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March 4 2018

The Most Expensive and Extraordinary Pianos in the World

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog best piano brands, featuredhome

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 Fazioli, 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. FAZIOLI GOLD LEAF

Fazioli 24k Gold Leaf

Fazioli, which is one of our favorite brands, offers a vast choice of elements for such art cases.

For the truly unique, Fazioli Gold Leaf come to mind. A 24-carat gold leaf completely covers this F228 piano model, tipping its hat to the memorable grandeur of Versailles, but with all the lines and superlative modernity of the 21^st Century. The transparent polyester that protects the gold leaf creates a shimmer of iridescent luminosity that, like a fine painting, seduces the eye to dance over the instrument’s surfaces in delight.

The price of this amazing piano is in the range of $450,000.

2. FAZIOLI ARIA by NYT LINE

FAZIOLI Aria by NYT Line

Fazioli’s latest creation, presented in Milan in 2016, is a futuristic piano called ARIA. The case was designed by architect Philippe Gendre from NYT Line (who also designed the famous Fazioli M. Liminal model that is reminiscent of dolphin and wave themes). This prestigious musical instrument, evokes the illusion of a feather-light, airy flight. With the preservation of functional Fazioli performance sound, this sculpture of free curve lines, metals and geometrics revolutionizes the shapes and colors of the traditional piano. Just as consonance and dissonance are organized in music, Aria’s concepts combine asymmetric but orderly designs.

Price: ~ $795,000

3. 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.

4. BLUTHNER PH GRAND

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.

5. BLUTHNER LUCID IDYLLIC EXCELLENCE

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

6. 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.

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.

7. 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.

8. C. BECHSTEIN SPHINX PIANO

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 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.

9. BOGANY BATPIANO

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.

10. 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.

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 ten. 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.

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.

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February 27 2018

What You Need To Know Before Buying A Baby Grand Piano

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog featuredhome, how to series

What Makes A Piano A Baby Grand?

Grand pianos, the three-legged “horizontally-sitting” stringed instruments were developed 300 years ago, an offshoot of the harpsichord and pianoforte. Originally, in sizes ranging from 6 to 8 feet, they were used in salons and house concerts. In time, larger concert halls and venues required more powerful sound, so the concert grand evolved into 9 and 10-foot pianos for professional solo and orchestral needs.

However, the increasing popularity of the piano in private homes, resulted in the need for a smaller grand piano. Upright pianos were being used because they didn’t take up a lot of floor space, but many people preferred the look of the three-legged design, if it was only smaller.

So how do you downsize a grand piano to a “baby” grand?

The 88-key keyboard had evolved (acoustic pianos with less keys were produced until the 1900’s) and become the standard piano width. More innovation would come with actions and stringing inside the case but the keyboard width itself could not be made smaller and still satisfy the wide musical scope of pianists.

So, in order to downsize the grand piano, it would have to be the string length and the tail of the piano that could be altered, not the width.

This new diminutive model – the baby grand – features a smaller soundboard and shorter strings – everything else remains the same. Since tonal quality of a piano is directly affected by the size of the soundboard and strings, manufacturers fight to create the best sound output for every square inch of the baby grand.

High-end piano manufacturers have been very successful at perfecting the sound of baby grand pianos. As an example, the maker of the Fazioli F156 baby grand, one of the finest pianos made, says that a critical factor in the sound of its pianos is the scientific selection of its woods, such as the “resonant spruce” obtained from the Val di Fiemme (where Stradivari reportedly sought woods for his violins.). Similarly, three different types of wood are used for the bridge caps, chosen for the most efficient transmission of tonal energy for a particular register. An incredible level of detail goes into their design and construction. Faziolis include very fine voicing — even perfect tuning of the duplex scales. The idea of all this detailed work is to make a baby grand, constructed with as much care, sound like Fazioli’s magnificent grand pianos, but suitable for a smaller environment than the concert hall.

