ymnprovisation

 

As far as acoustic pianos, there are only a few pianos I will recommend to people and I have to say right out front, that while Steinway makes a very high-quality piano, it is not my favorite to play, although, I’m more than happy to get to play a well-maintained Steinway D any day! From both a musical and technical standpoint, I’d prefer to own a restored Mason and Hamlin up to 1930, or one built after 1995. From the mid ’30s up to the 80s’ they were a garbage-quality imprint manufactured by Aeolian. These are not the Mason and Hamlin I am speaking of!

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I know all you Steinway people would probably hang me for saying that I prefer Mason and Hamlin, but ever since the first time I played a Mason and Hamlin, I thought it sounded a bit like a small orchestra! I didn’t know this then but I wasn’t alone in this opinion. Most of the Steinway pianos I have played, with the exception of maybe two or three, had a much heavier touch and a darker sound which I don’t personally prefer. That being said, if you want quality at top price, and status as a “somebody” you may want to purchase a Steinway. It is a very high-quality, excellent piano.

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Mason and Hamlin-the World’s Finest Pianos! 

Until you’ve played one, you can’t truly appreciate all that goes into them, but they have been accurately described as “A Small Orchestra," “The Stradivarius of pianos” and “An incredible work of art," among many other glowing accolades.

There is an incredible depth to the bass, a crisp, almost bell-like top end, and perfect center. No matter what kind of music you play, a Mason and Hamlin will be your best choice.

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M&H are the most expensive pianos to build, as they have unique features which no other manufacturer has implemented, including their famous, patented Tension Resonator, which serves to retain the crown of the soundboard for the life of the piano. No other piano has this, and many older pianos have flattened soundboards that make them not worth restoring. Mason and Hamlin continues to pave the way in piano technology, making the greatest strides in over 300 years of piano building. They have learned how to do what others have claimed impossible, and they continue to forge ahead making new discoveries.

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Henry Mason was a pianist, and his brother, William, was one of America’s foremost classical pianists and composers. Their father was the famous composer and educator Lowell Mason, a visionary who was the first to bring music into the public schools of America. He was also known throughout the world as a composer and publisher of hymns, and is often called the “father of American church music.” Henry Mason shared his father’s lifelong dedication to music.

 

​Emmons Hamlin was not a musician, but instead a brilliant mechanic and inventor. Together this team hired brilliant designers who contributed much to the piano industry.

 

Before Steinway came to America, one could find a Mason and Hamlin grand piano on the concert stage. Unfortunately, around the time of WWII, Mason and Hamlin, along with nearly every other American piano brand, were swallowed up by the conglomerate known as Aeolian corp. From then on until the mid 1990’s they got a bad rap due to the poor quality standards of Aeolian.

 

In 1995, Gary and Kirk Burkett, of Pianodisk, purchased Mason and Hamlin, and are doing an excellent job restoring to their original standards. Even beyond that, they have made some incredibly gutsy moves partnering with Wessel, Nickel, and Gross, manufacturers of composite action parts, that are pushing the envelope of piano design. Mason and Hamlin is once again being revered and praised for their incredible sound, fantastic touch, high quality, and beautiful, impeccable craftsmanship.

 

​I have personally met and played hymns with the owners of Mason and Hamlin (One of which has gone to be with the LORD now) and not only did their humility impress me, but also their ingenuity and the achievements in advancing the design of 300 years of piano building. No other piano has the ability to retain the crown of the soundboard so well. No other piano is manufactured with such cutting-edge parts! No other piano I have ever played had the beauty, power and yet, sweetness, which is a trademark of the Mason and Hamlin. For these reasons, I recommend them.

You might also really appreciate their mission statement:

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“At PianoDisc (Mason and Hamlin’s parent Co.*) we are committed to leading our industry by serving our customers, our dealers, our employees, and our vendors all over the world. Our servant hood is manifested through superior products, excellent service and honest communication. There is no better example of the servant leader than the Lord Jesus Christ. Our business is dedicated to Him, and we have dedicated ourselves to modeling His example- with His help and to the best of our ability.”

*Parentheses added for clarity.

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I personally hope someday I can own one of these. If I could afford it I would get the model BB. which, although the same size, I prefer over a Steinway B! Apparently, I am not alone in this opinion!

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In case you just HAVE to have a Steinway, please go talk to the people at the Spokane Steinway Gallery. They are the absolute nicest folks you will meet and they want to help you buy your own Steinway.

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If you can’t afford a Mason and Hamlin BB, or a Steinway B, or you or your church are looking for a piano that is more affordable, I recommend you take a hard look at Yamaha pianos such as the Yamaha P2 studio piano, the U series uprights, and the C, CX, or G series grands. They also have the higher end CF or SX series acoustic pianos. While I cannot currently recommend any of the newer acoustic models without inspection because I have found them to be inferior in general, they do make an excellent non-acoustic, the NU-1 which is essentially a keyboard that has real weighted keys and upright piano action in it utilizing the samples of their $200,000 CFX series concert grand. It is simply an incredible sound and touch you won’t believe coming from a non-acoustic instrument.

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Although I learned on a Clavinova, I do not recommend electronic keyboards with the exception of some of the Yamaha instruments like the NU-1, which you absolutely should play. This is hands-down, the absolute best non-acoustic piano I’ve seen yet. If you need a more portable keyboard, I personally own and recommend a Yamaha P series such as the P-95 or P125.

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If looking for a Yamaha In the Northwestern United States, I will recommend that you purchase from my friend Alan, at Tri-City Music. Tell him I sent you.

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 The quality of nearly every Yamaha is really quite good, and probably the best of all Asian built pianos, though it shouldn’t really ever be compared with Steinway or Mason and Hamlin, just like you wouldn’t compare a Toyota Camry with a Maserati.

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Just so you know, I don’t receive a penny from any dealers or manufacturers except Sheetmusic Plus, but I recommend these folks to you because they are the best bang for your buck.

 

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