Grand Obsession
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Still have my Steinway B - now about a dozen years. It is holding up well - though winter is always a challenge. The piano sounds differently in the winter - partly because the hammers have less humidity - partly because I think the acoustics of the room change a bit as well. A couple of years ago, I had the people who originally rebuild it come out and spend a day working on the action and tone.
I also have a digital instrument - a Roland that I enjoy as well since I use it with PIanoteq software - that allows me to practice late at night w/o disturbing the world at large. Right now, the Roland is set up with a Bosendorfer 280VC - nice instrument. While I enjoy the beautiful sounds of the digital instrument, I try and play the real piano as much as is feasible since the digital piano artificially makes me sound better than I really am. Producing a beautiful tone - not that I can - does take some technique and sensitivity to the instrument. The digital piano skips some of those steps - so it is easier to sound better than one really should.
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@kluurs said in Grand Obsession:
I also have a digital instrument - a Roland that I enjoy as well since I use it with PIanoteq software - that allows me to practice late at night w/o disturbing the world at large. Right now, the Roland is set up with a Bosendorfer 280VC - nice instrument. While I enjoy the beautiful sounds of the digital instrument, I try and play the real piano as much as is feasible since the digital piano artificially makes me sound better than I really am. Producing a beautiful tone - not that I can - does take some technique and sensitivity to the instrument. The digital piano skips some of those steps - so it is easier to sound better than one really should.
I'm interested in hearing that. I'm looking to replace my 30-year-old Yamaha Clavinova because a major part has failed, and no replacement is available from Yamaha. The technician who worked on it has had no luck finding a used part, so I presently have no working instrument. Any experience with various makes and models of digital pianos would be welcome information for me.
Big Al
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@Big_Al - As I've said before, my needs are quite modest. I have a 10 year old Roland FP-7F keyboard that I've been very happy with.
I did a quick search and saw that CrashTest bought the same keyboard and did a review of it on PW many years ago.
https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/1827010/My Roland FP-7F Review.html
That model has been superseded by at least one, if not two newer versions...
I had the same problem with the thunk that CT mentions, the one that telegraphed through the stand to the floor. I bought some sound isolation pads and put them between the keyboard and the stand and it solved the problem.
Also - there is a PW thread with prices paid for various digital piano models. You might find it helpful as you shop for a piano to replace your Clavinova.
https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/1201029/112.html
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Wow thanks for the replies.
Couldn't remember exactly who had what, now two decades ago! Was it Sir Lurksalot who had an Estonia.Anyway, Ax, such lovely playing on your Kawai, and like your artistic style.
Kawai remain quite rare; unlike Yamaha probably thanks to Chappells and their marketing. Very popular, piano produced for all levels and types of performer.Kluurs, what finish has your SteinwayB?
I notice my piano change timbre over the day as temperature/humidity change slightly. Even a couple of degrees temperature can change it.Re digitals, when we lived in a flat 1990-2002 I got us a Korg. Loved it and soon forgot the cost.
Weighted keys, double sampled Bosendorfer and three mode choices room/hall/concert. Plus a spinet option and key-change.
Cost a fortune for no fancy stuff, but at the time it was the nearest any digital could be to a decent piano.
After a dozen years of regular practice the plastic keys were showing their age, some lacking original touch, so sold it on cheap to a complete beginner as it fit under her stairs.
BigAl, 30 years service from any electronics has to be pretty damn good value for money. Maybe get another Yamaha if you like their sound.
My sister has a Roland inherited from an Aunt, which is probably a similar age, though little used.Can I ask you all another question. Is it only me that's a bit bored with black
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@AndyD said in Grand Obsession:
Was it Sir Lurksalot who had an Estonia.
Not sure about Sir L, but @Mark has an Estonia.
So did Apple.
Link to video Link to video -
Ok - yes, it's an ebony Steinway. I almost bought a walnut instrument that I loved playing - but that would have contrasted a bit too much with other finishes in our house. Ebony offends no one - hopefully.
As for the Roland, it's an HP704. Guitar Center and other stores sell them. It's got a pretty decent action - but it's built-in sounds are...meh. Pianoteq software is pretty inexpensive - and utilizing that - one can choose between Steingraeber, Hamburg Steinway, Grotrian, Bosendorfer, etc. - concert grands. There's a lot of flexibility in choice of tonality, room acoustics etc - for each instrument. It's fun to work out on the digital. I considered buying a top of the line Yamaha N1X which has grand piano hammers - while being a true digital instrument. It was nice - and more than twice the price - but the Roland does everything I need. Roland also comes with a 10 year in-home warranty - which meant that if I beat the thing to death - they'd cover it. Considering what one pays for tunings 2x a year - the digital piano is free. BUT, as I noted, I would not want to limit myself by not playing an acoustic instrument frequently.
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@kluurs
You're spot on, black fits and does look good. And my sister had to have black, "it's the proper finish". (But when did it become the norm?)
