Whatever Happened to Mason & Hamlin Pianos?

[@albertpeckham8708]

I proudly own a Mason & Hamlin RBB. I wouldn't trade this sound for any other piano!

[@michelprimeau4531]

I once stumbled on a beat up Mason and Hamlin dating from the 30's I think. I just played an octave C1- C2 and my knees bent. Wow, that's what a bass should sound! If Mason & Hamlin had Steinway marketing departement, they would be first.

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

I remember trying a Mason & Hamlin CC. Such an amazing piano, and a lot cheaper than a Steinway D🎹🎶

[@jamessheya7739]

I bought a new M&H 7 foot BB in 2012 and have played it every day ever since. That's how much I love this piano! Thank you for the historical background of this terrific piano in your video.

[@happyband100]

I grew up in the fifties and sixties and my neighbor had a 7' Mason and Hamlin in their large living room.....their son, my schoolmate, played it beautifully and the sound was like an orchestra.......incredibly rich and music, music music......also, my mom's dad, my grandfather had an old Chickering which was fabulous in both sound and looks. He was a Russian immigrant in 1911 to New York and he was "the" woodwind player on Broadway and in the Metropolitan Opera......he also played with Toscanini on many recordings along with Paul Whiteman and Rudy Valley.........I play violin and also became a percussionist........as Pops used to sing, "What a Wonderful World"......thank you for your great essays on all things piano.......very enlightening......one of my favorite pianos which I have worked alongside of as a percussionist drummer is a C. Bechstein of an old age, maybe a 6' or so......very rich and chocolately.......

[@tms020348]

My family owned a Mason Hamlin since 1919, but recently (Sept. 2020) lost it in the Glass Fire in St. Helena, CA. This piano, still in original condition, was a Model AA. I moved it across the country when I inherited it because it was such a beautifully sounding instrument. I didn't know anything about Mason & Hamlin at the time, but over the 20 years that the piano lived in our living room it taught two more generations of my family what a piano could do to the creation of music. When my son pulled the plate from the debris and ashes of our home it was one of the saddest moments. There was noting left -- the fire had been so hot. I have been searching for a sister piano of that era since. That is how "powerful" these instruments are, and how they continue, through the years of their lives, to echo the skill and the artistry of their original designer. Thank you for this video.

[@RasielSuarez]

That's heartbreaking. I wish I hadn't read this because it just ruined my day. I hope you can find a worthy replacement soon :'-(

[@LS-ei7qb]

Thomas, I am saddened to hear of your loss and I hope you find your next Mason & Hamlin soon. I have a 1920 BB in our home on the Peninsula but we are spending much of our time in upstate NY so I don't get to play it much. It is an incredible piano. At some point we need to do a lot of work at the Menlo Park house and will need to move it out. If you haven't found you own next Mason, you would be welcome to foster my BB for a year or few. I actually found a CC2 that is the most phenomenal piano I have ever played & put that in our NY home where it brightens every day. It got me started rescuing vintage grands which has led me to several remarkable pianos including a Steinway D commissioned for a late recording pianist, an 1864 Chickering concert grand, an 1899 Blüthner, a 1904 Mehlin & Sons and a 1923 Henry F Miller concert grand. The Miller needs action work so not ready to compare yet but the Mason is the one I always go back to. It has my heart. So I know how profound your loss is. If my BB on loan would help, please contact me starting by email, [e-mail]. I do not want to sell the BB, and you probably want your own going forward, but if you are enmeshed in rebuilding and have room for a 7ft (in a place that allows a safe move, ie no or few stairs) perhaps this would help. I will keep my eye out for an early M&H AA for you, contact me if any of this is of interest. Lynn

[@tms020348]

@@LS-ei7qb Thanks for your sympathy and kind offer. Last Friday we finally closed on a new home in Napa.There is room for a piano. It will find me, so im6not worried. It's been a year since the fire, and I've learned a lot about loss of things. But a piano from one's heritage is more a relative than a thing. Thanks for your kindness. Tom

[@LS-ei7qb]

Hi Thomas, found my way back to this clip and made me wonder if you had been found by your next piano? I am right now having one of my 2 trusted technicians restring my CC2. The day he took the bass strings off was nerve wracking. Despite both of my techs saying it should be done, I was worried about just exactly where the essential beauty of this magnificent beast resides and whether changing anything would lessen it. Bit the bullet and went ahead. Can tell you in a few weeks if it was the right decision. I am hoping you found the perfect piano for your path through the loss from the fire. Lynn

[@alanalock4772]

I just bought a 2011 Mason and Hamlin upright. It’s amazing.

[@gladowl]

I have enjoyed my Mason and Hamlin series A Baby Grand for more than 55 years. Basic maintenance and tunning. Still enjoying the beautiful sound. It is flawless.

[@MrMike-ij7xb]

My late wife was employed at a. Studio that sold Mason and Hamlin and she was allowed to not only play but to teach her students on the grand pianos. She actually sold several of them, since we were in an area that had a large wealthy population. She did so well, that when the national representative visited he offered her the position on Eastern US representative. Because the position would involve extensive travel, and we were planning a family, she declined, even though I encouraged her to accept. That was circa late 70's early 80's. I loved hearing her play the various M&H pianos in the studio, such a beautiful, rich, resonant sound. Unfortunatly I was too poor to get her one of her own.

[@MrWhiteKeys1]

Comparing a Steinway D to a Mason & Hamlin CC: The Mason is 4.25" longer, 2.5" wider, 510 lbs heavier, the rim is half an inch thicker, the soundboard on the Mason is made of Eastern White Spruce instead of Sitka Spruce, the soundboard is 458.5 square inches larger, The length of the #1 bass string is 4.21" longer, the warranty on the rim and action is LIFE and 12 years on the rest of the piano (only 5 years on the Steinway).

[@pianist4jk]

The modern Mason & Hamlin pianos (any built after 1996 once PianoDisc bought them) are simply remarkable. I own a 2014 BB in my home that beats any Steinway out there. The church where I music direct outside of Cleveland, Ohio just bought a new Mason CC concert grand and it may be the best piano I've ever played. The sustain and tone are unbelievable. They're incredibly rare pianos worth the time and effort to seek out.

[@BruceMusicStore]

I bet that BB is something else!!

[@zackeryhardy9504]

Funny enough the mason B was one year put right next to a steinway A at PTG and it surpassed it despite being a shorter piano.

[@jasonsolomonides]

Totally agree Joshua (and Albert below)! I also purchased a Mason & Hamlin 7'0" BB in 2015, directly from the factory in Haverhill, MA, and I love it. It was the best purchase decision I have made! Below is a link to a recording of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 16 in G, Op.32, No.5, that performed on my M&H BB in 4Q 2021: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3jZgJmQiZebocU P.S. I loved the Wessell, Nickel & Gross (WNG) carbon-fiber & composite action so much, that I had their Chief Technician also install new WNG carbon fiber hammer shanks and M&H Abel Natural Felts on my old 1980 Yamaha 6'1" C3 (seen in the background of the video), and it really improved that piano's tone and playability,

[@MegaSkijumper]

After many years of searching for my perfect piano, I finally settled on a M&H AA. Combined with my amazing technician, it's simply the best I've ever played. And cost me $30000 less than a Steinway.

[@MegaSkijumper]

It is a new M&H model AA, with the carbon fiber action.

[@davidburton3016]

They were owned by Cable Nelson and made in Chicago and when Aeolian had it, they made them in Rochester, New York, not the city. The Falcone was a brilliant piano, and M&H is made in the same plant at Haverhill which is pronounced HAYV-rill. Excellent report. Thanks and best

[@MrWhiteKeys1]

So I mentioned in my comments that the Mason has a full perimeter plate. That means that the plate runs the entire perimeter of the piano's rim. Steinway runs along the outer edge of the rim, but not along the spine of the piano where the hinges are, and most pianos do the same thing. That is why Mason's plates are generally 25% heavier than other rims. Also, the sustain on a Mason, particularly in the upper register, is superior to a Steinway. This is attributable to the Crown Retention System, and the full perimeter plate. Steinway was Mason beat on one thing, however: Marketing. So if you want to pay for their marketing, buy a Steinway. Otherwise, Mason is the way to go.

