🎹 Top Piano Industry Scams (And How To Avoid Them) 🎹

[@Martial-Mat]

I thought at first that this seemed pretty self serving, but then as it progressed, it seemed more like a genuine attempt to protect the viewers. Great job Stu.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for watching! We're glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@pasadenaphil8804]

Having built my own business by cold-calling, I quickly learned that honesty is always the best policy. An informed client/customer is where you get your best referrals. Bad news travels at light speed. You don't need to make everyone happy. You have to protect yourself from "accidents looking for someplace to happen". Well-informed clients/customers are easier to close deals with or if they reveal themselves to be jerks who just want to chisel your profit, easier to turn away without wasting your time. It takes honest people to know honest people. Being honest pays for itself.

[@Martial-Mat]

@@pasadenaphil8804 I agree with you, but there are many millionaire scammers that would not.

[@vittorioserra2478]

Not german the first piano but Italian. Between 1698 and 1700, the Paduan Bartolomeo Cristofori, builder and repairer of instruments at the Medici court in Florence, developed a type of harpsichord in which the plucked string mechanism was replaced by hammers. This was the prototype of the piano😊

[@MerriamPianos]

That is true. While many will attribute the Germans for refining the manufacturing process and helping to bring the modern piano to its apex, the foundation of the modern piano can be attributed to Cristofori.

[@vittorioserra2478]

Congratulations for this and the other videos, mine was just a clarification, maybe because I'm Italian😅

[@dkinney1000]

The characteristic bright and loud piano we all know today is essentially an American piano from the late nineteenth century when Chickering, Steinway, Mason & Hamlin, and Weber competed for innovation.

[@DarkSideofSynth]

Exactly! First called fortepiano.

[@pianowhizz]

@@MerriamPianos Gabriel Anton Walter produced most pianos used by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven - and he was based in Vienna, not Germany. Chopin’s Pleyel pianos were all designed and manufactured in France. Even Duplex Scaling was invented in New York, United States in 1872, not in Germany. The main innovations contributed from Germany were the key action (including escapement / let-off) and carbon steel alloy piano wire, with the former being the one demonstrating the most skill (although more efficient key action designs have been invented since then). I think perhaps you’re exaggerating the German influence on the instrument - the piano was certainly not born in Germany.

[@FingersKungfu]

Stu is, without a doubt, the best piano salesman in Canada.

[@MerriamPianos]

I'll be happy to pass along the kind words to Stu on your behalf! Thank you for tuning in! :)

[@markaprill6501]

Possibly the world. There is a pretty nice guy from England named Jack but it’s apples to oranges.

[@bigdreams5554]

Stu convinced me to get a Kawaii k500.. entirely through his videos. I live in the US, otherwise would have gone to his show room. I did shop around locally and tried different piano brands, but in the end selected a K500. Fantastic piano, great value. Thanks Stu!!

[@davidleigh3346]

On a slightly different scam issue, have you heard the one about a ' widow who's giving away here late husband's Yamaha G1 or GC1'. She wants it to go to a music loving home or church/institution etc'. We've had a few emails like this in our church circles over the past year. You see what appear to be genuine photos in a warehouse somewhere in England. I cautiously enquired and was directed to a piano mover in South of England who I was told would deliver the piano and I would only pay the delivery fee! Needless to say, I decided to stick to our Roland digital!

[@MerriamPianos]

Yes - this is a very common scam. I am happy to hear that you avoided the scam and went with a Roland digital!

[@MartinMCade]

That's a common scam I see in guitar-related groups. Either it's someone giving away her late husband's high-end guitars, or it's a wife giving away a special guitar she bought for her husband but she found out he's cheating on her. Just pay the shipping fee! These scams seem to have gone away for a while, probably because of better detection and more attentive group admins, but I'm sure something else will come along.