Chappels must have had 20 pianos and they were all black. Bluthner the same.Looking at the Korg website, this was new:
https://www.musicradar.com/news/korg-chopin-piano-poetry?origin=serp_autoApple
I recall Mark, isn't he also an astronomer? But posts at tncr?
The next video that comes up is of Mary Anna, sounding very nice. Is that perhaps a NY Steinway she's playing? -
@AndyD said in Grand Obsession:
Is it only me that's a bit bored with black
When we still lived in Japan, I thought I wanted a wood finish (at the time I had a shiny black Yamaha U1). I don’t remember when or why that shifted. Maybe it was partly for practical reasons? Because in Japan, the wood finish pianos were always more expensive. In the US I don’t know, I think used pianos with a wood finish might sometimes be cheaper, but maybe they’re more in new pianos?
Anyway, perhaps I was bored with black because when we moved, the thing I wanted to do more than anything else was fill my piano room with colorful artwork and furniture. Now I call it the “more is more” room.
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My Yamaha YUS! has a digital system that I like well enough. Have wondered what to do when the digital system fails and is out of warranty.
Think I should have bought a piano and put a digital upstairs and out of the way.
The piano is black. Have a bright picture over it and put a bright red hand carved fish from Africa on it. -
It was hard enough finding a piano with the tone and touch I wanted, let alone the color I wanted (rosewood would have been nice). The nice thing about black is it goes with everything, and I have eclectic tastes, so my decorating is all over the place.
Marlene was last tuned by Marc Wienert when he was here visiting for a week, after we left Missoula. It was a great visit, and of his own initiative he worked on the piano every day, several times a day. He made that tuning so stable, when I had a tech visiting from Billings over to tune it, a few years later, he declined, saying there was nothing for him to do. We were able to maintain the stability of Marc's tuning by managing the temperature and humidity in the room, and when we moved to our present house, I had a piano technician remove the action and bring it to the new house in his car, then reinstall it, so that the movers couldn't knock anything out of alignment. That local tech also couldn't find anything to do when I asked him to tune it--after it was set up in the new house.
Then Tom, the tech I used in Missoula, came through for a visit and played it. In tune. It's been years now. The piano changes with the temperature and humidity, but remains stable. I am playing a lot less than I used to--I have pretty severe and disabling arthritis in my thumbs--a consequence of having loose joints--so playing very much gets painful. We also are living well out of town and up a very steep hill that visitors find challenging in winter. Would love to be hosting piano parties, though!
Marc has been very ill for the past year, and can't even drive very far, let alone fly out. There are a couple of good techs here that I would be happy to use, when/if it is needed. But for now, Marlene's voice is still Marc's doing.
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@pique
I'm sorry to read about your arthritis and hope you find some treatment.
My mother got it when very old in her eighties, my father never did; fingers crossed I have Dad's physique.Great to hear your piano still thrills. Perhaps little and often will be the way to prevent pain?
That's how I now play now we're retired, to avoid left arm aches from playing 10ths. I wander into the sitting room maybe three times a day to noodle for half an hour.After reading through your book I took a closer look at the internals of our piano and decided it needs regulation work as well as tuning. I have to choose from a few names suggested by Steinway & Buthner. That takes some concern out of the process, but I guess everyone here will understand the worry of a stranger messing with the pins on what is like an extra child in the family.
About time we named him. I feel he's a he
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@AndyD said in Grand Obsession:
Looking at the Korg website, this was new:
https://www.musicradar.com/news/korg-chopin-piano-poetry?origin=serp_autoFrom that link:
The first of Poetry’s two piano tones is based on Chopin’s 1843 Pleyel piano, which had 80 keys and was pitched at 430Hz rather than 440Hz, the modern tuning standard. This gives it a distinct tone that promises to be authentic to the one that Chopin would have experienced.
Ha! Maybe @Nina can get a digital Pleyel....
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@AndyD PD has the same make and model of piano that I do. There were 3 of us that bought Grotrian Cabinet grands all about the same time. The other person is Grotriman, who rarely visits here, but he and I keep in touch. ETA: Grotriman is in Grand Obsession--Jerry Korten. His 13 year old son, Lex, performed at my book launch at B&N Lincoln Center. Lex is now a highly regarded jazz pianist with his own quartet and a steady calendar of gigs around the world. He has some CDs out, too.
If you can, use a tech who trained at the factory that built your piano. He will be most familiar with the specs.
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I still have the Walter grand that I purchased in Colorado Springs in 2000. It’s been on a moving van 7 times since then. I keep thinking at some point all the keys will just fall out when it gets moved into the house, but they haven’t. I’ve even been playing fairly regularly lately. Learning this piece:
Link to video -
A “before my time” question…where was the August 2008 piano party held?
Clips from the gathering to nudge memories…
Link to video Link to videoWhen the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier
