🎹 100-Year-Old Knabe Grand Piano: A Musical Gem from the 1920s 🎹

🛒 See Knabe Grand Piano▸www.merriammus...
🛒 See More Used Pianos▸www.merriammus...
💕 Subscribe to Merriam Pianos HERE ▸ bit.ly/Subscrib...
🔔 Click the 🔔 bell to be notified of all videos! ▸ bit.ly/Subscrib...
#grandpiano #piano #vintage
Welcome back to the Merriam Pianos channel, today we have an extremely special look at a 100 year old vintage Knabe grand piano.
For regular viewers of the channel, you will know that vintage pianos are not a very common topic for us, and that isn't because we've got some grudge against vintage pianos, it's mostly just that I'm usually pretty musically underwhelmed by them. So I'm not often inspired to share them.
The simple truth is the vast majority of instruments decline musically over time. And although there are some aspects of the piano which can be resuscitated with sufficient time and investment, such as the action…once you start ripping the full guts out of the instrument I.E the belly or the soundboard, bridge and sometimes the pin block assembly, unless you're dealing with like a factory trained technician, or even sometimes a factory in the case of say Steinway rebuild, it's very difficult that you'll ever get back to the original kind of magic the piano once had.
So imagine my surprise when a couple weeks ago this piano wound up in our shop. It's a vintage Knabe. This is an American built, specifically built in Baltimore, 6 ft-ish grand piano. It's kind of a salon type size for a large home setting or maybe a small recital hall, and has what appears to be a full restoration done sometime in either the late 1990s or early 2000s. But most critically with the original soundboard preserved and I'm going to get to why that makes this instrument such an interesting find.
Now outside of the soundboard, everything on this instrument has been completely rebuilt. We're talking about a brand new PIN block, we're talking about New Bridge caps, a full Renner action and the original ivory keys.
Now the Knabe brand has a rich history and was considered one of the very best instruments being made in North America at the time, which given the context of what everybody else was building around the world at that moment, probably makes this one of the best pianos in the world. Some could argue it might have been a top 5 piano, but it's hands down definitely a top 10 piano for the moment in time when it was being built.
We suspect this example is either early 1910s or possibly early to mid-1920 based on its musical features. However, due to the many restorations, the original serial number has been lost. But there's enough other telltale markers on here that at least allows us to pinpoint its original origin, the factory it came out of, and the general era that it was produced.
Now Knabe’s weren't just well known because of their quality, but they certainly were well known because of their quality. In fact, you can find a Knabe at Graceland, you can find one in the white house, and it is also still the official piano of the New York Metropolitan Opera.
There are very specific musical features on this piano. Of its day for one it has this really prominent front duplexing feature which is something that Steinway of course pushed to the back of the piano Knabe was really focused on getting this working at the front of the instrument so this is a very specifically tuned section of string from the Capo back to this raised brass section to give the instrument some extra higher resonance when you're playing instrument it also has three Bridges which is not completely unique to Knabe, but it is pretty rare that you have a tenor bridge, table bridge and bass bridge.
The result is a piano that has so much sustain and upper color that I had to get the audio spectrometer out just to see how many partials were happening, and would you believe there were 13 peaks! Most pianos have six, seven or eight. I've seen a couple that get up into maybe the 9th partial that can really be detected, but 13 completely distinct peaks on this Knabe, which really explains what my ears were hearing.
There's just so much soundboard tone coming at you, it's a blended sound so you don't get that super directional sense that you do off other instruments such as say a Bechstein, it's kind of just this wash of sound coming towards you, yet extremely colorful.

[@PaulaMorin-c1y]

This was just lovely! I was raised listening to my mother play her 1915 Knabe piano. It was a parlour grand and even as a child I loved learning how to play it. Later as an adult I discovered a c. 1920 Knabe baby grand and had it restored by a Steinway technician. It was quite expensive but so worth it. Unfortunately it had to be sold during the Great Recession. Today at 79 I play an old Swedish upright handcrafted in Stockholm. The touch is very nice and the soundboard and interior is in excellent condition and it is being regulated. It's fun to play but nothing compared to a Knabe. Thank you so much for bringing back so many fond memories! And also - you play it beautifully.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much for the kind words and support! We appreciate it. I certainly agree with the sentiment regarding properly-restored Knabe grands. They are wonderful pianos that provide an exceptional touch and tone! Thanks so much once again and happy playing! :)

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

I agree with Michael. Acoustic piano reviews are so much more interesting🎹🎶

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the feedback! We're still going to be tackling digital pianos, but you can bank on a bit of a shift back to acoustic pianos for the next little bit. ;)

[@intervibist]

This piano has real character, displaying such wonderful warmth and personality. It is not at all like a modern instrument and will undoubtedly become a beloved family member. Thanks for sharing it with us, Stu!

