Music is the soul of the world, and if music should have a soul, the soul of music will undoubtedly be the piano. The piano is not only one of the most popular instrument in the world, but it is also one of the most played instrument. The piano is played across all types of music genres, cultures, traditions, and people of all ages.
The popularity of the piano has led to a large production of the instrument by different manufacturers. Today the market is filled with various types of piano brands, and it may be difficult to select the best piano brands.
While getting a piano brand, it is important to know you’re purchasing a piano that is manufactured with high professionalism and premium quality. Before settling for a piano, there are some factors to consider. Hence it is important to do proper research on the type of piano that will suit your specific need.
Below are some of the best piano brands based on the reputation of their manufacturers, sales, and popularity.
STEINWAY & SONS
When it comes to piano manufacturing, perhaps Steinway & Sons are the most well known and respected piano manufacturer in the world. Steinway and Sons are the Holy grail of pianos. Each piano manufactured by them takes over a year to be built by a team of craftsmen, and each piano comprises of a 12,000 parts component.
At the young age of 20, Founder Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg started making pianos in his kitchen in Sessen, Germany. Twenty-five years later, Steinweg decided to move to America, and in 1853 he founded Steinway and Sons, which was to become possibly the most famous piano brand in the world.
Steinway takes time in the manufacturing of their grand pianos. They are carefully and delicately hand made by talented craftsmen to ensure that they produce a masterpiece that stands out amid other keyboards.
Steinways & Sons have been recognized all over the world for being one of the finest piano brands, and also for the speciality and uniqueness of their brand. They have received awards from New York, Paris and many organizations for the quality of their pianos.
Generally, their pianos are expensive because they are top class and vintage. However, Steinway & Sons produces Essex and Boston, which are more affordable brands. Essex is Steinway’s entry-level brand, and Boston is aimed at the mid-level market.
Steinway & Sons are widely regarded to be the founders of the modern piano, and they have 127 patents to their name to date. The company Manufactures grand and Upright pianos and also have two custom lines called Crown jewels and Custom for the customer who wants a real statement piece.
YAMAHA
Yamaha is perhaps one of the most easily recognizable piano brands, and when it comes to piano manufacturers, it ranks in the top 10.
For many decades, Yamaha has been one of the most popular digital piano manufacturers in the world. Yamaha manufactures various sizes and types of pianos, ranging from pianos for domestic use, for beginners and stage performance.
Yamaha stands out for its commitment towards the manufacturing of world-class pianos that satisfies different purposes. Yamaha displayed their commitment to the production of piano by making their digital piano very similar to the real pianos.
The Yamaha brand are popular for their distinct replication of the sound of their celebrated CFIIIS 9-foot acoustic concert grand piano in making their digital piano.
This act of delicately paying attention to detail has made their digital pianos to be one of the most sought after piano on the market.
Pianos manufactured by Yamaha are known to be of premium quality, durable, and offers buyers the best value for their money. All parts and features of the Yamaha piano ranging from the tone, voice, and graded hammer action keys are designed with cutting edge technology.
Yamaha is a leading brand in the production of pianos so much that engineers from other brands study and examine the effects found know Yamaha pianos.
Aside from standing out in the sound department, Yamaha offers a variety of pianos that comes in a variety of prices. This offers buyers the opportunity of selecting the type of piano that meets their budget. The affordability of Yamaha pianos has resulted in higher value and demand for their products in the market.
KAWAI
Kawai pianos are known for pure sophistication and beauty. They are an extraordinary combination of traditional craftsmanship, technical innovations and premium materials. Their soundboards are built using 10-year aged wood. They also feature the Millennium III, which is made from modern composite and is regarded as the most significant development for the piano in our generation.
Kawai brand is known for its aesthetically appealing and sophisticated pianos. In the early 2000s, Kawai had been second place to Yamaha when it comes to the best piano brands in the market. Since 2008, Kawai has made a huge improvement in their piano design and has become a favourite amongst retailers and buyers.
When it comes to the manufacturing of piano, Kawai stands out for their sound quality, and for having a wide range of piano models to select from. The various types of pianos are available in different styles, designs, and colours. Similar to Yamaha brands, Kawai offer buyers pianos that are more affordable compared to brands like Roland and Steinway.
Kawai is renowned for the production of high-quality digital pianos that have grown to become one of the top piano brands in the industry.
Kawai pianos are designs by taking the components of tone and sound from their grand and upright pianos and transferring them to the digital variety with full concentration to every detail.
In terms of design, Kawai is special for its distinct touch and key weight that is found in the brand’s acoustic pianos. This innovation by Kawai is one that has been followed by other piano manufacturers in creating their digital models.
Kawai is another top Japanese piano brands that are special for their longer keys which increases playing ease. They are durable, top class, and very affordable. They are designed using both plastic and wooden components.
FAZIOLI
Fazioli is a new generation piano brand. Founded in 1981 in Italy, and it has grown over the past decades to become of the finest piano brand in the market. Fazioli currently has six models of grand piano available.