[@HS-wp5vb]

Two additional tips: Firstly, any German product will boast "Made in Germany" on the cast iron plate. It will have a serial number and you can look up the serial number on a lot of websites to establish the year of make. Secondly, literally all German-made pianos use an action made by Louis Renner. If you open up the lid, you can clearly see a "Renner" sticker on the action. (The only exception I am aware of is Bechstein which makes its own actions for some years now.) A piano without a Renner action is likely not made in Germany.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you kindly for sharing these tips! These are definitely on point. It is also important for customers to know the difference between terminology like "Made in Germany" and "Designed in German" or "Selected by _______ in Germany".

[@HS-wp5vb]

@@MerriamPianos So true! The latter means truly nothing. People would be better much advised to buy an Indonesian-built piano such as the cheaper Seiler line "Johannes Seiler" or a cheaper Kawai or Yamaha rather than a stencil brand. I just wonder why people believe all this nonsense wheras with (German) cars they wouldn't.

[@myuncle2]

Factory and country is not enough. They should clearly tell us what spruce has been used for the sounboard: sitka, alpine red spruce, engelman, or scandinavian spruce? They also should tell us the exact speaking length and brand of the strings.

[@MerriamPianos]

I certainly agree that there should be more clarity and transparency when it comes to materials and specifications. Thanks for tuning in and writing in.

[@PianoMedic8923]

This is going to be a popular video. Very cool topic!

[@MerriamPianos]

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

[@Chrisentiae]

My digital piano decision was based on how the digital piano connected to me. Purely subjective. I now have a brand, that for whatever reason, works best for me. I looked into the history of the leading brands, and it is very interesting. I play my piano about 30 minutes every day, and can play a number of Beatles songs. Sounds awesome. Almost six months of playing piano from a good acoustic guitarist background. This is a must-watch video to give people new to the world of pianos some measure of a solid foundation. Not all piano sales places are the same. Greetings from Melbourne, Australia.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hello from Canada! Thank you kindly for tuning in and sharing your thoughts. We appreciate it! We're happy to hear that you have found a piano option that resonates with you. Feeling inspired by your instrument is critical. Thanks again and happy playing! :)

[@Quince828]

While you only peripherally touched on used pianos there is a world of scams going on there. I had a student whose upright was always out of tune. I opened the lid and found that the tuning pegs had been replaced with common nails. I once had the shop foreman come into my studio and ask if Bach and Brahms had known each other. It seems some lady was inquiring about her Bachenbrahms piano. The shop had “restored” an old upright and reached into the drawer of gold letters and created a sticker piano. I wish I was making this stuff up.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for sharing! This is an unfortunate reality with some used instruments. To that point, we always recommend having a technician you trust to inspect a used instrument before purchasing. A piano may look beautiful on the outside, but have a ton of potentially costly issues internally.

[@pianomathfreak6178]

Stu, I just wanna say thank you to you and your team for putting this video together. My respect for you guys just went up a notch. I'm Malaysian and have always been watching you play and review various pianos, both acoustic and digital. And it's videos like this one that is a cherry on top of your other review videos. You have potentially saved me and many others from being scammed, since I am hoping to be able to afford a good grand piano sometime in the future.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi there! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thank you so much for your support and kind words. We sincerely appreciate it! I will be happy to pass them along to Stu and the production crew as well. We're glad that you have found our videos/channel helpful. All the best and happy playing! :)

[@camilleotrakji]

Thank you! You're an excellent communicator. Learned a lot from this and previous videos.

[@MerriamPianos]

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

[@richarpadilla1891]

Great video as always Stu ! a little bit difficult for me to understand at some points because the information is very substantial, a genuine quality video , i'm a professional pianist and i'm always learning something with your videos !