In today’s piano world a variety of baby grand piano choices are available, including rare woods, acrylic components, metal components and customized colors and shapes. The globalization and development of piano production in Asia by many manufacturers brought pricing down dramatically, while the use of computer-controlled machinery continues to increase the quality and affordability of entry level models.

What Are The Dimensions Of A Baby Grand And How Small Can It Be?

So – you’ve decided to buy a baby grand. A certain amount of planning will help in your decisions and choices. How much room do you need?

When measuring your available space, remember that 3 feet of it is needed for the stool or bench. What’s left will dictate the appropriate length of the piano itself. Every baby grand piano is approximately 5’ (back to the 88-key keyboard) in width. A schematic of your room is often helpful.

What You Need To Know Before Buying A Baby Grand Piano

Baby Grand Piano Length

A baby grand piano is usually between 4’11” to 5’9” long, depending on the manufacturer and the model. The length is measured from the front of the piano keys to the very end of the backside or tail. See image below.

The shorter the piano, the shorter the strings and the smaller the soundboard. Every “petite” baby grand piano (under 5 feet) simply must be associated with a loss of tonal quality. A good rule of thumb is that the longer the piano, the better the piano will sound.

Baby Grand Piano Width

There are slight variations in baby grand piano widths from brand to brand, usually between 2 to 3 inches as a result of rim thickness or cast-iron plate design. The width of a grand piano is the same as the width of an upright piano (+/- 2 or 3 inches). So, while a vertical or upright piano may seem more compact, in reality its placement is limited to a wall (because the back of a vertical piano is sometimes not always pretty), and a baby grand can be placed with the front, tail or side into the room.

Tuck a baby grand into a cozy niche, just as you might an upright piano.

Placement & Positioning of a Piano

When planning your room, there are several things to consider when placing a baby grand piano. Try to avoid direct sunlight because UV rays can fade the wood finish. If you have windows treated with a protectant film, this is not a concern.

Pianos prefer a stable humidity level – 45% is ideal. Significant humidity fluctuations caused either by excessive air conditioning or heat from a furnace or fireplace will cause wood to expand and contract. Changes in humidity will result in a piano requiring more tuning, prolonged extra dry air may cause soundboard cracks, while extra humidity might cause strings and other metal to tarnish and keys to stick.

So, what do you do if your placement options are limited and your humidity fluctuates? There are remedies. You can have your piano technician install a Piano Life Saver System which is a humidifier and dehumidifier all in one.

Now that you’ve worked out the space the baby grand piano will occupy – how will you position it? Keys to the wall or keys into the room? Tail in or tail out? The good news is that there is no right or wrong. The one exception might be that if you have the piano lid opening directly into the wall, you will restrict the “sound bloom” of the piano. Otherwise – anything goes. A baby grand piano looks and sounds beautiful from many different angles. When the piano is delivered, ask the movers to try several different positions to see what you like best.

Lid open to the Wall – Not Recommended

Lid open away from Wall - Right

What Is The Weight Of A Baby Grand Piano?

Just as piano dimensions can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so do the weights of baby grands vary. Petite baby grands are closer to 600 pounds while larger baby grands will weigh approximately 700 pounds. You don’t have to worry about that much weight damaging or leaving marks on your floors. That’s easily avoided by using caster cups. Caster cups distribute the weight of the piano and act as a cushion to protect your floors. We, at Euro Pianos Naples, make it a point to include these caster cups with the purchase of every piano.

Don’t Save On Piano Moving Costs

Pianos are composed of a myriad of complex internal mechanisms, and while the heavy weight of the instrument might suggest an indestructible piece of furniture, it is anything but. It is an expensive and delicate keepsake that requires special care. A piano, ANY piano, should only be moved by professional piano movers and NOT by standard house movers if you want to avoid damage.

What do professional piano movers know that the DIY or house movers don’t? There is a body of knowledge and specialized equipment required to properly move a piano. It has to be wrapped properly, tilted without damaging the lyre and legs and secured to a piano moving board also knows as a skid board. Many specialized piano moving companies have special equipment, dollies and mechanized trollies to insure safety.