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! That is an excellent way to put it! It truly is full on identity and character. :)

[@zvelekva]

@@MerriamPianos Yamaha has invented an aging process for their violins and are apparently now using it in their top end pianos (they call it A.R.E. and from what I could tell it's simply exposing the wood to decades worth of atmospheric changes within a few days/weeks/months). Any chance Stu could review one of these instruments and give us his 10 cents if Yamaha have cracked it?

[@johnball3487]

I have a 1918 5-8 and it has not been restored. No cracks in soundboard, original pin block, original hammers. Holds to A440 extremely well at 106! Real Craftsmanship!

[@MerriamPianos]

That is amazing! They are extremely well-made pianos. We're happy to hear that you've experienced excellent longevity from your piano. :)

[@MrVonweber]

Thanks!!! I own a 1915 Knabe Concert grand (8 1/2 feet). Professionally restored in 2006. Love it!!! Even the wrong notes sound good!

[@MerriamPianos]

You're welcome! That is amazing! It sounds like a wonderful instrument. The vast majority of restored Knabe grands I have had the opportunity to play are exceptional instruments. :)

[@MrMoppedheizer]

Such a wonderful, colorful sound! Thank you for allowing us to be part of it! With all new instruments, the differences in timbres become less and less, as every manufacturer tries to get as close as possible to the "mainstream Steinway" sound. This Steinway sound is certainly not bad, but a significantly different sound can no longer be found today, as no manufacturer dares to try something new anymore (if they want to sell a significant number of pianos...)

[@MerriamPianos]

It is a stunning sounding piano! While I certainly understand your sentiment and I believe that is true of some manufacturers, there are a plethora of top-tier piano manufacturers, ranging from Kawai and Yamaha to Bechstein and Schimmel, that have a very distinct idea of what the "perfect" piano tone is, which greatly contrasts the Steinway New York sound.

[@geraldparker8125]

Speaking of Kawai, it seems to me that Kawai is the chief inheritor of that kind of sound which Chickering and Knabe represented in the past. I doubt that Kawai instruments have the rugged durability of Knabe, which famously are built to last and to endure even a thermonuclear blast, but aside from such an important matter as that, Kawai are the instrument today of that kind of tonal character. @@MerriamPianos

[@surreal_youtube]

Thanks Stu….that tone was wonderful ❤

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Thank you so much for tuning in! It really is a gorgeous tone. :)

[@paulmcgrath2430]

Absolutely gorgeous with an enchanting sound! Of course your playing it is delightful to. Thx Stu

[@MerriamPianos]

It really is a wonderful piano with a uniquely, captivating sound! Thanks for watching! :)

[@justinnoble6506]

I have a 1930 and it is a gem.

[@MerriamPianos]

That is awesome! There are some beautiful pianos from that era! :)

[@rogercarroll2551]

That piano is a treasure. There is no 'foul deterioration' of tone: it is just pure.

[@MerriamPianos]

It is a stunning instrument! And I do agree that it has a wonderfully pure tone. :)

[@mickedavis3503]

Robert Estrin at Living piano sell almost only old pianos like the Knabe you are playing in this video so there must be a lot of old pianos that sounds good.

[@MerriamPianos]

There are a lot of beautiful antique pianos that have been restored in order to provide a wonderful musical experience. This Knabe is an excellent example of that! :)

[@mikenol1]

Greetings from Scotland! I knew of Knabe but had never heard one played before. What a beautiful, characterful instrument, so much more colourful than most modern pianos. Please include more features on older, unusual instruments as you get them in stock. Thank you, Stu, for your concise and informative commentary and, as ever, your elegant playing.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thank you for the feedback! We really appreciate it. We are planning on featuring more unique used and restored pianos on the channel, so we're really glad the video has been well received. :)

[@geraldparker8125]

Ah, the Great One. Vintage Knabe pianos, namely the authentic grand pianos of that name qhixh the firm made in Baltimore (MD.) and later in Rochester (N.Y.), are my favourite of all American-made pianos, with the exception of vintage pre-Depression Chickering pianos. As a high school student, I was able to practise after school on a superb Knabe concert grand piano and that was ecstatically satisfying. The tone and action of those Knabe pianos is just superb and the quality control and full peak. I have a Knabe studio upright, from the last year of Knabe production at Aeolian in Rochester and my piano technicians always fall in love with it, but of course, the grands are in a class beyond all excellence!