Founder Paulo Fazioli was a concert pianist and the son of a famous carpenter; he had the most suitable background to create a unique and special piano that was an expression of his passion. Fazioli wanted to create a masterpiece that would be unrivalled, and stood out from all other brands, and also give buyers the best value for their money.
Their grand piano is uniquely designed, and the F308 is the longest piano available in the market today. It also has the distinct feature of a fourth pedal. The pedal functions as a soft pedal in bringing the hammers closer to the rings.
Fazioli brand targets the exclusive production of grand and concert grand pianos without focusing on large scale production. The keyboards are made and designed in Italy, and they are quite very expensive, with prices reaching as high as $300,000. The brand concentrates on exclusive production of grand pianos; hence they only produce between 100 – 130 pianos annually.
Their pianos are magnificently built, and their largest concert grand piano weighs 570KG and stretches over 10 feet. Although a Fazioli may be very expensive, however, it can be a very good investment if you can afford it, because of the potential of the price to appreciate in the future.
MASON & HAMLIN
Mason & Hamlin is an American piano brand that has existed since 1881. When the brand was established in 1881, they were quickly regarded as Steinway’s strongest rivals. Mason & Hamlin is now owned by the Burgetts, and the brand is currently fashioned after the pre-existing style and designs of the Mason & Hamlin’s Boston era.
The brand is known for its unique American tone, which is described as lush and powerful. They have a distinct feature of having longer keys and better pedal leverage that produces a clear treble and powerful bass.
Mason and Hamlin didn’t start up manufacturing pianos; in fact, the first instrument they produced was the Organ Harmonium. It wasn’t until 1881 that they began producing pianos. Mason & Hamlin pianos are one of the most expensive brands in the market. This is largely due to the painstaking manner that the pianos are produced. The pianos are made by a team of experienced craftsmen with hundred per cent attention to details, with each piano inspected not less than 12 times during production.
Mason and Hamlin focus mainly on the production of quality and exquisite pianos that are distinct from other brands. This has made the brand a popular choice amongst people who desires the sophistication and uniqueness it bears.
BECHSTEIN
Bechstein is a very popular name in the production of pianos. Founded in 1853, the brand quickly became one of the most popular piano manufacturers in the European Continent. Bechstein pianos are produced in Seifhennersdorf, Germany, and till this day, they still retain the high standards of sound and quality that made them a top piano brand.
The brand offers two types of pianos, “Bechstein” and “C. Bechstein”. Both series offers quality sound and efficiency. However, “C. Bechstein” comes with improved quality and costs more.
The brand is not only popular in the piano industry, but it is also popular amongst several artists who have endorsed the brand. Such artists include the Beatles, Elton John and Freddy Mercury.
Beyond their sound potency, Bechstein is known for its extraordinary craftsmanship. So, aside from getting a unique and efficient sound, you are also getting a Custom-designed art case that is timeless and classy.
BÖSENDORFER
Bösendorfer is one of the oldest piano brands in the world. They offer exclusive luxury grand pianos. The brand was founded in 1828 in Austria. Known for their expertise in the production of grand pianos, today they have become a top name in the production of large pianos, with their Imperial Grand Piano being one of the largest pianos in the world.
Founder Ignaz Bösendorfer was famously bestowed with the honour of “official piano maker” to the Emperor of Austria in 1830. Bösendorfer is credited with inventing the extension to the 88-key keyboard with the Imperial Grand that consists of a 97-key keyboard, that includes 8 octaves. This innovation made the Imperial Grand piano one of the most sought after concert piano in the world, and it remains the same to this day. This innovation has been extended to subsequent pianos produced by Bösendorfer. A few of their models have the distinguishing feature of having additional keys. The Bösendorfer Grand Piano 225 features 92 keys while the larger Imperial Grand piano features 97 keys.
The pianos are built with extreme devotion and professionalism to create a richness of sound and glamour. Bösendorfer is in the business of making luxury and exclusive pianos, and they produce very limited pianos annually. Each piano is handcrafted and constructed with extreme care and diligence. Owning a Bösendorfer is a worthy investment that you shouldn’t hesitate to make.
BALDWIN
Baldwin is a top name in piano manufacturing, and it is very popular in America. Baldwin was founded in Cincinnati in 1857, and they are one of the largest piano manufacturers in the United States.
They are known for producing grand pianos and concert pianos with unique sound and design. Generally, they cost less than a Steinway, and they offer similar sound production and efficiency. The price for these pianos ranges from $8,500 for the vertical piano and $22,000 for the grand piano.
Baldwin pianos are not only aesthetically appealing, but they are also built for top performance. The pianos have a large key range that produces the highest of notes.
Essentially, it may be difficult to select the best piano brand in the market because of the increasing competition in the market. Hence, in order to choose a piano, sometime the brand name might be important. Other times the reason for which you need the piano or your budget might be the factors to consider. What is clear is that there is no shortage of premium quality pianos in the market to select from, and whenever you have the opportunity, you should not hesitate to invest in a statement making piano.
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