The cost to repair the inner and/or outer damage to the piano case caused by non-professional movers can be substantial. Always ask for a piano mover’s insurance certificate that specifically covers and names you and your piano. Every move is different, and a professional mover can anticipate the challenges of your particular location. Don’t ever think there isn’t an answer to problems of delivery, however. Want to see how complicated piano moves can be? Watch this video of a professional mover’s challenge.

Fazioli M Liminal delivery by Euro Pianos

How Much Does A Baby Grand Piano Cost?

Prices for new baby grand pianos range anywhere between $10,000 to $120,000. Variances in the quality of pianos and the corresponding differences in materials, engineering, design and workmanship translate into pricing differences between manufacturers. The old adage “You get what you pay for” is definitely true when it comes to a product as complex as a baby grand piano.

You might compare shopping for a baby grand piano to shopping for an automobile. Brands make an enormous difference. If you purchase a Rolls Royce you expect a very high quality in craftsmanship, materials, design and exclusivity as well as a memorable VIP shopping experience. On the other hand if you purchase a Suzuki, you are purchasing a fully functional car with a different quality level at a very different price point. The same can be said for baby grand pianos.

Mass-produced baby grand pianos come from factories that churn out 20,000 to 50,000 pianos annually – they typically cost between $10,000 – $20,000. There’s a limit to what can be expected from a factory that ships out 50,000 pianos annually. A baby grand piano from one of these factories will have the same shape and the same number of keys as the high-end manufacturer, but there the similarities end.

A high-end baby grand piano like Fazioli, Bluthner, or Bosendorfer takes up to 2 years to produce going through hundreds of hours of meticulous piano regulation, assembly and quality control not unlike the finest Swiss watches. It’s the little things, often unseen, that count the most. Such quality piano-building has to increase the price of the piano as well as its value.

What else might affect the price of baby grand pianos? Think of the typical black finish as the “base” model. While a black baby grand piano is quite elegant, not everyone wants a black piano. Some prefer to customize their homes, creating an interior style, furnishings, colors and themes. A modern light color design might not fit with a basic black piano. In that case, they could customize a piano to enhance this decor. These days a variety of manufacturers offer many colors, exotic finishes, some involving hi tech components like carbon fiber and acrylic which are leading to new designs and piano shapes. Acrylic is super popular right now and Euro Pianos Naples offers the Aire™ acrylic baby grand piano available in black and white finishes. Notice how a black piano with acrylic is no longer “heavy” looking.

Adding upgrades—such as a state of the art of player systems which transforms the baby grand piano into a versatile entertainment center or adding a transparent piano bar will affect the price as well.

7 Things To Consider When Buying A Baby Grand.

1. Size

Baby grand pianos vary in size – try to purchase the largest (longest) baby grand you can afford or have room for. You will not be sorry. Avoid purchasing a grand piano less than 5’. Don’t forget to leave 3’ room for the bench.

2. The Interior

Thousands of parts inhabit a baby grand piano, and most people don’t know many of them. Buyers should be made aware of the important parts, their quality, and what their purpose is.

The Plate sometimes called the Harp or Cast Iron Frame holds over 18 tons of string tension in place. Two popular manufacturing methods are sandcasting (the more time consuming method preferred by the better manufacturers as it enhances the tone) or quick molding vacuum casting commonly used in mass produced baby grand pianos.

The Soundboard is a large, thin wooden board that sits under the plate and strings, and its purpose is to transform the string energy into audible sounds. Quarter sawn spruce grown in high altitudes (slow growing densely grained wood) is used in the higher end pianos. The edges are tapered to increase flexibility which results in greater sound dynamics. Spruce ribs reinforce the soundboard. Designing the placement of the ribs and installing the soundboard is a very delicate process. Some manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure this “heart” of the piano is perfect. This of course greatly adds to the expense of the piano. Engineered, laminated soundboards are increasingly popular in consumer grade mass produced pianos.