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your story about the Knabe pianos you have had the privilege to own and play! They really are stunning pianos with a distinctly beautiful tone. :)

[@geraldparker8125]

Yes, Knabe, as Chickering also had done, made pianos that embody just how wonderful The American Piano (mellow in tone and fuller bodied in sound than the marvellous German pianos of Bechstein, Blüthner, and Bösendorff, so gloriously sweet and airy in timbre, which are the only rivals in the world, in their different way, to the heritage of Chickering and Knabe. Actually, I own a Blüthner vintage 1935 grand piano, which blends beautifully with the similar but slightly ballsier sound of the Knabe. Blüthner and Knabe together blend in an almost magically enchanting manner. The Knabe studio upright size permits me to see over the top of the instrument to maintain eye contact with the player on the Blüthner grand, which makes playing together such an intimate and lovely experience. @@MerriamPianos

[@qwiklok]

Now that is truly gorgeous sound. I have a 1930 9' but with a slightly flattened soundboard, that to get the most out of it, it needs to be played at mf or lower. The sound is from heaven and blows away any pro level performer. When played very loud, the quality is lessened a bit due to the soundboard. However, i have engineered a method to revive the crown and hold it using some Mason and Hamlin tensioning rods underneath. A project this summer I hope. The original wood is still there so i have that original design that makes them so fantastic.

[@MerriamPianos]

That is amazing to hear! It sounds like quite the wonderful instrument. And that sounds like a very compelling project. Best of luck with it! :)

[@donprior9144]

Stu I believe this piano is older than the 20s. It has an open pin block design which was typical of Knabe pianos of the late 1890s and very early 1900s.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! According to the serial number, it would have been made sometime between 1920 and 1930 (at least based no the serial number databases I have referenced).

[@michaelmoe8656]

@MerriamPianos @donprior9144 I thought he said the serial number is missing? I would agree with Don. I've been deep dive researching Knabe trying to get a handle on era identification as I've been looking for one to buy. I'm no expert by any means, but the plate in this one is identical to one that I've been eyeing to acquire, which was produced prior to 1900 with a serial number in the 46,000 range. I had been looking for an example with the same plate casting and this is one of only a couple I've found. The other was also listed as pre-1900, which makes me think that if this one has no number on it, the plate design is too specific and there are too few matching examples for it to span a long time frame. In particular, the artistic design elements of the raised areas around the cooling (?) holes to the rear of the plate are unique along with the leaf shapes cast into the transition from the cross members to the perimeter. You see similar elements in other plate designs, but I've only been able to find three examples with the exact identical combination of these embellishments, which seem to date only to late 1890s. Combined with the info from Don, I think there is enough there to date this to that time frame.

[@michaelmoe8656]

Another detail that seems to be typically 1880's and 1890's is the face mounted hinges. This one does not have face mounted hinges, which I think makes it about 1905. Here is a photo of a very similar piano reported to be a 1905 with serial number 57956. This one also has the same plate design. preview.redd.it/1905-knabe-58-grand-piano-v0-a0nwfuuvnnka1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea710438a7a2574b5b5c1d4a4b7b7b8c6fe19303

[@Nyemaster]

I love mine. Such a great instrument.

[@MerriamPianos]

They really are wonderful pianos! Thanks for tuning in! :)

[@smplchmp]

Beautiful, thanks for sharing. I'm a big fan of pianos from the early 20th century and this is a great find!

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! We are too! There are some wonderfully unique instruments that come through our showrooms, so it is fun to put a spotlight on them! :)

[@SONOMA_VALLEY_TOM]

Gorgeous tone. I've played a few old Knabe pianos, none of them ever sounded this good. Stu, lovely key changes during the demo songs. Always enjoy your playing.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Thank you for tuning in! We're glad you enjoyed the video. This Knabe is a really exceptional instrument with a gorgeous voice. :)

[@geraldparker8125]

Merriam is lucky to have such a skillful and artistic pianist to represent the instruments that it makes available for sale to the public. You are an exceptional piano man, dude! @@MerriamPianos

[@Quince828]

Such a unique and clear tone. It’s a pleasure to listen to.