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Thank you for tuning in! We're glad to hear that you've found Stu's deep dives helpful and informative. :)

[@fionabegonia7802]

Very thorough, informative video.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks a million! We appreciate that. :)

[@alexeykulikov2739]

One of the the most valuables videos on the channel! I have this experience: buy a Steangraeber&Sone in a decent condition from 1900 for 1850 eur. Invested into strings, tuning pegs, gluing bridges, action fixing and regulation - around 4000 eur. Forgot the hammers! Will do later. Result? A magical piano with a story, fantastic tone and a delight to play on. Transportation and hammers aded will have cost me 10K eur. Now, beat that))

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the kind words! And thank you for sharing your own piano journey! That sounds like an incredible piano with a lot of nuance and magic. We're happy to hear that you've been enjoying the musical experience it offers. :)

[@FABrendel]

Great vid, as usual. I'd love to have your opinion about Hailun

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll pass it along to our production team. :)

[@Researcher30473]

Excellent rare video. 👍👌

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much! :)

[@pastafarian2046]

Great topic, well explained.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you! We appreciate that. :)

[@mfurman]

This is indeed very important and helpful video. It definitely helps in the process of deciding what type of piano to get and to beware of. Thank you, Michael

[@MerriamPianos]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you kindly for watching! :)

[@paulmcgrath2430]

GR8 job Stu talking about the elephant in the room! Critical that buyers make informed decisions.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thank you for taking the time to tune in. We appreciate it! :)

[@waltervanderboor]

Great advice

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much! Glad you found the video helpful. :)

[@FremarJade]

thank you Sir for the inputs..

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you for taking the time tune in! We appreciate it. :)

[@crisoliveira2644]

I would love a comparison between Kawai's GL and GX lines. And also a comparison regarding the presence or not of their Core system, whether a GL-40 is or not a better deal than a GL-30 or smaller. Sometimes I think a piano should be sold like a car: with a variety of optional parts available. Alas, the demand for pianos is not big enough for customization to be profitable.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll be happy to pass them on to our production team. I think an entire comparison between the Kawai lines (GL, GX, and SK series) could be quite exciting. Hopefully, our team will be able to tackle that in the near future. Thanks for the idea! :)

[@markaprill6501]

I have been shopping for digital piano. This is the first time I have heard Stu play a “real” piano. Stu’s skill set is even more evident on an acoustic instrument.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in! We're happy to hear that you've been enjoying Stu's reviews as well as his playing! I will be happy to pass on the kind words. :)

[@HofiAgilAghov]

Great playing. We should hear more of that

[@MerriamPianos]

I'll be sure to pass on the kind words to Stu for you! :)

[@SidewaysStewie]

Will you do a Digital piano scam artists video? Honestly the big brands are scammy as they can be. I recieved a Roland LX-5 and it sounds BAD so the repairman came and replaaced the speakers (so he agreed on how bad it sounds) and afterwards some resonance issues were gone but we both agreed Rolands sound bad (and are made from ikea wood). So i ordered a Kawai CA701 wich also had issues right from day 1, and searching the forums it's apparently a thing. Also the computer onboard is slow as a snail and both Roland and Kawai apps have some of the lowerst scores on the app store. Why do big brands choose to make their pianos from ikea wood and make them sound more bad than my 13yo Kawai?! If realistic would be your idea of an answer, lord no, a real piano does not sound like it's run through a 90's compressor and an aliexpress amplifier. Digital pianos are 2000usd overpriced!

[@MerriamPianos]

I am sorry to hear that you had previous issues with the digital pianos you purchased. I am surprised to hear that you have had issues with the LX5 and CA701. In our experiences, those are both incredibly reliable models. With that said, some players will never be fully satisfied with a digital piano given their heavy preference for the sound and touch of an acoustic piano.

[@SidewaysStewie]

@@MerriamPianos I've only ever had digital pianos so that's not it. My very old kawai did a better job than the new one. The repairman is the official warranty handler for Roland and even he had to try out different lx5's and 6's just to confirm the bad sound is what Roland gives us. So no, its not a preference, they are just making worse pianos to cover costs probably, even though a less 'developed' piano with hogher quality components would give a more satisfying experience. As my old kawai proves. If you think both models are 'fine' maybe America is blessed with randomly distributed better assemblies that all fell into your lap, or your store has ceiling tiles and big windows and you mistake the sound of the Roland with the sound the tiles and windows would make on high volume levels. 🤷🏼 Luckily forums show many many customers agree with me as does the official warranty handler.