The Strings attach to hitch pins at the tail of the piano and to tuning pins on the pinblock. More than 200 strings serve the 88 keys. There are treble strings (with three strings per key), bass strings (a single string per key) and mid-range strings (usually 2 strings per key). High-end piano manufacturers spend a great deal of effort engineering their pianos to ensure a barely noticeable tonal transition between the treble, mid and bass string sections. Bass strings are typically a steel wire wound with copper. High-end baby grand pianos may feature hand wound bass strings to improve sound quality, otherwise most bass strings today are machine wound.

The Action is the mechanical assembly which translates the depression of a piano key into a hammer motion that strikes the strings. The Action is one of the most complex areas of the piano consisting of thousands of moving parts. Hammers, hammer shanks, springs, felts, back checks, bushings, keybeds (a frame on which the action sits) and the better that each component is individually the better they will work together providing consistently even play. Some manufacturers use carbon fiber to minimize wear and tear on piano actions. I’ve heard that Renner actions are the best? Renner manufactures actions for a variety of piano makers in different price ranges. Does Steinway use a Renner actions? Steinway New York build their own actions in house. As such, Steinway New York replacement parts are available only through Steinway at premium prices. Steinway in Hamburg (as well as Fazioli arguably makers of the finest pianos) use Renner actions. Fazioli even goes a step further – they spend additional time meticulously disassembling, testing and reassembling the Renner action. Your baby grand action should be regulated by a technician as part of ongoing piano maintenance. Regulation is in addition to tuning.

What is duplex scale? A duplex scale adds sympathetic vibrations to the speaking length of the string. Duplex scale is not a must. Some manufacturers incorporate them even adding tunable duplex scales to further purify the tone and some manufacturers like Bosendofer (a Tier One piano) do not use duplex scale at all in their design. Our advice is not to overthink this feature.

3. The Exterior

The exterior of a piano is not only about the cosmetics, parts of the exterior also affect the sound.

The Rim of the piano are the pieces of wood bent to surround and hold the interior mechanisms. In most cases the thickness (more layers are better) and the type of wood (how long it has been seasoned, if naturally or kiln dried) is a good indicator of the quality of the piano. On expensive pianos you may find rims with up to 18 laminations or layers of maple and mahogany.

Number of Pedals. Three pedals are the standard. Sustain pedal on the right which lifts all the dampers, Sostenuto in the middle which selects the specific note(s) a pianist wishes to individually sustain, and the Soft pedal on the left which decreases the power of the entire piano by lifting all hammers closer to the strings. Very basic baby grand pianos may have a middle pedal that is not a true Sostenuto (they cheat by lifting the dampers in the bass section). Unless you are a professional pianist you’ll be using only the right and left pedals. Pedals are made of solid brass or in some consumer grade pianos they are brass plated. If you’re installing a player system on your piano, make sure your installer leaves the right and left pedals functional. Some installers may cut corners.

Adjustable Lid Prop(s) has the purpose of giving the option of having the piano fully open or somewhat open. Having multiple adjusting levels is a plus because it gives you control over the sound output and the look.

The Fallboard is the piece that falls forward to cover the keyboard when it’s not in use. Most modern pianos will have a slow-closing fallboard to prevent it from dropping too quickly.

The Casters at the bottom of the piano legs allow your piano to be rolled (if you have the appropriate flooring to do such a thing). Most baby grand pianos will have single wheel brass casters. Expensive baby grand pianos may have double wheel solid brass casters.

4. The Difference Between Piano Brands

There are dozens of brands in the piano manufacturing industry today producing everything from baby grand pianos to concert grand pianos, some among these concentrate on producing the most exclusive and highest quality pianos while the purpose of others is to produce a more affordable baby grand piano.

If you’re buying one of the iconic brands like Fazioli, Bosendorfer, Bluthner, Sauter or Steinway you know that you will receive a very high level of quality albeit at a premium price tag.