[@MerriamPianos]

I couldn't agree more! Thanks for tuning in! :)

[@woeye3251]

I did not know about this detail regarding the aging of wood and elasticity. But with the mentioning of violins it of course makes total sense. Are there any documentaries or books about this topic? And of course, great playing! Thanks so much for sharing this with us.

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thank you for taking the time to tune in! I am sure there are at the very least articles tackling the subject, but you may be able to find some books as well. Unfortunately, none are coming to the top of my head at the moment, but I will certainly let you know if I come up with any sources to investigate. :)

[@PiotrBarcz]

I'm an old piano fanatic so I can tell you for certain, that a piano that is REBUILT (not RECONDITIONED though that can be sufficient too) by a good service like The Antique Piano Shop, the Piano Exchange in New York city, Chernobieff Piano etc. then the piano will WITHOUT A DOUBT perform just as well as it did when it came from the factory. The tonal quality will be improved even more if the soundboard is replaced in the rebuild (if the piano isn't restrung and hasn't had the pinblock replaced it isn't a rebuild). Another point I'd like to make is that soundboard crown doesn't always kill the piano if there is almost none present. There are plenty of pianos that have their original soundboard and sound great despite the board not having almost any crown. Mason & Hamlins are an exception with the crown detriment thing because they have the tension resonator assembly that brute forces the rim to hold the soundboard in place and keep it's crown which is why M&H pianos almost never have lack of crown.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the wonderful insights! I certainly agree that a proper rebuild can restore an instrument to its former glory or, in some cases, even a superior version of its musical character. There is a magic to these old rebuilt pianos - that is for sure! :)

[@mfurman]

Very interesting review. It is so much more interesting to hear reviews of acoustic pianos than digital! I am no longer interested in chasing the digital piano “perfection”. I currently practice on Yamaha C7 (not mine) and have Yamaha P-225 at home to practice in the evenings and learn new pieces. I will not spend more than C$1000 for digital piano (that just needs to have half decent action, a few sounds, Digital Audio Interface, MIDI, Bluetooth and be very (!) portable). Thank you for a great review, Stu. Michael Ps. I also recorded Robert Schumann’s Melody on C7 recently.

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

How's the GHC compared to the GHS? Is it just as heavy as the GHS? Which I like the weight of don't get me rong🎹🎶

[@mfurman]

@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 I posted two videos on my channel - one about noise (Yamaha P-225 action noise test) and the other where I play fragments of The Sick Doll on it. I included all the tests results in the first video. I will keep P-225.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much for tuning in! We appreciate the support and kind words! Digital pianos have come a long way, but, as you've alluded to, the real thing is still the real thing. ;)

[@randypiano11]

Stu's a piano genius. Love it!

[@MerriamPianos]

He certainly is! Thanks for tuning in! :)

[@Svarthok]

Thank you for another informative and enjoyable video 🙂

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thank you for tuning in! :)

[@jls4382]

Delightful! I enjoy how I always learn something from your videos. Thanks for sharing. 💐

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! We're so happy to hear that! :)

[@creativekeyspianostudio6695]

Such a beautiful tone indeed. Great balance, not too bright, just perfect. Sounds like Grotrian for me.

[@MerriamPianos]

It really is a beautifully balanced tone! Thanks for tuning in! :)

[@jonos138]

Wow! That tonely sounds awsome just over the video, so much character, must sound even better sitting infront of it. What a great piano, and of course wonderful playing. If only we could capture samples in the same way. I wonder if Ai may get us a step closer in years to come to the point where we can no longer tell the difference between midi pianos and the real thing.

[@MerriamPianos]

It really is an impressive sound! And you are not the first to suggest sampling this amazing piano. ;) There is only one direction for technology and AI to progress. If the exponential progress of AI generated images, music, and written communication are any evidence of what's to come in other realms, we can only assume that AI is going to help meaningfully bridge the gap between the acoustic and digital piano experience. While that is an exciting prospect, it is also a little scary...this sounds like an excellent topic for Stu to cover in a future video!

