Here's why the 90's were Steinway's Last Golden Era

[@mouldypretzel]

The 90’s truly were the golden age and you played it so beautifully that I’m beyond words right now. Cheers James. You’re making the world a much better place. Keep doing what you do and I’ll keep watching

[@MyDiesel101]

James.....Simply put You are truly wonderful. You, playing Claire de Lune almost brought me to tears, it was so lovely.This Steinway is magnificent. Thank You James!

[@Savartarus]

Holy Moly that Clair de Lune was so amazing. You really let it sing right. I looked away from the video and I heard you start playing it and I could have swore it was from a professional's CD. I'm honestly impressed and in awe.

[@hansroemerszoonvanderbrikk7626]

It seems James has been inspired by this wonderful piano and put a really good Claire de lune together :) The trial is more comprehensive playing a lot of different pieces, this piano really sounds good, I'd really like to spend a few hours with it.

[@ivyssauro123]

I mean, all things considered James *IS* a professional

[@Savartarus]

Ivo Wilson point me in the direction of his record label and Album

[@Savartarus]

Ivo Wilson thats literally what professional means. Professional means you perform your trade for money. Amateur means that you don’t perform your trade for money. The skill level involved is irrelevant

[@Savartarus]

Ivo Wilson the record label was just in reference to the fact that I thought it sounded like a well produced cd. And if you don’t get paid for what you are doing, you are not a professional. I’m sorry Webster’s dictionary is so hard for you

[@andthis1sforyou]

Really beautiful playing!

[@Topdoginuk]

Excellent video. Your ability to showcase the piano’s potential is music to our ears!

[@LMacNeill]

I completely agree -- the tone on that piano is *stunning!* What an amazing find! And your performance was also excellent!

[@2541968joey]

Thank you for your videos & piano information. Am just learning how to enjoy a 1912 Regent baby grand. Thanks,

[@JasonBryantGreen]

Do you have a video where you elaborate more on your feelings towards Steinway?

[@barno01]

You are such a great player, and you obviously love pianos. Excellent.

[@carlbowles1808]

Beautiful Rich tone with sparkling treble. I want this one. Thanks piano Man 👍.

[@rikspector]

James, As you played I fely like I was drifting off to another place. That Steinway is special and I hope the company can make a "comeback" Cheer, Rik Spector

[@lostinbeauty7129]

Thank you, James. As always, Clair de Lune stopped me in my tracks. Thanks for giving us a generous helping thereof. I don't think I've ever seen a Steinway piano that wasn't black. Didn't think there even was such a thing. Lovely.

[@ThePianoforever]

Steinway is pretty well known for doing lavish art cases, even to this day. But of course the most common is black.

[@duanequam7709]

Just amazing. I am so glad I found you. I would like to know more about your past. Your future is pretty obvious. Thanks

[@NikkiBrown4theLord]

I second that!!

[@daved217]

Good video, great playing!

[@moldenburg909]

This was again a perfect review of a beautiful piano. A little arrangement of different nice pieces. Nice to listen to. I could listen to this for hours. But what where you sitting next to, is that an upright? Thank you for sharing.

[@ThePianoforever]

The piano next to me in this video is an upright Steinway from the 40's, I believe.

[@moldenburg909]

Looks good!

[@cambridgeport90]

I played on a modern Steinway when I got my little girl back in 2002 (the one I ended up with is a Bernhardt Steiner, and she sings similar, very similar, to this one), and I don't find the sounds of a modern Steinway to be very appealing; not sure whether it's my picky ear, or what, but ... I think that if you can find a gem like this, then grab it before it disappears. And gosh, that beautiful playing of yours!

[@jmfonlinejazzmusicafinaonline]

Is there any diference between the sound of Steinway Black and wood natural?

[@ThePianoforever]

I do not believe so.

[@ivyssauro123]

I freaking love the treble on this!

[@Ferrovelhotv]

I do agree about the mellow darker tone. I it is much better than many new manufactured today. I think that you have a gifted ear for understansing tone of musical instruments.

[@ThePianoforever]

It's not everybody's cup of tea, and it wasn't even mine many years ago, but I've really grown to like the warm, mellow sound!

