel makes about 2,500 verticals and 500 grands per year. They interpret tradition with a contemporary slant as illustrated by the K 132 Tradition which is inimitable in its combination of the traditions of German artisan piano manufacture, innovative construction and contemporary design. Schimmel’s philosophy for these uprights was to design them to be as much like the grands as possible. The treble scales, in fact, are exactly the same as in the Konzert grands. (their top line).  All uprights have adjustable gliders (to adjust to unevenness in the floor) and come with a matching adjustable bench.

Schimmel has been a pioneer in the use of computer-aided design and manufacturing. The company has used its Computer Assisted Piano Engineering (CAPE) software to research, design, and implement virtually every aspect of making a piano, from keyboard layout and action geometry to soundboard acoustics and scale design. According to Schimmel, the combination of CNC machinery and handcraftsmanship leads to better results than handwork alone

The 52″ model K132, which features a grand-shaped soundboard, has a very big sound; listening to it, one might think one was in the presence of a medium-size grand.

Model K125

Model K125

At a smaller size (49”) and slightly reduced price, the Schimmel 125 is still a lot of top line upright piano, reflecting all the expertise and high quality of the K132.

Schimmel is an interesting company that makes extraordinary pianos. Almost every concert quality brand offers a classic ebony black upright piano, but like many others, Shimmel does custom work and special edition pianos as well as modern decorative instruments, including a white upright piano which are in so much demand.

K132 Wilhelmina in art case
K132 Wilhelmina in art case

Warranty: 10 years, parts and labor, transferable to future owners within warranty period.

Price Range:

K132 52” – $43,500 – $47,600 (ebony, white, mahogany)

K125 49” – $38,000 – $42,200 (ebony, white, mahogany)

Inquire about Schimmel Pianos

8. Steinway & Sons Pianos

Model K52

Model K52

Steinway makes only three verticals, the top being a K52 upright, a  52″ model is  an institutional cabinet for school use or less furniture-conscious home use. The middle pedal operates a sostenuto mechanism. All Steinway verticals use a solid spruce soundboard, have no particleboard, and in many other ways are similar in design, materials, and quality of workmanship to Steinway grands.

Technicians have lauded the performance of Steinway verticals, but complained that they were difficult pianos to tune and unexpectedly jumped out of tune. In recent years, Steinway has made small design changes to alleviate this problem. The pianos are now mechanically more normal stable, but an excess of false beats (tonal irregularities) still make the pianos at times difficult to tune.

The underlying excellence of the Steinway musical designs and the integrity of the construction process are the hallmarks of the iconic Steinway piano. Steinway pianos at their best have the quintessential American piano sound: a powerful bass, a resonant midrange, and a treble with tonal color.

Warranty: 5 year, parts and labor, to original purchaser

Price Ranges:

$37,600 – $43,900  (ebony, mahogany, walnut)

9. Steingraeber & Söhne Pianos

Model 130

Model 130

This prestigious old  German company hand-makes less than 80 uprights per year at a factory they’ve occupied since 1872. Steingraeber’s most successful upright, Model 130, purports to be the equivalent of buying a baby grand.  Unique to the market, it has the choice of two touches by different actions:

– 130 T PS (Professional Studio) with accelerated repetition and sostenuto pedal
– 130 T SFM (Steingraeber-Ferro-Magnet-action) with a repetition point at 1-2 mm (=8-9 mm key depth like grand pianos)

This model was awarded the ‘world’s best’ prize for uprights in Paris. It is often chosen by music conservatories over factory-produced, studio grands, because it is technically their equal and has superior flexibility of sound.

There are options available for 3rd pedal sostenuto, chamber music dampers, veneers and colors and boutique models.

The opinion of one pianist was that if one wanted an upright somewhere in-between the Bechstein and Sauter, was that Steingraeber offered a very clean approach to sound, with more color and depth than the Bechstein, but not as warm or bell-like as Sauter.  It has a lightning quick action for an upright.

