I have been offered a 5-6 year old Seiler 180, used only for concerts....I haven't seen it yet, but I would like to have your opinion on the technical quality of these pianos which, from what I know, have recently become Korean... should I expect a mechanism and a tone that are less European and less refined than the old Seilers?
....compared to a new Yamaha C2X, how do you see it in terms of precision and reliability?
During this period my ideas are a bit confused and, in the event that I am unable to design a good restoration for my Petrof 1/4, I am looking around....
Thank you very much.....very useful...between this and Paolo's instructions for evaluating used instruments, I think I will be able to understand the instrument better....
Look, I played on Seilers in a couple of competitions. I remember it was an excellent piano, beautiful sound and a beautiful keyboard. As for it becoming Koreana now, that is news you are giving me... Therefore, I cannot tell you how this instrument has become now.
One thing is certain, if it is an old generation Seiler, it is truly a beautiful piano.
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nancy
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Reply 5 by nancy
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I knew they had acquired the manufacturer, but I didn't know precisely when or how....from the file posted by Pianothor it appears that Seiler was acquired by Samick, which maintained a German production line and decentralized the production of another line in Indonesia, while still maintaining the German design in that one as well. This piano should have been produced five or six years ago, so I need to see where... and how! I also knew the older production ones and I liked them...I was wondering if these latest ones are always like those.
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nancy
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Reply 6 by nancy
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my "baby" has arrived home .... it is a Seiler S.E Maestro 186
it is built in Germany with Renner action and Abel hammers.
the action is perfectly in order. besides being visually apparent, or rather, one can feel it well from the precision of the keyboard, even if it is quite heavy (I like it very much for this reason too). it is not easy to play; you can feel every flaw and so I have to get a little used to the weight...(the Petrof was lighter). the sound is warm but clear and, indeed, always comparing it to the Petrof I had, this latest one was darker. to reduce the brightness which initially gave me a shock since when I tried it it had a more European and more serious timbre, I had to put an enormous rug underneath and many cushions in the room... even though there was no reverb or booming... and now it is how I like it....the sound is softer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the only thing is that the right pedal "supports" me little, or at least it seems so to me.... perhaps it is just very hard and I have to get used to a deeper depression when performing
my husband fears it since he thinks they can hear me all the way to the nearby square and surely throughout the entire apartment building !!
Well Nancy. The let-off must not exceed approximately 10 mm, better if it's 9.8. The regulation needs to be checked. First of all the hammer-to-string distance and then the escapement point, the drop, and the check. Do not be surprised that a new piano, just delivered, is not well regulated. Perhaps it needs hammer voicing after tuning? Proper voicing must allow you to perform pianissimo and fortissimo without worry. The pianissimo also depends on the escapement point, which must not exceed 1.5 mm from the string (2-2.5 in the bass up to about 1 mm in the treble). The strength of the repetition spring must also be perfectly regulated. The hammers, after releasing the check, must rise decisively but without "jumping." In short... good regulation totally changes the approach to the instrument and produces a sensation of "ease" in the action. The stiffness may decrease with use. It certainly depends on its inactivity, which has made the center pins of the action a bit stiff. If it doesn't improve, the friction tolerances must be carefully checked. Anyway, best wishes for the magnificent instrument. I had one and I know what satisfaction it can give. Bye
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nancy
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Reply 10 by nancy
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521
Thank you Paolo!!
I play it every day and I am learning to know it better... it's true, it would need good tuning to personalize it better and improve the response in dynamic variations... but even as it is, with the felt, it's fine. The action is okay in terms of key dip and escapement. Now I don't find it so hard and tiring anymore... the main problem is the sustain pedal. I struggle a lot with that because to get good support I have to press down heavily with my foot and I'm getting a huge calf!!! It reaches a good resonance only at the end of the stroke and there is a small resistance to overcome to obtain the full effect... maybe it will loosen up with use!
but overall I like it very much..... the touch feels "velvety"... it is pleasant to play.