The quality of economy pianos has improved dramatically since the introduction of computer numerical control (CNC) machinery manufacturing. Many European and American companies have implemented a strict level of quality control as well as incorporated their designs to produce a quality entry level instrument. With the strong demand for affordable ($10,000 – $20,000) pianos, these companies have introduced lower priced lines of pianos to successfully compete on the market. Cost cutting is usually achieved by using less expensive materials, less intensive quality control and regulation in the final stages. Keep in mind, if you are buying an Essex (an entry level brand designed by Steinway) you are not buying a Steinway.

5. Warranty

By law, piano warranties are either full or limited. If you had a 10 year full warranty, it would remain in effect for the entire ten years, regardless of piano ownership, whereas limited warranties cover only the original purchaser. If you plan on selling or trading up within a few years, a full warranty offers protection to the new owner, increasing the piano’s value to them, and may justify a little higher selling price or trade-in value.

The length of warranties is usually five to fifteen years, and their length has nothing to do with the quality of the instrument. Warranties are often marketing tools, and can be used just to bolster sales. The owner has the responsibility to annually tune, regulate and check the piano.

6. New Versus Used

When you decide to purchase a baby grand piano, you may be considering a used baby grand vs a new one. You might be lucky to find a pre-owned baby grand piano (5 – 10 years old) from a top-quality manufacturer, well maintained not having been too heavily used (because that can sometimes add wear and tear) and save a little bit of money over buying a new baby grand piano. Unfortunately, that may be a rare find. You’ll most likely be buying remotely – hopefully from a trustworthy seller. It is imperative to have an independent piano professional who will inspect and report on the piano. Make sure to get the serial number (age) as well as the model number (specifications & where it was built). Those two things will provide you with details about the origin of the piano.

Most of the used piano market is comprised of pianos that are 50+ years old and cheaper for a reason. Besides the exterior or case of the piano which may have nicks, scratches, or discoloration, your most important factor is what is the condition of the piano inside. A soundboard crown that is gradually flattening over time may increasingly be less capable of producing its original sound dynamic. Discolored and tarnished strings (maybe even rusted) may rattle and even break. A pinblock which is responsible for holding the tune of the piano may no longer be capable of retaining the tension necessary to keep the piano in tune having been repeatedly had each pin turned and twisted during tunings. Ask yourself – are you planning on using the piano for musical purposes or is it simply decorative. Are you willing to sink money into the higher maintenance fees required by an older piano?

If your answer is no, you’re better off buying a new warrantied piano and sleeping well from the get go.

What about rebuilt pianos? Do not expect a properly rebuilt piano to be cheap. There are very few shops or technicians capable of doing this type of work well. When you take an old piano and completely gut it, you are in effect (re) building the piano. Some parts will of course remain such as the rim and the plate of the piano and these will just be refinished. Everything else will be rebuilt or replaced. If you find a rebuilt Steinway or Mason & Hamlin, are you really buying a Steinway or is it just a pretty cabinet carrying the Steinway logo with a subpar piano parts and workmanship. Some dealers take advantage of the name but it is up to you to research to confirm that the rebuilder is qualified and using top notch parts and materials.

7. Player Systems

Today’s player piano systems offer an entire entertainment center invisibly housed under your baby grand with sophisticated electronics that provide state-of-the-art sound, and extensive libraries of music controlled by the user.

The addition of a player piano system won’t affect the use of your piano in its normal capacity at all. But now you can be entertaining, dining, or sitting quietly and listening to the greatest artists playing the musical selections of your choice as vividly as if the artists were performing them right at your own piano. The technology today is incredible and you will get more use out of your piano.

All electronic components are under the piano, they control the keyboard and the pedals. Your piano is playing itself, creating a sound-experience which can be described as the musical equivalent of “high definition,” enchanting every listener.

The player system is operated using a device of your choice be it iPhone, iPad, Android or via a front mounted control box. The latest models of PianoDisc or QRS PianoMation can also be controlled through Alexa.

Repertoire includes numerous award-winning artists, Grammy winners, Top 10 chart artists and winners of international piano competitions.

A player system can be added to a new or existing piano. To ensure proper installation and operation of this fairly complex system, we recommend using only certified PianoDisc or QRS technicians. Euro Pianos Naples provides PianoDisc installations and upgrades in South Florida.

Is A Digital Baby Grand Piano As Good An Acoustic Baby Grand Piano?

Simply put no. But there are certain features in a digital baby grand that you might find appealing.

Sound

What do you think sounds better an orchestra or a recording of an orchestra? To reproduce the sound of a piano, it must be recorded using a very high-quality microphone to an audio source, then reading the audio file onto a high-quality device after which the sound is reproduced through the speaker system (probably the weakest link in the chain). Digital pianos only produce previously recorded sounds, while an acoustic piano allows you to create an array of tonal nuances. There is no comparison between the sound of an acoustic baby grand piano to that of a digital grand piano.

Nuances Of Touch

The action on a baby grand piano as you read above is a complex mechanism consisting of thousands of moving parts that transform energy to the string when you press a key. The more expensive digital baby grand piano will try to mimic the weight distribution of an acoustic piano key, but advanced pianists will still notice the limitations of the action.

Pedals

Acoustic baby grands come with three or four pedals. Some digital baby grands have only one pedal. If pedaling is important to your playing, make sure to purchase a digital baby grand piano with 3 pedals.

Add-Ons And Perks

What the digital piano may lack in terms of sound, they make it up with some additional features.

Instruments besides the piano. With the digital piano, you can produce the sound of almost any instrument, ranging from a saxophone to a choir and everything in between. You can compose with the different instruments, choosing what best suits you. A drum beat track, for example, could transform your keyboard into a small ensemble.

Recording: Your digital baby grand has a port that connects to your computer. This connection allows you to record and store your own music and playing as a digital file. This is a very useful tool, especially for budding songwriters, who can manipulate their recordings with software. Acoustic pianos can be outfitted with a recording strip that would do just the same.

Volume control: The digital piano comes with a volume knob and a headphone output, allowing you to practice anywhere without disturbing others. This is the single biggest advantage to purchasing a digital grand piano.

Staying in Tune: Because there are no strings, digital pianos do not require tuning. If you are in a climate where you are unable to stabilize the humidity (we are talking about drastic humidity changes), you should consider a digital piano. Beachfront restaurants or cruise ships come to mind.

Exterior Case: Design options are very limited for digital baby grand pianos. Unlike acoustic pianos which are available in rare woods, acrylic, inlays, metal and the like.

Size: Acoustic pianos make use of every possible inch of length to improve sound (longer strings, larger soundboard area) whereas digital pianos employ acoustic systems. That is why digital pianos can be as short as 2 feet. Any additional length is for decorative purposes only.

Price

Digital baby grands can cost as low as $3,000 and go up to $25,000.00 depending upon the size and features you choose.

The resale value of a digital piano is much less than that of an acoustic piano. Think of reselling a digital piano like reselling a computer. Because the technology changes so rapidly even the best-selling models will become obsolete. And then there’s the question of repairs if something fails. Will you be able to find a replacement circuit board 5 or 10 years down the road? Therefore, the acoustic piano is costlier but a much better investment in the long-run.

Baby Grand Pianos We Really Like

F156 – by FAZIOLI

This baby grand piano may look like a traditional typical baby grand piano but it is anything but. There is so much going on under the hood that results in stellar sound quality, lightning fast action, exterior and interior design on this piano is just beautiful. Less than 150 Fazioli pianos are produced annually making this a truly hand crafted instrument. If this is your selection – you are guaranteed to be a member of a very exclusive club. And, if money is no object, know that Fazioli also builds outstanding designer pianos.

Hive Elegance – By Bluethner

Besides their line of traditional looking pianos, Bluthner also produces an ever-expanding line of acrylic baby grand pianos. The Hive elegance is available in black, white or red as a baby grand and in larger sizes.

Aire™ Acrylic Baby Grand – by Euro Pianos

This is a baby grand piano we designed in response to our clients seeking an affordable transparent grand piano. The Aire™ is available with white or black trim and your choice of chrome or brass hardware.