Steingraeber & Söhne 122

Model 122 is ideal for home concerts, study and serious music-making.  This model has been used on the stage of the Bayreuth Festival Theater for decades.  A particularly special feature is its auxiliary soundboard, providing for color enrichment and projection in the middle register.  Upright piano 122 T Comes with the classic Steingraeber action, and has option for colors, veneers and Art Deco available.

An interesting option on the vertical models is their “twist and change” panels: two-sided top and bottom panels, one side finished in polished ebony, the other in a two-toned combination of a wood veneer and ebony. The panels can be reversed as desired by the piano owner to match room décor, or just for a change of scenery.

Steingraeber pianos have a unique sound, and an extensive tonal palette with a mix of clarity and warmth.

Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor, transferable to future owners within the warranty period.

Price range:

130T – $55,800 – $85,000 (choices of special veneers et al)

122T – $44,000 – $74,000  (choices of special veneers et al)

10. YAMAHA Pianos

Model SU7

Model SU7

The flagship of Yamaha’s Japanese upright models, the SU7 is handcrafted using only the finest materials, featuring a unique keyboard with the longest keysticks in Yamaha’s upright series. This not only provides optimum sensitive dynamic control but allows for the maximum possible variation in tonal shading and colour. The hammers used are to the same specification as the renowned CFX concert grand, and high-quality agraffes help to offer superior sound and clarity. The back grid features a six-post design, giving additional depth and focus to the tone, as well as contributing to overall stability. The lever-operated muffler allows for quieter practice, whilst the standard sostenuto pedal lets the player rehearse grand piano damping technique.

A simple, classic cabinet in polished ebony, with concealed fall-hinges and exquisite polished mahogany interior finishing, has a three position, two-piece top lid.

Models U3 and U1

Models U3 and U1

It is sometimes said that if you’re going to buy a Yamaha upright, buy the best you can afford.  But sometimes it’s confusing to know the differences between uprights when the choices are myriad.  So what’s the difference, for example, between a U3 and a U1 upright?

The main difference is that the U3 is 10cm taller and a little bit deeper (measuring from front to back). This gives it 3 main advantages: it can house longer strings which result in a warmer, richer sound. Also the larger cabinet of the Yamaha U3 houses a larger soundboard which is good for producing a richer, more resonant tone, and the extra space created inside the Yamaha U3 cabinet allows it to house longer keys and a taller action which gives it a touch very close to that of a grand piano.

A U1 can feel a little bit “shallow” to touch compared with the deeper, smoother, more comfortably balanced touch of the Yamaha U3. Technicians and pianists alike comment on the better level of control you can achieve with the U3 action compared with the U1. Other than that, they are equal. The build quality and component quality is equally good. The U1 is not a small piano so it does still have a good, rich tone, just not quite as rich as the U3. So if your budget will stretch, the Yamaha U3 is recommended.

The job of the soundboard is to amplify the vibrations from the strings and so each different soundboard gives each piano it’s own unique “voice”.

Warranty: Yamaha — 10 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.

Price Range:

SU7 – $40,000 approx.

U1- $12,000 approx.

U3 – $15,000 approx.

A piano is shown with its lid open.

Exciting New Baby Grand!

Check out the hottest acrylic baby grand piano on the market. View details and pricing.

ABOUT EURO PIANOS NAPLES

Euro Pianos Naples is a respected distributor of European luxury musical instruments. The company’s origin dates back to 1965. Euro Pianos represents world renowned brands such as Sauter, and it has recently become a manufacturer of its own acrylic instrument – The Aire. Apart from being a successful retailer, consultant, and entrepreneur organization, Euro Pianos is actively engaged in the artistic and community life of Naples, Florida as an organizer and supporter of musical events throughout the years.

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

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To have a baby grand piano in your home is the goal of most people who play or want their children to learn to play. Like art and literature-music–and the means to play it, are the hallmarks of a cultured life well lived.

Baby grand piano prices may certainly be a consideration for many buyers, and a few people will be looking for nothing more than a cheap baby grand piano, regardless of quality. There are people who see a Steinway baby grand piano price and think they can’t afford a piano at all, but the truth is, piano prices can be as diverse as anything else.

Other more knowledgeable shoppers might be predisposed to a particular baby grand piano brand , and that will be their determining factor. The brand might be a family tradition or perhaps they got a recommendation from a trusted professional or musician for a particular brand. But there are many people who are not limited by price or brand preference, and are undecided how to find the best baby grand for their needs.

Everyone is different and has individual reasons for doing things. We wanted to provide some categories that might be useful and inspire some thought for customers with special interests or who have just a kernel of a yearning for a particular type of piano, but not sure why. It could be that you had a grandparent with a Wurlitzer baby grand piano, the oldest name in pianos, and you wanted to see if they are popular; or perhaps you took piano lessons as a child on a Chickering baby grand piano or a Brambach baby grand piano, and didn’t know that these instruments are no longer being made and only found as in the Used Pianos stores as antiques today. So how to proceed? Most people are interested in new pianos and like to be up to date on the standards of the industry which has had a renaissance of design and performance improvements in the last few years. So we thought we’d offer some categories of the top fifteen baby grand pianos that you might consider.

Aire™ Acrylic Piano Designer Baby Grand Piano

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

It might be immodest to recommend our own piano at the top of the list, but this acrylic baby grand has earned its rightful place. Euro Pianos has made its reputation since 1965 in selling high end pianos, so it was only natural that we’d have our ear to the ground on what people are seeking in today’s world.

Transparent pianos as a rule carry six figure price tags. They are often out of price reach for customers whose contemporary homes beg for the modern acrylic piano to complement their décor. Blüthner is famous for their magnificent Lucid pianos but they run about $125,000 and up. (see below). Schimmel has equally gorgeous Fully Transparent pianos which are even costlier.

We have had enough people begging for an economy version of a crystal piano that the principal of Euro Pianos, Sunny Reuter, made a decision to design one herself to fill the need.

The 5’2″ polished-wood piano case can be ordered in black, white, mahogany and walnut colors, (and customized) and every Aire™ model has beautiful acrylic legs, lid, lyre, key cover and music stand. The crystal elements make the piano look as if it’s floating on air, thus the name designated for this little beauty.

Price Range: $50K

Bluthner Idyllic Excellence Luxury Designer Piano

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

Blüthner calls this 5’1″ Model 11 Baby Grand “Perfection in a Petite Package.” This instrument is designed to give concert-like performance in a size that will fit in nearly any home or studio. What sets this piano apart is the concentrated effort Blüthner made to design a baby grand that would compare in performance to their own extraordinary grands. The proven Blüthner soundboard design has been exploited to maximize the resonance and fullness of tone to recreate the quality of the Blüthner grand pianos. Price Range: $80K

It’s difficult to talk about just one Blüthner piano because of this company great design flair and their excellent quality. They also have two 5’1″ Lucid-Edition baby grands, the Blüthner Elegance Piano and the Blüthner Idyllic Excellence Piano which run in the price range of $125K and $144K respectively.

Story & Clark “The Manhattan” Affordable Designer Piano

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

Story & Clark knew what they were doing when they designed a flirty tribute to the art deco era whose designs have become iconic and still in demand all over the world. It high gloss ebony finish is enhanced with accents of Birdseye Maple, and even the lid stand has the unmistakable art deco flair. At four feet eleven inches, this baby grand can fit almost anywhere. It would be just as at home in a penthouse New York apartment, as a pied a terre in Paris. Story & Clark pianos can be equipped with QRS PNOmation player system. These factory-installed systems arae fully concealed, with no solenoid-rail cover visible, (requiring no cutting of the legs to fit the entire 88-note system, and allows full use of the original pedals and trapwork). All this makes the S500 an economical choice as well as a superstylish one, as it runs about $25K all included.