[@pianowhizz]

@@SidewaysStewie welcome to Yamaha! Please try the CLP-885 and NU1XA. Those are well-built and reliable instruments. Also try the Yamaha P-525 and add some quality Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 speakers if you want a great value for money setup.

[@cryololz]

​@@pianowhizzlol the 2 pianos you listed are not even close to be on the same price range as the CA701 or the Roland Lx5. It's like X2 or X2,5

[@oscar_sheen]

I tried to get country of origin for several digital pianos. It was hard. I gave up on some. But Yamaha were good. Some of theirs are made in Japan, others of theirs are made in China. Roland’s were made in Malaysia. Other prestigious names were made in China.

[@MerriamPianos]

It depends on whether you are talking about acoustic or digital pianos. The vast majority of digital pianos are made in China, Indonesia, or Malaysia (with some exceptions of course). Acoustic pianos depend on the manufacturer and line of course. Most companies will indicate country of manufacture on their websites though. :)

[@wardm4]

In addition to country of origin, be aware that many reputable Asian piano brands make pianos to be sold in the U.S. and make pianos that are not to be sold in the U.S. For instance, Yamaha has a way to check the serial number on their webpage to see if it's "gray market" and not to be sold in the U.S. I urge people to check this before making a purchase, even from a large reputable dealer. Sometimes the salespeople do not know this is what they are selling.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for writing in with your insights! The "gray market" piano debate is an interesting one, and probably worth an entire video dedicated to it. I will pass the suggestion along to our production team. ;)

[@kaleimaile]

Thanks!

[@ValkyRiver]

I would say one of the problems with the piano industry is not making narrower-keyed pianos. (more info at PASK piano)

[@MerriamPianos]

There are still some companies that offer narrower keys. It is just not particularly common. The only issue with narrower keys is that many pianos have to use different instruments when performing. To that point, if you are accustomed to a non-standard key width, it can make it hard to adapt.

[@ValkyRiver]

@@MerriamPianos Well… there is David Steinbuhler… Also, the idea that it is difficult to adapt to a different key width is a myth. More information at PASK piano

[@EdPin_]

Hi Stu & Crew. What i see... Lively shot with flowy movements revealing wonderful instruments in the background Typical KZbin jump-cuts to compress the information Nice but short excerpt (I would love to tilt the time balance in favor of piano performances) All tastefully spiced with a B-roll of universal clips, and solidified by shots from your custom collection of B-rolls Technically -> Bingo! But the topic - Controversy! Oh yes, I want some controversial stories, this angle works for me ;-) The end reveal - differences in the culture of trading, for some quite surprising (it was for me) This dish is complex, well-balanced, and satisfying. All I can do is ask for some historical controversies from the piano community, served in a similar way.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in! We're glad you enjoyed the video. And, every now and then, a little controversy and some lively, good-spirited debate are good things. ;)

[@zahifar3936]

Some fourty years ago, we had in our local market a proliferation of non branded pianos to which are locally added a bunch of plastic plates and stickers with European names. After that came instruments that look legit, that is the logo is cast in the frame, but also usually wholly made in the far east. Also with European brand names. Dishonest shops here would say that some parts are made in Europe and whatnot. I’ve tuned many of those and most are poor pianos. One brand of which I’ve tuned three units, all have the bass strings tuning pins that won’t budge. Those usually have a beautiful exterior to attract cusfomers.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for writing in and sharing your experiences! There was a time when many Chinese-built stencil pianos were branded with European names to make them more marketable in the North American market. While some of them did in fact use German/European components (Roslau strings, Abel hammers, etc.), they may not offer the best musical experience depending on other elements of the design and manufacturing process of course.

[@zahifar3936]

@@MerriamPianos thank you for offering your knowledge to the larger public!

[@cadriver2570]

Another one I see all the time is not disclosing the year of manufacture or comparing a ridiculously piano to the price of that same new model. "Steinway B $40,000, compared to $130,000." Except it's a 1905 Steinway.. Even a car dealer wouldn't try to sell a 1990 Mercedes S-Class for $5k and compare it to the $130k current model.