February 26 2018

The Top 15 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog best piano brands, featuredhome

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.

FAZIOLI F156 Best Overall Baby Grand Piano

The Top 15 Best Baby Grand Pianos and How to Evaluate Them

At the high end of baby grands and renowned as one of the best pianos in the universe, we must include the F156, the smallest (5’2″) of Fazioli grand pianos. It is hand made with all the same astonishing bells and whistles of the nine foot concert grands. If you are the pianist who demands the best, this is the instrument for you.

A baby grand makes better music with a “wide” tail at the on the end of the piano which accommodates a larger soundboard, and sound. Fazioli has this and so much more. Take a look at our blog article on baby grands for the full scoop: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING A BABY GRAND PIANO.

Fazioli’s reputation for unique sound, extraordinary workmanship and rare woods is upheld in every piano they ship from their factory in Sacile, Italy. The action is so perfect that these pianos don’t even have to be tuned when they are uncrated, and require no preparation by a dealer on delivery like most other pianos. Extraordinary and special, the Fazioli brand is an asset as prized as the Ferrarri in the car industry. Professionals insist that to play a Fazioli is to experience anew the sound of music.

Price Range: $120K

Aire™ Acrylic Piano Designer Baby Grand Piano

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A piano is measured in inches and length.

February 23 2018

Baby Grand Piano Dimensions

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog featuredhome, piano basics

The most popular piano is the world is likely the baby grand. Today’s piano industry offers a multitude of choices in baby grand instruments – traditional, rococo, modern, futuristic designs – as well as colors, veneers, finishes, inlays, LED lights, acrylics, metal and artistic graphics. The perfect piano for every home is available for the asking, and most people ask: where do I start?

Well, let’s start at the beginning. What exactly is a Baby Grand Piano anyway? How does it differ from a Grand Piano? Or a Concert Grand Piano? How many categories of acoustic pianos are there? There are no hard and fast definitions, but as a rule of thumb, and with the 300-year-old history of the instrument, these categories will give you an idea.

Pianos are measured by their LENGTH, from the keyboard to the tail end of lid.

Concert Grand

Let’s start with the granddaddy of the industry. The concert grand, normally made for and used by professional concert halls and artists, is 8’11” and longer. The longest to date is 10’ 2”.

Semi Concert Grand

A slightly smaller version of the concert grand is made to accommodate those smaller venues that might not require as much sound. These instruments can run from 7’4” up to 8’10” and would be good for medium sized churches and halls where the pianist doesn’t have to reach the upper balcony.

Parlor Grand

An acoustic piano that was popular all through the early 1900’s in America was considered a “parlor grand” and that’s because the largest room in the house was called the parlor. This sized grand is about 6’8” and the name still is used in some stores.

Drawing Room Grand

The drawing room is an even older version of a parlor, referring back to 16th century parlance for a room where one could “withdraw” for more privacy. It gradually became shortened to drawing room, another word for living room. But the slightly smaller origins of the withdrawing room dictated the size of this grand at about 6’4” In those days, it would have been harpsichords, frontrunner of the pianoforte. Thus, the large size. History likes to hold onto monikers, and this one has managed to survive through the centuries, although not widely used anymore.

Professional Grand

Trained pianists who play in public have needs for music to attain certain resonances, tones and qualities – in order to satisfy and reach their audiences. An acoustic piano is usually considered “professional” when it is at least 6’long. Small pianos today sometimes may actually have these same attributes, as technical improvements have been made over the decades, but six feet is still the accepted rule of thumb for a “professional” instrument.

Living Room Grand

As society evolved, a middle class with some disposable income emerged. They too wanted pianos. Historically only the rich and royal were able to own them. But as the demand for pianos increased, the builders had to accommodate more modest homes, and thus the sizes began to shrink. Modern America now had “living rooms” instead of parlors or drawing rooms, and 5’10” grands were made to fit the reduced spaces.

