Who hasn't heard of Steinbach pianos? They are very famous, and there are many models in Italy... Since my neighbor has one, I had the opportunity to study it very well, both regarding the mechanics and the sound. It is simply fantastic...! Well, since I am slightly ignorant.. I will post a review found in a newspaper article that says: ''The piano in question should be from the late 60s.'
The 'Steinbach' signatures are countless, scattered throughout Germany. There was also a Turin-based company with this name.
However, the instrument in question is of German manufacture.
If the mechanical part and the timbre-technical characteristics are good, one can ask for about 1000 euros.
The fact that it has not been tuned and maintained for 20 years (is a very bad premise for the sale. As soon as it starts being used again, in the absence of a serious mechanical overhaul, countless mechanical problems will emerge, small but annoying. In fact, the many elements that make up the mechanics must 'mature' and settle 'in movement' rather than in immobility. Glue joints, screw settling, and much more are responsible for such unreliability, not to mention the tuning. (This is why a musical instrument MUST NOT be kept in a state of technical abandonment, especially if unused)
It therefore cannot be in excellent condition after twenty years of non-maintenance. ('It is a musical instrument, which must be perfect or at least easy to play and have good tonal performance before being beautiful to look at...')
Happy reading and please share your views and opinions on this fantastic brand of pianos...
I don't remember ever playing on a Steinbach... The article rightly emphasizes the importance of piano maintenance. In any case, the Germans have always made excellent pianos. I still have my first piano, a Krauss upright with a stack action. Paolo saw it too, but he told me it's not worth repairing. The entire action would need to be rebuilt. It's a shame, I am very attached to it...
It appears to be a piano assembled in Italy. I believe it now features Renner action. I once played a "difficult" grand piano. I discovered it had a Lager action with jacks featuring a return spring to the wippen, which made them lighter. Yes, but so light that the manufacturer was forced to weight the keys at the back!!!!! I didn't find much logic in this. If the weight comes from the top of the action, the return weight benefits it. Perhaps no assist springs and front-weighting of the keys. Sometimes manufacturers do strange things. I haven't found this on another more recent Steinbach (of a friend's).
Well look, I have this friend who has a Steinbach, and it doesn't seem to me that he has encountered your difficulties (or those of your friend), also because I have personally observed the mechanics and the key weighting, and it is very good... and anyway, I don't deny that there are defects, but I believe it is always a very good brand for pianos. Perhaps the more modern ones contain an entirely different type of mechanism.
German pianos, in my opinion, are the best and have always required constant attention and maintenance, but this is obvious if a musician cares about their instrument; they know that one must periodically take a look at these particular details... Anyway (addressed to TheSimon) I am sorry about your Krauss...(that is also an excellent brand...)
Yes, German pianos... In most cases, splendid. Viennese... Perhaps even better... Obviously you know I am also referring to Bechstein, or, why not, that Knauss I told you about (which, by the way, I think I will have repaired shortly... I spoke with a technician and he told me it is not beyond repair; in fact, the action is still good, perhaps it will be necessary to change the hammer felt... We shall see).
I also tried the Steinbach in question... The keyboard, in fact, I liked very much, responsive and not too heavy. The sound... Well, maybe it's because I remember it poorly, but it didn't make a very beautiful impression on me... Perhaps it is "due to" the small dimensions... Giuseppe, can you tell us how high it is? Generally, shorter string means a less "alive" sound, even to the point of becoming completely unlistenable (obviously this is not the case with this piano, heaven forbid, quite the opposite...)
I don't think the sound of that Steinbach left you with a bad impression, on the contrary... I remember well, you almost seemed enthusiastic... as for the dimensions, I don't know... I should take them... I will give them to you as soon as possible...
Enthusiastic, yes, but perhaps because of the mechanics... Or anyway, perhaps it's because I don't remember it well, and after playing on the "elbow" 🙂 Bechstein everything seems so... diminished...