[@eugeniustheodidactus8890]

A well known piano restorer told me that my Model A was a "good beginner piano" and I might want to consider buying a restored Steinway. *_Um......... NO!_*

[@russd.522]

Proud owner of a M&H BB from 2006. It is an incredible piano, and I prefer it to every Steinway (old/new/rebuilt) I've ever played. It doesn't have the WNG composite action, but in a few years I'll probably at least install the WNG shanks and flanges when I get new (Ronsen) hammers. I think Mason & Hamlin is extremely wise with their marketing. The company doesn't vilify rebuilders of their pianos or see them as a threat to their new piano sales and has been innovating since the beginning. They seem to sell their new pianos extremely quickly with their limited build quantities. I have had the opportunity to play the new Artist series MHA-188G and it's also a terrific instrument with the WNG Composite action. Can't recommend them enough.

[@zackeryhardy9504]

I mean Mason, WNG, and PianoDisc are all under Burgette inc. Owner of which is an RPT. Its better to keep techs and the rebuilding community happy than to spurn them. If you continue to improve the design of your instrument, you don't need to worry about competition with used instrument. Unlike some companies that insist on sticking to flawed outdated designs while threatening to sue techs for fixing them.

[@siyumbwamulemba815]

I enjoy these types of videos. Plus keep it up

[@eugeniustheodidactus8890]

Mason & Hamlin are located in Haverhill MA, which is 45 minutes north of Boston. My Model A has massive bass and the upper range rings like a bell that sustains so long, it sounds like a symphony. The only Steinways I have played were real dogs, by comparison.

[@cragar55]

I have a beautiful looking and sounding M&H upright (Model 50) that I purchased new in 2005. Thank you for going over the history of the company! The Tension Resonator in the uprights is just a single tensioning rod that runs across the back of the soundboard.

[@jeffrey3895]

I have never seen a Mason and Hamlin piano in Australia but have listened to many on youtube with Ampico player mechanisms. They are beautiful instruments. In real life, the accoustics of the room and the touch of the pianist defines what pleases the ear. The one piano that left an indelable imprint on me was a Challen in a Mormon Church. That was 55 years ago. I am sure there are many who can relate a similar experience to a Mason and Hamlin.

[@davidalarconquinones87]

I traveled to Minnesota and played a Mason and Hamlin and was impressed with the sound. Loved it

[@petermintunmusic]

Thank you. I have been waiting years to Hear more about the Mason and Hamlin piano

[@izzy1563]

Love my Mason. It’s the perfect piano to my ear. Bought used in the 70s and it rarely needs work and I play it daily. I’ve been looking at Korg piano keyboards and came close to buying one to supplement my piano but their best piano voices just sound synthetic in comparison. My Mason Hamlin is my favorite possession.

[@georgeservian9383]

Enjoying this series of videos! Great mix of history and a sampling of music from the piano manufacturer.

[@MrWhiteKeys1]

Many universities are installing the Wessen, Nickel & Gross composite action in their Steinway D Concert Grand pianos, as they are more precise, require less maintenance, and just feel better than the Steinway action!

[@robertmccormick3807]

My late grandparents had a c. 1950 M&H model A. It was a beautiful piano, perhaps the most beautiful I've played of that size, is and I wish it was still in the family.

[@Scott__C]

Wow, this sounds like nearly a full concert grand. Phenomenal tone.

[@MrWhiteKeys1]

Mason & Hamlin has an upgraded set of hammers and I have played them on a BB. The sound was fantastic and powerful. There was a Steinway D next to it, and it sounded utterly dead by comparison. Hands down Mason & Hamlin is a much better instrument than the Steinway. I owned a brand new Steinway B from 1999-2004, and if I had a place to put a full sized grand piano in my house, I would definitely get a new Mason & Hamlin BB (with the upgraded hammers and Wessel, Nickel & Gross action), without hesitation.