[@MerriamPianos]

That is a good point. Thank you for sharing! I'd hope that dealers are quite upfront and transparent about manufacture years, as well as the background of a specific instrument (if known of course).

[@paulcapaccio9905]

I have a 7 ft C Bechstein. Awesome

[@MerriamPianos]

Congrats! Bechstein make wonderful pianos! :)

[@GeeKim-j9i]

Now, Volvo has "Made by Sweden," notice it's not "Made IN Sweden," emblem everywhere for cars sold in certain countries.

[@MerriamPianos]

That is very interesting - and a little deceptive. Everyone is looking for an edge when it comes to marketing angles I suppose.

[@franquitofrankilopez]

Sería interesante hablar del nuevo ivory 3 .tiene muy buena pinta .

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll pass it along to our production team. :)

[@ranaranjo]

Does a common grand piano contract include voicing and hammer softening if the piano arrives with inconsistent tonality between adjacent notes? Should that be written down in a contract?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Voicing and regulation is not part of manufacturers' warranty coverage. To that point, the offering of these services with a purchases would vary from dealer to dealer.

[@SprokeChannel]

3:16 What is the name of this song? I want to hear the entire piece.

[@MerriamPianos]

I'd have to ask Stu as to what piece he is playing at the moment. It is possibly an improvisation though. Many of the performance excerpts Stu plays on these videos are improvised. :)

[@sarahsteinhardt1697]

Bravo, Stu! (From a former Steinway salesperson…)

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you for tuning in! I'll be happy to pass on your kind words to Stu. :)

[@Legato85Legato]

Hi, I'm a pastor of a traditional church,I don't play any tones other than piano. Pls give me suggestion that can I go for roland fp 30x instead of RD 08? Are both the default piano sound,quality and expression in Fp30x and RD 08 same.I want a good one piano tone to heard well when connected to external speakers in my church thru Mixer. I had yamaha p115 it sounded good inside the room thru the inbuilt speaker but once I connected it to an external speakers it's not as good as it sounds in the room. So roland Fp30x piano alone is enough.I don't want any features rhythm etc. I spent a lot money wasting on roland Juno ds 76, xps 30 but piano tone disappointed me. Pls suggest me.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for writing in with your question! The FP30X and RD08 are slightly different offerings. If you're primarily interested in a solid piano tone, the FP30X would be your best bet. However, if you require more instrument tones (particularly a large variety of non-piano sounds), the RD08 offers excellent value. There is also the Roland FP-E50, which is a best of both worlds solution in my opinion. Thanks and hope this helps!

[@REM977]

You play so well! I need to hang up my keyboard. 😢

[@MerriamPianos]

I know Stu appreciates the kind words, but you should certainly not hang up your keyboard! ;)

[@REM977]

@@MerriamPianos Thanks for the encouraging words! 🤗

[@oscar_sheen]

Wow, I was impressed with your economic and marketing knowledge. Not keeping pace with inflation, for example.

[@MerriamPianos]

I'll be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu! :)

[@kostasvlachos4262]

in Italy

[@MerriamPianos]

You are correct! ;)

[@pianowhizz]

@@kostasvlachos4262 incorrect: Cristofori invented his pianos in Florence, Duchy of Tuscany - Italy did not exist then! What you are claiming is like trying to claim that the Colosseum was Italian instead of Roman! Everyone needs to quit spreading misinformation!

[@musicaldiscovery1434]

The piano was invented in Italy by Bartolomeo Cristofori, not Germany.

[@MerriamPianos]

That is correct - thanks for catching that. ;)

[@cribedadabecri5764]

Sorry. The piano was invented in Italy, not in Germany.

[@MerriamPianos]

That is correct. Bartolomeo Cristofori is credited for inventing the piano. :)

[@jloiben12]

We are here for the German superiority

[@pianowhizz]

@@cribedadabecri5764 incorrect: Cristofori invented his pianos in Florence, Duchy of Tuscany - Italy did not exist then! What you are claiming is like trying to claim that the Colosseum was Italian instead of Roman! Everyone needs to quit spreading misinformation!

[@cribedadabecri5764]

@@pianowhizz Wrong. Cristofori lived in Florence, but he had has his work shop, outside of Florence. In the town just by.

[@pianowhizz]

1:45 Mr Cristofori just called me… he’s very disappointed in you Stu! The fortepiano was invented in Florence (Duchy of Tuscany) by a man from Venice, Bartolomeo Cristofori. To the best of my knowledge, no Germans were involved! Sure there were many German trailblazers when it comes to musical composition - but the invention of the piano was not theirs. A myth furthered in a video purporting to debunk myths! And while Gabriel Anton Walter was born in Germany - he designed and manufactured his pianos in Vienna, not in Germany. These were used by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Chopin’s Pleyel pianos were designed and manufactured in France. Whilst there have been some amazing pianos like Blüthner produced in Germany: The piano was not invented in Germany - please correct your video. The main innovations contributed from Germany were the key action (including escapement / let-off) and carbon steel alloy piano wire, with the former being the one demonstrating the most skill (although more efficient key action designs have been invented since then).

[@MerriamPianos]

We certainly did not mean to offend Mr. Cristofori! ;) Naturally, we're all very grateful for his innovations and contributions. His creation is ultimately while we're all here. Thank you for writing in with your insights. It is much appreciated.

[@motoroladefy2740]

"...any piano on earth German heritage, because that's where the piano was invented..." I can hear my Italian friends screaming out "PIANO WAS INVENTED IN ITALY!" (This comment is not meant to criticize or correct anything, but to add a bit of humor🙃)

[@MerriamPianos]

Haha for sure! This is very on point commentary. ;)

[@vittorioserra2478]

@@MerriamPianos 🤔🤣🤣🤣

[@pianowhizz]

@@motoroladefy2740 incorrect: Cristofori invented his pianos in Florence, Duchy of Tuscany - Italy did not exist then! What you are claiming is like trying to claim that the Colosseum was Italian instead of Roman! Everyone needs to quit spreading misinformation!

[@Hedgehogsinthemist123]

Would love to own a Steinway, but I'd have to win the lottery first.

[@MerriamPianos]

My fingers are crossed that you will be able to realize that dream some day soon! :)

[@Hedgehogsinthemist123]

@@MerriamPianos 🥰

[@zackeryhardy9504]

You would be surprised how cheaply you can get then... Now they may not be in the best condition, but I have picked up Bs for as low as 4k. My mentor found a D for 2k...Of course that piano had been dropped in a lake and it was compelling rebuilt with only the plate and rim being salvageable. But there are arrive reasonably priced deals to be had. A Budget rebuild where the sound board strings and action have been replaced or repaired can be as low as 20k. But be careful and have a tech look at anything you find. I have seen many pianos sold way under value because of some minor and easy to correct issues such as bad base strings and worn hammers and seen pianos with major soundboard issues sell for way too much money considering the cost of fixing to board. So if you are committed its doable given the volume of steinways out there. That being said, I highly recommend giving the other brands a fair chance. Steinways have on both the new and used market worst price to performance ratio at all quality levels.

[@Hedgehogsinthemist123]

@@zackeryhardy9504 thanks for your advice

[@DH-om5em]

Buying piano in asia is a lot cheaper, most of them would go for Japanese or china piano as their first piano. Here in UK, it's so unaffordable. Tax and Vat are killing our next generation.

[@MerriamPianos]

It is a good point that prices vary greatly from market to market. Pianos are far more expensive and inaccessible in some regions unfortunately.

[@DarkSideofSynth]

First and biggest scam: making people believe Germans invented the piano ;) Sorry, I could not resist 😎

[@MerriamPianos]

Haha a little levity certainly never hurts! ;)

[@DarkSideofSynth]

@@MerriamPianos Absolutely. We started the spark, and Germans (and Austrians too) certainly DO make great pianos. We still have Fazioli, whose factory is not too far from where I live. Have a great week. Cheers from Italy (the true piano land LOL!)

[@pianowhizz]

@@DarkSideofSynththe fortepiano was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori di Francesco in the Duchy of Tuscany. Italy did not exist then, so the piano was not invented in Italy. Just like the Romans built the Colosseum - not Italians.

[@studentjohn35]

Feurich from Gunzenhausen vs. Feurich today....?

[@MerriamPianos]

I am not sure if I understand the question. I suppose it would be quite interesting to take a deep dive into the history of individual brands such as Feurich at some point though. :)

[@BabakMusic]

👏👏👏

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you! :)

[@markmontgomery4267]

Can you address the “issue” of “grey market” Yamaha uprights. This nonsense has made it difficult for folks like myself to trade in my piano despite the falsehoods of Yamaha making pianos for North American market.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the question! This may be a topic that requires a dedicated video deep dive. The claim is that pianos made for markets outside of North America are manufactured to different specifications as the humidity swings and conditions are not as extreme as in North America. It is a complicated topic because there is a lot of conflicting information out there. Like I said, it may be best to tackle this topic in a dedicated video. Thanks for the idea! :)

[@danielalamilla8080]

It is not a nonsense. Climates are different in China vs Texas. The wood drying and coating are different for that country. Grey market pianos also tend to have other pieces different from the manufacturer. They usually are bought in bulks in Asían countries, repaired with non-original parts, poorly shipped across the ocean, and sold to the Americas for cheap. After they break down, you are on your own. A serious pianist won't ever buy a grey maket piano.

[@thephilosopher666]

Speaking of German pianos... why don't you sell Bluthner digitals? Are they any good?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! We are not Bluthner dealers. They make very excellent pianos of course, but we choose alternate lines in that particular category based on their musical merit as well as the excellent cost-to-value ratios they offer.

[@KeepingOnTheWatch]

I thought you were joking so I was going to suggest Steinway & Sons digitals. After some research I see that Blüthner digitals actually do exist. I learn something new every 3-4 weeks!

[@Delectatio]

@@KeepingOnTheWatch Yeah, they really have a line of digitals. But it seems like they do not put much effort in it 🤔

[@JoeLinux2000]

A Steinweigh is worth the price.

[@MerriamPianos]

It is all a matter of subjectivity and perspective of course! ;)

[@DeadHorse666]

There's a lot of pianos that are better than steinway which you're only paying for because of the name due to mass manipulation and mob mentality, especially if you look into the massive surplus of pianos from over 100 years ago when standards were much higher. Even ones that need major work cost less at the end while you end up with an instrument that's just as good or better while older steinways are better than modern ones but not by enough for most people to tell. A steinway is only the best if it's exactly what you're looking for and not because of mob mentality that wants to replace the art of music with instructions.

[@The-Friendly-Grizzly]

The only way I would ever buy a Steinway would be from a good, solid piano shop that is not a "genuine authorized Steinway dealer", or from a GOOD, INDEPENDENT piano rebuilder. My two experiences with Steinway dealers were... well... less than stellar.

[@The-Friendly-Grizzly]

@@DeadHorse666 I agree. I am not much of a pianist because i started learning very late in life then was very ill for two years. But, my advice, for what it is worth, is go in to a place like Merriam where there are many to choose from, then test-play the instruments in your price range. If one reaches out and really grabs you, keep trying others. That characteristic that grabbed you may in the end prove annoying. But, if you keep going back to it, buy it. My only limitation on buying a piano is that I will not buy a Chinese piano. I avoid buying Chinese products for personal reasons; you may not care. For a reference point: I bought, and dearly love, a Kawai GL-40. Even my "Steinway snob" teacher grins like a kid with a new toy when she plays it.

[@DeadHorse666]

@@The-Friendly-Grizzly I feel the same with most things as being "authorised" usually means what you're allowed to do is limited like with Apple where an authorised repair centre will lie to get the customer to replace everything and delete their data while an independent will perform component level repair and save the baby pictures. Musical instruments are no exception since the manufacturer wants to make sure there's as much money being made as possible so they'll manipulate the process for being authorised regardless of what industry it's in, especially for things that are difficult for an end user to repair.

[@randypiano11]

Stu should consider joining the CIA. Genius! Stu is the man!

[@MerriamPianos]

I think they've tried recruiting him several times (at least that is the rumour). ;)

[@Kontrabass66]

As a German I might add that you should be happy about a non German piano. German quality does no longer exist. I go for Japan, Taiwan or China all the time..... no matter which product

[@MerriamPianos]

While I can certainly agree with the sentiment that there are some amazing instruments coming out of Asian factories, Germany still makes some incredible pianos. A few seconds on a C. Bechstein A192 is a testament to that in my books. ;)

[@dominirican7403]

Thanks for saving us from the piano world’s p diddlers!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hahaha you're very welcome!

[@studentjohn35]

Ah, yes: Steigerman pianos.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for watching!

[@musician6655]

The Piano was invented in Italy not Germany.

[@MerriamPianos]

Yes - you are correct. Thanks for catching that! :)

[@kailangyu]

Going to be critical here. I love this channel but this is disappointing. Some good stuffs but overall self serving. Prices are typically aligned with quality? Really??? As if quality can be measured on a scale that then correlated to price? This one fact is inconsistent with what has been presented elsewhere on this very channel. And country of origin correlated to quality across the board? Another self serving myth… But I guess this is a sales channel after all…?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi, Brent from Merriam Music here. We appreciate you tuning in and sharing your thoughts. At the end of the day, everything comes down to subjectivity. One person's perception of "high quality" may be completely antithetical to that of another. However, what Stu is referring to in this case is component quality and manufacturing practices. There are some raw materials and components that are simply more expensive than others. For instance, higher quality wood comes at a greater cost to manufacturers. Furthermore, some manufacturing practices, such as duplex scaling, soundboard tapering, and wood curing, can be more time consuming and, therefore, costly. To that point, pianos that feature this type of work will invariably demand a higher price tag if only by virtue of the additional costs incurred by the manufacturer.

[@kailangyu]

⁠@@MerriamPianosOf course, if so, then say directly so. Not broadly that expensive things generally translate to higher quality. Or that things made in Germany or Europe are automatically higher in quality. To Stu’s credit, very briefly Stu did say that maybe focusing on country of origin is not deserved but then he goes on to say it is. I bought Italian tiles and German bathroom supplies at 5x premium and were sold these were premium because and only because they are European. I now know better. That’s another kind of scam - and it is assumed and accepted here by Stu too! I was a little shocked to be honest. But it is not so shocking when you understand that’s probably where the highest margin is. So definitely understandable. But disappointing nevertheless.

[@andrewmcintosh6246]

Stu, Pianos were invented in Italy, not Germany. I like how you said in an earlier video that, "Italy may have invented the piano, but Germany perfected it."

[@MerriamPianos]

For sure! There was a little slip up in one of the videos. Thanks for catching that. ;)

[@andrewmcintosh6246]

I consider Stu my favorite Subject Matter Expert in the field of pianos. I trust his judgment explicitly and would buy from him if I were in the area (I currently live in CA).

[@pianowhizz]

Incorrect: Cristofori invented his pianos in Tuscany. Italy did not exist then. So technically pianos were not invented in Italy. It’s like trying to claim that the Colosseum is Italian when it’s actually Roman! Let’s not keep on telling myths on top of myths!

[@andrewmcintosh4014]

Yes, the Kingdom of Italy may have been founded in 1861 and then Italy established in 1946, but that does not make the statement that pianos were created in Germany true.

[@whatsupbiyatch]

How good are pearl river digital pianos sir?

[@MerriamPianos]

While we carry Pearl River acoustic pianos, we do not carry Pearl River digital pianos. So, I don't have any experience with their digital piano models.