Medium Grand

As the popularity of pianos exploded, so did the need come for different sizes to fit yet smaller rooms. Maybe a music room or a finished basement could accommodate a piano 5’7” to 5’9” so this was deemed (by some) as a “medium grand.” Not everyone would agree, but these categories give you the ranges. You will find variations to all of these from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Baby Grand

Finally, we arrive at our destination, the BABY GRAND! The big little favorite almost universally runs from 5’ to 5’7” and is so popular because it fits in almost any space where it’s needed. Also, the technical aspects of piano making have improved with every size rendition, thus giving the baby grand almost all the credentials, it needs for anything but Carnegie Hall.

Petite Baby Grand

There is one more category – under 4’7” up to 5’instruments are called petite, but in these sizes, there is a shortage of soundboard for the kind of resonance found in a baby grand. This would not be a recommended size. There are beautiful upright pianos today that are perfect for spaces that simply cannot house a standard baby grand.

What Are The Actual Dimensions Of A Baby Grand Piano?

The length of a baby grand piano ranges from five feet to five feet seven inches, as detailed above, (with the petite being under five feet in length).

The width of most acoustic pianos, regardless of their length, is five feet wide.

What Are The Differences Between A Baby Grand And A Grand Piano?

The size of the soundboard and the length of the strings make the most difference in the volume, resonance and sound quality of a piano. It stands to reason that a concert grand whose sound can reach the upper echelons of huge concert halls requires a larger soundboard and longer strings. Such a huge piano in the living room of the normal home however might blow listeners out of the house.

As the sizes decrease, the sound travels a shorter distance. It does not mean that the quality of the tone and resonance is necessarily lessened.

Short Tail/Wide Tail Design

A baby grand piano with a wider tail can house much longer bass strings and has space for a bigger soundboard. Additionally, it has a better receptive area for its bridges. The baby grand pianos with wider tails tend to be superior pianos because the bass tone is richer.

Small well build pianos can function with the integrity and richness of tone of their larger kin. It all depends on the quality of the components and the expertise of the piano builder.

How Much Floor Space Is Needed For A Baby Grand?

When measuring a room for a piano, you have to consider the piano dimensions. When shopping, check with the manufacturer for the exact specifications, so you know what the actual dimensions are, then add two more feet in length, for the bench or stool.

In addition to the actual size of the instrument, the pianist needs to be able to move comfortably in and out of the setting. How and where the piano is positioned can make a visual presentation in the balance and décor of a room, furniture to space.

The baby grand is a choice model for home use because its volume and tone are sufficient to “fill” the typical living room, and its size makes it appropriate for modest homes as well as high end luxury homes.

Should You Buy The Smallest Baby Grand?

People who have small rooms sometimes think that a petite baby grand under five feet is the way to go, but as mentioned earlier, there is a loss of sound quality associated with really short petite grands.

Larger soundboard and longer strings produce greater volume and resonance of tone. As you can see, a petite baby grand is not even as long as it is wide. It pays to remember that the longer the piano, the better the performance.

It might be worthwhile to take a look at the beautiful new uprights available today if your floor space can’t accommodate more than a petite baby grand. The quality of high-end uprights surpasses that of most petite grands.

What Is The Average Weight Of A Baby Grand?

Weights differ slightly from model to model, from brand to brand, but on an average, a baby grand piano weighs 500 pounds, about 100 pounds less than a standard grand piano. Upright pianos weight about 300 to 350 pounds, as a comparative. Again, when shopping for a piano, check out the specifications of the piano you want to get exact dimensions.

In Summary

So in summary, baby grand piano size dimensions play an important role. They determine your sound quality, traffic flow and visual impact in your home. The choice of a baby grand is a big step and Euro Pianos is here to help.

We can’t resist showing you our own inhouse-designed acrylic baby grand, the Aire, (so transparent it looks like it floats on air) There’s something about acrylic that makes a piano shrink to a smaller size in space.

Aire™ Piano in Black Trim

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, Bluthner Lucid Pianos, Fazioli 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.