[@Ferrovelhotv]

@@ThePianoforever I own 4 pianos, two electric and two acoustic. One is a Krakauer Just like the one you reviewd in your channel, from 1920. The other is a 1870 pleyel. This last one has a cracked pin block, só it needs hard repairs. But the Krakauer is awesome, Just like you described in your video. I think that the ageing of the spruce soundboard leads to this mellow tone we are referencing but without loosing treble. The new pianos I have played tend to sound metalic and harsh. There is a factory down here in Brazil (Fritz Dobbert) that builds some of these harsh sounding pianos.

[@Ferrovelhotv]

I recommend you review a Yamaha CP70.

[@denw0]

Hey James! Would you ever consider playing some Phillip Glass for some test pieces? Thanks for the video.

[@jaapstobbe34]

pffff indeed, what a beautiful, rich tone, full character! :-)

[@jmfonlinejazzmusicafinaonline]

Beautiful sound.

[@GonzoTheRosarian]

The piano sounds amazing and thanks for usually showing other pianos other than Steinways... I always feel I am going to get clobbered when I say I really prefer other pianos to Steinway!

[@ThePianoforever]

Not here.

[@TaenyKim23]

Please include the title of the songs that you played,, thank yoou ^_^

[@anastasiosgoumas]

claude debussy clair de lune

[@ChazSeamus28]

they will never make em like that anymore.. all about the money

[@waynethompson8416]

I don't remember the brand of piano, but years ago I saw the most beautiful Baby Grand made from Oak! I so wanted to own it...but, alas, I had neither the money to purchase it or the place to put it. Sad really, because the cost was around $2,000.00 which even then probably was not too great, but for my budget it was equivalent to about a million dollars.

[@davidmckinney6577]

Gee oh me James you played my favorite song Claire de lune. It was amazing performance. I liked moonlight sonata also and you other song.. good job

[@mutt1112]

wow Jame your Clair de Lune was sweet. but i was still waiting for you to play your test piece.

[@WarrenPostma]

The treble has a lovely film score appropriate sound.

[@oaktree1628]

What’s the name of that song that you played after Moonlight Sonata? That was nice.

[@wojtek77128]

Wonderful piano. Do you happen to know the price?

[@denw0]

A small house.

[@ThePianoforever]

You can contact the seller of this piano (DC pianos Berkley).

[@BFHPET]

what is the piece at 4:30

[@135Pandemonium]

Can you explain the reasons behind those things you said about Steinway?

[@myuncle2]

It's about technical details, wood choice, soundboard thicknessing, action, felt quality, frame quality, strings quality. You need to ask a piano maker to know exactly why, but even that it's not enough, because you will get different answers from different makers, everyone will be partial to what they like. So in the end, it's better to become a piano maker :)

[@garysandiego]

So where can we buy this beauty?

[@ThePianoforever]

DC pianos. I was just there a few days ago and it's still there!

[@daniandres3211]

You really kove Debussy. Well played!

[@kf31paris]

Bravo ! I think I am addicted To your vidéos now....even if my english is not great 😕

[@ThePianoforever]

Your English is great.

[@kf31paris]

@@ThePianoforever No !!!!! do you speak french orange do you plan To come and play piano in Europe?

[@ThePianoforever]

I sadly do not speak French. I was planning to come to Europe soon, but now understand that the EU will be restricting travel by this summer.

[@kf31paris]

@@ThePianoforever bye thé Way because of you I learned new words on your Wayne Stuart vidéo : "meme raths and moochers" not really sure about the translation in french but I feel it not nice...oh la la !!! 😂

[@The_Smith]

Thanks for doing these little mini concerts for us, a nice looking and sounding piano, but what is that BEAUTY beside it? I hope you did a review on it too, love what I could see of the case, looked Art Deco ish (other than that bit of carving) And what was the song you played after "Someone You Loved" it sounds so familiar, yet can't place it. Pax.

[@websurfin9575]

What's the price of that Steinway piano? Absolutely LOVELY!!

[@jasondoe2596]

12:24 1999

[@jess228]

@@jasondoe2596 That is the year it was manufactured, not the price.

[@jess228]

@@jasondoe2596 Ah, I didn't even notice the edit. Sorry to bust your chops when you did offer the correct information.