[@PiotrBarcz]

I love the old American grands and uprights that have a ton of overtones, they never sound dead! Not like European and Korean pianos that sound disgustingly flat (Japanese pianos are on their own, they're soooooo colorful, especially the Yamahas with that brittle and bright tone perfect for jazz).

[@MerriamPianos]

There is a distinct "American" piano sound that is quite magical with a lot of character! :)

[@PiotrBarcz]

@@MerriamPianos Yeah, and it's really hard to come by nowadays!

[@MichaelEvans-jf2xk]

To my ears, these Renner hammers are too heavy and dense. The hammer wool from the 1920s was quite a bit less dense and the hammers were lighter. Those hammers have the piano a deeper bass, a warmer middle, and a bell-like top. I would suggest Ronsen Bacon hammers if that felt is available. Otherwise, Ronsen soft Weichert. Heavy tapering is the key to the tone assuming that you have left the piano’s AR at 6:1. Use B-72 solution to voice.

[@MerriamPianos]

It all comes down to a matter of personal preference. Every player will gravitate towards a different tonal profile of course. But, as you've pointed out, the fun thing about pianos is that there is a lot of room for customizing the musical performance to suit the musical desires of the player.

[@davidoneill913]

Another cracking video Stu ,thank you

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much! We're glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@geraldfriesen5600]

Sounds amazing!

[@MerriamPianos]

It really does! :)

[@alexeykulikov2739]

This is so interesting!

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much! We're glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@JoeLinux2000]

It's similar to my Chickering. Interesting that they replaced the entire action.

[@MerriamPianos]

There will certainly be some similarities between the two! In many cases, an action replacement or entire rebuild is necessary for instruments of this age. :)

[@mandohack]

Somebody needs to sample this for putting into a digital!

[@MerriamPianos]

That would be awesome! :)

[@WorstSanta]

I risk to be against the flow, but for me the sound is not interesting at all. Lack of bass, bubbled mid and ok highs. At least, this is what I hear in KZbin, it may be quite different when you are actually playing this instrument. But thanks much for one more great video, Stu!

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in! Tone will always be a very subjective topic. Some players will connect with the sound of a particular instrument, while others won't. Thankfully, there are a plethora of options out there to select from! :)

[@adrianodagenova6935]

Do you ever get any Australian Beales in N. America? Some of their grands may have had the Aquilot (?) bridge and may have been good...or...excellent...maybe...

[@MerriamPianos]

Very interesting! We have not had one of those pianos come through our showrooms, but we may in the future. You never know! :)

[@johnball3487]

❤

[@MerriamPianos]

:)

[@zaheedhasib]

Why is the piano shaking while you play, was it on a dolly?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! It may have been. I wasn't present for the video shoot that day, so I am no entirely sure.

[@zaheedhasib]

thank you Brent, i hope you are doing great. i am still loving the Bechstein A6, however, I might reachout to you soon about the Seiler.

[@sobrcelt]

It looks like it wobbles as you play it.

[@MerriamPianos]

It seems like there is a bit of movement when Stu is using the pedals.

[@jimhall167]

Jumping on Steinway has become a jealous pastime in the "piano world," as exemplified by several of these comments. I have a 1911 Steinway A with its original sound board in great shape. It was lovingly restored with Steinway parts. The sound of the 100-year-old Knabe does not approach the beauty of the sound of my 112-year-old Steinway.

[@MerriamPianos]

I can certainly understand your sentiment. With that said, we have many incredible 100+ year old rebuilt Steinway Golden Era grands come through our showrooms, which provide a wonderful musical experience. Furthermore, some of those Steinways feature some of the most beautiful cabinetry you will find on a piano. :)

[@chrishalle1982]

k nabe lol there is written knabe /ˈknaːbə/ what means boy or boy child. its a german surname.

[@MerriamPianos]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing the etymology! ;)

[@pianowhizz]

If the elephants are already in the piano - it wouldn’t seem to drive up the price of black market ivory by moving a piano from Baltimore to Toronto?

[@MerriamPianos]

I am not entirely sure what the implications would be. However, there are many older pianos in circulation on the used market that still possess original ivory keys.

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Did you record this with a cell phone?? Sounds awful !

[@MerriamPianos]

Our usual recording rig is a stereo pair of Rode NT5 condenser microphones running into a Focusrite Scarlett audio interface.