Piano Ranking (ZT)

By Passerby

Some people here are shopping for new pianos. And asking question about different names of the pianos. The following ranking will be helpful, I hope so, at least. It is from Larry Fine’s Supplement to the Piano Book 2009. The 2010 version has not been out yet.

There was a 2009 fall edition published after the this ranking, to which I do not have access for now. Just let you know, in case you absolutely need the most updated information, though, I don’t think there would be significant difference in the versions which are half a year apart.

Please notice that there are two different Steinways in this ranking. The one is accessible to the North American public is make in NY, US., which was ranked in Sub-Group C. The one ranked in Sup-Group A is made in Hamburg Germany, which is not available in US.

Here is the quote from Larry Fine: "Note that Steinway & Sons (Hamberg) is not routinly available in North America; I include it for informational purpose only. Steinway & Son (N.Y.), has one of the finest sound of any piano in group one----and, relative to the others in this group, but worst workmanship. It's a testament to the amazing piano designs are this venerable, and the integrity of its sound-body action, that instrument with so little finesse in workmanship can potentially sound and play so well. They vary, if you bother the salespeople until they get their technician to prep up, you can find some really nice ones."

Also, please note that names within the sub-groups (A, B or C, etc) are in alphabetical order, not ordered by their qualities.

BRAND RANKING SERIES, MAKER, TYPE, etc.

GROUP 1: HIGHEST QUALITY PERFORMANCE PIANOS

A

BECHSTEIN, C. / CONCERT SERIES

BLUTHNER

BOSENDORFER

FAZIOLI

STEINGRAEBER & SOHNE

STEINWAY & SONS / HAMBERG, GERMANY

B

FORSTER, AUGUST

GROTRIAN

SAUTER

C

SHIGERU, (KAWAI) / KAWAI

STEINWAY & SONS / NY, USA

GROUP 2: HIGH-PERFORMANCE PIANOS

A

ESTONIA

MASON & HAMLIN

SCHIMMEL / KONZERT SERIES

B

BECHSTEIN / ACADEMY SERIES

HAESSLER SCHIMMEL / CLASSIC SERIES

SCHULZE POLLMANN

SEILER

STEINBERG, WILH.

WALTER, CHARLES R.

YAMAHA / "S" SERIES

C

BALDWIN / GRANDS

BOHEMIA

HOFFMAN, W.

IRMLER

KEMBLE

PETROF

VOGEL

GROUP 3: BETTER QUALITY CONSUMER-GRADE PIANOS

A

BOSTON / KAWAI WITH STEINWAY KAWAI / VERTICALS, & RX SERIES GRANDS

PERZINA / VERTICALS

PRAMBERGER, J.P. / SAMICK WEBER, ALBERT / YOUNG CHANG

YAMAHA / VERTICALS, & C SERIES GRANDS

YOUNG CHANG / PLETINUM EDITION

B

ESSEX / YOUNG CHANG/KOREAN WITH STEINWAY

KAWAI / GM & GE SERIES GRANDS

KNABE, WM / SAMICK WEBER / (SOVEIEIGN) (YOUNG CHANGE)

YAMAHA / GB & GC GRANDS

YOUNG CHANG / PROFESSIONAL ARTIST SERIES

C

BRODMANN / GRANDS

KOHLER & CAMPBELL / (MILLENIUM SERIES) (SAMICK)

PRAMBERGER, J. / SAMICK

STORY & CLARK / (SIGNATURE SERIES) (SAMICK)

GROUP 4: MEDIUM QUALITY CONSUMER-GRADE PIANOS

A

BRODMANN

EBEL, CARL / PERZINA

HEINTZMAN

MAY BERLIN / SCHIMMEL

PALATINO / AXL

PERZINA / GRANDS

STEIBERMAN / (PREMIUM SERIES) ( HAILUN)

STEINBERG, BERH. / PERZINA

B

EVERETT / (GRANDS) (DONGBEI)

HALLET, DAVIS & CO. / (GRANDS) (DONGBEI)

NORDISKA / (GRANDS) (DONGBEI)

WEINBACH / (GRANDS) (DONGBEI / PETROF)

C

CRISTOFORI / PEARL RIVER

ESSEX / PEARL RIVER OR YOUNG CHANG / CHINA WITH STEINWAY

KOHLER & CAMPBELL / (EXCEPT MILLENIUM SERIE) (SAMICK)

MILLER, HENRY F. / PEARL RIVER

PEARL RIVER

REMINGTON / SAMICK

RITMULLER / PEARL RIVER

SAMICK

STORY & CLARK / (HERITAGE SERIES) (SAMICK)

WEBER / (LEGEND SERIES) (YOUNG CHANG)

YOUNG CHANG / GOLD SERIES

D

CABLE, HOBERT M. / SEJUNG

EVERETT / (VERTICALS) (DONGBEI)

FALCONE / SEJUNG

GULBRANSEN / SEJUNG

HALLET, DAVIS & CO. / (VERTICALS) (DONGBEI)

HARDMAN, PECK & CO. / BEIJING

MEISTER, OTTO / BEIJING

NORDISKA / (VERTICALS) (DONGBEI)

STECK, GEO. / SEJUNG

STEIGERMAN / BEIJING

SUZUKI / ARTFIELD

WYMAN / BEIJING