[@websurfin9575]

@@jasondoe2596 Much thanks for your help!

[@NikkiBrown4theLord]

Wow!! So pretty!! What was the 2nd song you played?

[@TndPnyRCofficial]

Lewis Capaldi “Someone you Loved”

[@NikkiBrown4theLord]

@@TndPnyRCofficial Thank you, My Dear!!

[@fatheroftwo852]

I enjoy the sound of some Steinway pianos, but I feel that no matter how quality the piano is, the pricing is never justify-able. Of course, some of their older models are wonderful, and offer multiple differing sounds; from warm, dark and formidable, to bright, inviting and overall rich tones. I love your channel, and I wish to view many of your other videos on pianos; I have but two questions: My first is down to you, but will you ever use atonal or bitonal music to test the sounds on these pianos? I personally find music like Sorabji's, and Nikolai Obukhov's to be wonderful for testing the dissonance, and the voicing of these instruments. My second question is more of a suggestion, but... Will you ever test or showcase an Alex Steinbach piano? I have always loved their brand, and the purely vibrant sound they give off, is too inviting to not be shown on your lovely channel! Thank you very much for making these videos, and I hope you have a splendid day/night c:

[@ThePianoforever]

I have never seen a Steinbach piano, if I do, I'll try to do a video with it.

[@fatheroftwo852]

@@ThePianoforever Thank you very much James :D

[@catoblepag]

I know it sounds nerdish and stupid, but I've never truly understood the beauty of Debussy's Clair de Lune until I heard it in the context... of a videogame. A niche, crazy japanese videogame called Danganronpa 3. I was nearly moved to tears, and it doesn't happen to me very often (if you play that game, you'll understand). Beautiful execution, congrats ;)

[@prestige2000rider]

its a stunning Instrument James. Hey, im curious, how would you rate the mid fortys to mid 50's 9' grands? My second piano teacher had one of that era. She claimed they were of the best around .

[@ThePianoforever]

I haven't played that many 40-50's Steinway D's so I can't really comment on that, but I have found some from the 30's with the original soundboards that were fantastic.

[@prestige2000rider]

@@ThePianoforever thats awesome James. Im guessing it could be pretty close.But thats just a guess. If you ever get to L A , check out Capitol Studio A at the Capitol building, it has Nat King Cole‟s 1945 New York Steinway as one of their 2 session pianos available. Ive heard it on a few recordings done there and its Phenomenal Have a great weekend man. .

[@mrderp911]

00:12 wait what are wrong with new Steinway pianos? 😳

[@ThePianoforever]

Many things, mostly involving the consistency and quality of their new pianos, and the negative way they often treat customers today.

[@juntin810]

www.google.com/amp/s/thehatchinstitute.org/all-stories/2019/2/9/angry-customers-say-steinway-deceived-them%3fformat=amp

[@oaktree1628]

ThePianoforever -can I hire you when o go piano shopping? You’re very knowledgeable.

[@magdavelas]

After the ‘90s, somehow Steinway lost its way.

[@Alix777.]

In what way ? Could you explain ? It's interesting.

[@billgreen6263]

Steinways sound great. Rich full tone and great bass. They are not consistent though. Very susceptible to slight climate changes. Action problems such as inconsistent repetition springs and sluggish action centers. Damper problems.

[@Alix777.]

What do you think of today's Steinways ?

[@ThePianoforever]

Not my favorite.

[@robertdublowski5544]

A little to warm on my opinion.

[@paullarnce2167]

I going out to play the lotto so I can get a Steinway.

[@mimoochodom2684]

Mental note: It's the piano that's the star in these vids.....Note from brain: nope.

[@vitaliypredoliak2124]

Dear friend you can (yes, yes, you can!) make a good honor for yourself just memorize all the way whole piece of Beethowen's Lunar and make us all happy! Please !!!

[@ThePianoforever]

When I visit a store, there are usually 5+ pianos I want to film, and as it is, it can take all day to film videos, never mind if I play a 5 minute long piece on each piano. However, I will play the full piece on a special piano, or if I don't have a lot else going on.

[@LeNoLi.]

what's wrong with steinway's business practices?

[@hhdjnd7070]

For me , modern ones are better.