Mason & Hamlin Model B American Made

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

If you like to buy all American, here’s an excellent piano builder who’s been around the USA since 1854. who decided to design grand piano performance into a baby grand case. The Model B was designed for those who want the big Mason & Hamlin sound in a small package. At 5’4″, the Mason & Hamlin Model B qualifies as a “Baby Grand”, but the sound and presence are anything but small. The tone of Mason & Hamlin pianos is typically American – lush, singing, and powerful, not unlike the Steinway in basic character, but with an even more powerful bass and a clearer treble. One listen will tell you that the B has all the legendary Mason & Hamlin characteristics in a size that just happens to fit anywhere. There’s a choice of various exotic wood finishes or ebony.

Price Range: $62K.

C.Bechstein Model L167 German Made

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

It’s hard to go wrong with a German-made piano. They have the benefit of centuries of experience and master craftsmanship.

The C.Bechstein L167 could be considered one of the best baby grand piano ever built. Despite its relatively small size, (5′ 6″) this professional baby grand piano can express brilliantly. The C.Bechstein L167 boasts all the features of the larger models, including a duplex scale, as well as a pleasant touch and an amazing sound resonance, hand-made in Germany

The C.Bechstein L167 baby grand descends from the Model L (short for Lilliput) built before World War II, but due to a dedication to better manufacturing concepts, the instruments developed by C.Bechstein in recent years have surpassed even the excellence of their golden age, years before. As the C.Bechstein R&D department continuously optimizes the materials and production processes, each C.Bechstein piano has its own sound personality. The magic is not chance, but the result of more than 160 years of experience in building high-end uprights and grands.

Price Range: $120K

Sauter Model Alpha 160 German Made

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

Six generations of Sauters have given the world beautiful high-quality instruments with a lush, full, singing tone, closer to an “American” sound than most other European pianos.

This little grand piano is small and compact, (5’3″) yet rich in sound, with surprising volume. Due to the length of its bass strings, it carries conviction with its ample sound and rich fundamental tone.

When speaking of quality German pianos, the subject of materials and hand crafted excellence must be addressed, as they are masters. This stable construction with solid beech beams and multilayered, glued frame is a hallmark of the Alpha 160. The sound board is made of mountain spruce. Selected felts are used for the hammer heads.

Sauter is one of our favorites, not only because of their craftsmanship, but also in the diverse designs and innovative ideas most notably their Peter Maly designed instruments-some of the best in the business, in both uprights and grands.

Price Range: $95K

Steingraeber & Sohne A170 German Made

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

Steingraeber is one of the smaller boutique piano manufacturers in the world, producing fewer than 80 grands and 60 verticals per year for the top end of the market. It is owned and operated by sixth-generation family member Udo Schmidt-Steingraeber, who still makes pianos using the traditional methods of his forebears at the company’s present factory, which it has occupied since 1872.

The 5′ 7″ model A-170 grand (a baby grand on the larger side) has an unusually wide tail, allowing for a larger soundboard area and longer bass strings than are customary for an instrument of its size. Although relatively small in size, it produces a sound which completely belies its dimensions, the results of exceptional design know-how and the use of the highest quality materials throughout. An unusual feature of this piano is the bass bridge, which manages to do without a “shelf” – just like large grand pianos. Together with the sophisticated action mechanism which is built to the highest specification, the A-170 is truly a professional instrument.

A note of interest: In 2014, Steingraeber introduced the world’s lightest grand piano lid, made of modern aircraft material with a honeycomb interior, which makes the lid nearly 50% lighter than conventional lids. The company says that the new material also projects sound better. Steingraeber also specializes in so-called ecological or biological finishes, available as an option on most models. This involves the use of only organic materials in the piano, such as natural paints and glues in the case, and white keytops made from cattle bone.

Price Range: $102K.

Bösendorfer 155 Austrian Made

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

In 1828 in Vienna, Austria, Ignaz Bösendorfer founded his piano company and rose to fame when Franz Liszt endorsed his concert grand. Liszt had destroyed every other piano set before him and was unable to destroy this one no matter how hard he played it.

Bösendorfer is one of leading piano brands in the industry, the company exists 189 years. Based on experience the company introduces new production methods, but to improve quality only. Pianos and grand pianos from this Austrian factory are exclusive, and this fact stays unchanged.

The 5′ 1″ grand, new in 2012, while unusually small for a Bösendorfer piano, has the same keyboard as the 5′ 8″ grand, ensuring a wonderful touch despite the instrument’s size.

Color richness in sound, projection of nuances, repetition speed and responsiveness are key qualities of a Bösendorfer Grand. The same key characteristics of the Grand 170 are designed into the 155.

Price Range: $118K.

Baldwin Model M1 Chinese Made

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

While most people still think of Baldwin as an American company, it actually ceased regular piano production at its only remaining U.S. factory, in Arkansas, at the end of 2008, although the facility remains open as a U.S. distribution and service center. Pianos sold in the U.S. now bear only the Baldwin name; all other piano names Baldwin owns and has recently used, such as Hamilton, Wurlitzer, Chickering, Howard, and D.H. Baldwin, have been retired, although some pianos bearing those names may remain on showroom floors until sold.

Measuring exactly 5’2″, the M1 Artist Grand piano is the smallest in their line. Handmade with only the finest materials, these diminutive pianos feature a one-piece, continuously-bent rim design constructed entirely of maple. The soundboard is constructed from quartersawn spruce, and dependable pinblock construction ensures exceptional tuning stability. The M1 also features a keyboard flap that utilizes a pneumatic, slow-close mechanism design that provides a smooth, sure motion that also makes it easier and safer to use. The piano’s sharp keys are made from genuine African ebony wood, and the Baldwin-engineered Renner hammers deliver world-class clarity and consistency. The three pedals are traditional – soft, sustain and sustenuto – and constructed from solid brass.

Price Range: $42K

Weber 150 Chinese Made

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

Weber & Co. was established in 1852 by a German immigrant, and was one of the most prominent and highly respected American piano brands of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1985 Young Chang acquired the Weber brand. The Young Change line of pianos is kept separate from the Weber line. The Weber models have a low-tension scale and softer, cold-pressed hammers, and the greater warmth and romantic tonal characteristics that often accompany that type of scale; (the Young Chang models have a higher-tension scale and firmer cold-pressed hammers, and the greater brightness and stronger projection of a more modern sound. The Weber line, also known as the Premium Edition, also has agraffes in the bass section of the verticals, and beveled lids on the grands. Their Soft-glide feature is a system that closes the keyboard flap slowly and gently. The frame, which also plays a crucial role in the alignment of strings, is produced through the V-Process, an electrical vacuum-casting method, in the Young Chang foundry. This economic 4’11” instrument is probably the best bargain in the baby grand market.

Price Range: $14K

Yamaha C1X Japanese Made

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

Yamaha is probably the most international of the piano manufacturers. In addition to its factories in Japan, Yamaha has plants in Mexico, China, and Indonesia.

Their CX1 models has advanced construction, scaling, and cabinetry, including a true sostenuto pedal and a soft-close fallboard. It has vertically laminated bridges with maple or boxwood cap, similar to that found in Steinways and other fine pianos, and is considered to give the bridges greater strength and resistance to cracking and better transmission of vibrational energy. CX grands have keytops of Ivorite™, Yamaha’s ivory alternative.

The C1X is the smallest of Yamaha’s CX Series Grand Pianos. At 5’3″ it can comfortably fit into many environments such as small teaching studios and living rooms.

Price Range: $38K

Hailun HG151 Asian Performance Piano

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

Hailun’s founder and owner, Chen Hailun, is an entrepreneur in the Western style. To reach the highest quality standards, Hailun works with an impressive group of international experts. Hailun was voted Piano of the Year by Musical Merchandise Review (MMR) Magazine three years in a row – 2012, 2013 and 2014 – an unprecedented feat.

Chester L. Cline began producing pianos in Tacoma, Washington, under his own name beginning in 1889. He eventually became one of the largest piano dealers in the U.S. West. Unlike the cheap entry-level pianos bearing the Cline name made by Young Chang during the 1980’s and ’90’s, today’s Cline is a quality modern instrument designed in the USA, now built by Hailun Piano Company in China, under American production supervision

Hailun America is reintroducing the Cline brand to the U.S. market in the form of entry-level models made by Hailun. Cline makes a 4′ 11″ grand that comes with the HLPS lid-support system and has the option available of the MG Silent System, which can turn the acoustic piano into a digital one that can be played with headphones at any time of day or night.

The HG151 baby grand boasts an excellently rounded tone with dynamic playability across the entire keyboard. The Hailun Performance Plus Design Action works in unison with the spruce keys to ensure perfect balance. This is a truly high-quality instrument that fits into a range of spatial and financial budgets, whilst still providing a grand piano aesthetic. Sturdy craftsmanship has shaped all of Hailun’s instruments resulting in a 10-year guarantee from new. Another economy find.

Price Range: $22K

Kawai GX1 High Tech Piano

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

One of Kawai’s most important innovations is Exclusive Millennium III Action, the use of ABS Styran plastic in the manufacture of action parts. More than 40 years of use and scientific testing have shown this material to be superior to wood for this purpose. ABS does not swell and shrink with changes in humidity, so actions made with it are likely to maintain proper regulation better than wood actions.

The most expensive line that Kawai sells in North America is the GX series in a version known as the BLAK series, and has the best features. It is designed for the best performance, whereas their budget GL series is designed more for efficiency in manufacturing, with fewer refinements. All the GX pianos feature a radial beam structure, converging together and connected to the plate using a cast-iron bracket at the tenor break. This system makes for a more rigid structure, which translates into better tone projection. The soundboards in the GX models are tapered for better tonal response; and the rims are thicker and stronger than in the GL models, and are made of a blend of open- and closed-pore hardwoods to improve the tone. All GX pianos have agraffes, duplex scaling, lighter hammers (less inertia), and Neotex synthetic ivory keptops; and come with a slow-close keyboard cover. The GX grands get more precise key weighting, plus more tuning, regulating, and voicing at the factory. The cabinetry is nicer looking and of better quality than that of the GL series pianos, with the polished ebony models in the new BLAK series receiving a UV-cured, scratch-resistant coating on the music rack.

Price range: $37K

Steinway Model S Most Famous

The Top 14 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

Steinway is known best for its grand pianos and has been in the business since the 1850’s with a lot of early success and brand recognition with patents that revolutionized the piano industry at the time. Many of these patents concerned the quest for a stronger frame, a richer, more powerful sound, and a more sensitive action. By the 1880s, the Steinway piano was in most ways the same piano they have today. Not much has changed.

The company has changed hands several times and when the dust settled there were two factories: one in Hamburg that serves the world market outside of the Americas and the New York factory for Americas consumers. Hamburg Steinways are known to be superior to the New York instruments.

The 5′ 1″ model S is very good for a small grand, but has the usual limitations of any small piano and so is recommended only where space considerations are paramount. The 5′ 7″ model M is a full six inches longer, but costs little more than the S. Historically one of Steinway’s more popular models, it is found in living rooms across the country. So for the diehard Steinway fans, their littlest baby is the Model S.

Price range: $66K

About Euro Pianos Naples

Euro Pianos Naples is a respected distributor of European luxury musical instruments. The company’s origin dates back to 1965. Euro Pianos represents world renowned brands such as Sauter, and it has recently become a manufacturer of its own acrylic instrument – The Aire. Apart from being a successful retailer, consultant, and entrepreneur organization, Euro Pianos is actively engaged in the artistic and community life of Naples, Florida as an organizer and supporter of musical events throughout the years.