[@JeffinIC]

A family who were friends of my family when I was a kid had a Mason that I just loved playing. Such a beautiful instrument! I've come across a couple others over the years, and they've all been great to play on.

[@retouthugues4921]

Thank you for this very interesting moment. American piano manufacturing history is amazing and very interesting.

[@albertpeckham8708]

I have a soft spot in my heart for these M&H pianos. I have an RBB 1926! It is the love of my life...viz a viz piano!l

[@MrWhiteKeys1]

The Mason & Hamlin piano is the most expensive piano to manufacture in the US; notwithstanding, it is priced much lower than a Steinway. It has more wood in the rim creating thicker more sound projecting rims often 30% deeper. The cast iron plate in the Mason is a full perimeter plate covering all edges of the piano where it comes into contact with the rim (unlike the Steinway). The plate weighs 25% more than a comparable Steinway rim. And of course only the Mason has the Crown Retention System. Examine the details, and you will see the difference-- the Mason is a superior product. Look at the hardware finishing, the casters, and it becomes readily apparent which of the two pianos is publicly traded (Steinway) with a focus on profit, and which has a focus on quality and heritage (Mason).

[@zackeryhardy9504]

That is what happens when a piano company is bought by a fan of the brand and is also a piano technician.

[@MrWhiteKeys1]

@@zackeryhardy9504 Fo' shizzle 😀

[@elizabethjaneda2456]

I don’t play piano but I love the sound that a Mason & Hamlin produces. Thank You for this video as I learned some great information. Elizabeth from Ohio

[@dennissmallwood9592]

I have a Henry F Miller at home and a Wurlitzer at my flower shop. Mason and Hamlin is my dream piano. I would love to be able to own one.

[@GonzoTheRosarian]

I am looking for a Model 50 and this video about Mason Hamlin was very helpful.

[@rogerparkhurst5796]

I bought my Upright MH in Austin, TX in 1976, ($3,500). It was my understanding that it was made in Buffalo, NY. The sound was and has performed well. However, the quality of some of the workmanship in the key/hammers and Felts started to pull apart in 1998. I had made some temporary adjustments but eventually I had to have all the felts replaced and the hammer action adjusted by a company in Burnsville, MN *$1,700. The company that replaced the felt gave me the history lesson on how MH had some quality challenges in late 60's and 70's as they were struggling. I have Knabe baby grand, (bought at Schmidt Music, Edina, MN)from the 1930's that is a converted player, but although it has a Grand Sound, I prefer the sound quality of the MH.

[@kristopherdetar4346]

Mason and Hamlin is truly the best piano built on the planet. Steinway has built a business on hype for the last century plus.

[@paxwallace8324]

Steinway, Mason & Hamlin, and Chickering were the 3 great American pianos

[@CHRISPOPTV]

Love the history aspect

[@MrWhiteKeys1]

Comparing a Steinway B to a Mason & Hamlin BB: the Mason is 0.5" longer, 4.75" wider, 260 lbs heavier, the rim is 0.375" thicker, the soundboard is made of Eastern White Spruce instead of Sitka Spruce, the soundboard is 474 square inches larger, the #1 bass string is 1/8" longer, the warranty on the rim and action is LIFE and 12 years on the rest of the piano (only 5 years on the Steinway), and has a 4 star rating in The Piano Book (Steinway only has 3.5 stars).

[@nancyhoffman5600]

I bought a new Mason and Hamlin 7 foot grand in 1981. I absolutely loved that piano and finally sold it in 1996 when I needed money to go to law school. I regret selling my piano.

[@shvartze]

Don't regret it. It wasn't a Mason Hamlin except by name. They went out of business in 1935 when sold to Aeolian. It was not the same piano until the Burgett's purchase the company and went back to the original plan and even used original parts to create the frame. The BB or 7' is unreal. Get one that is prior to 1935 or after 1996. Make sure to get a poly finish and not flat like a Steinway. Be very wary of their new composite action as it has incredible number of problems and is geometrically incorrect. I would suggest finding a piano with a traditional action. The only other piano I would consider is a Shigeru SK6 (7') or the SK7 (7'5") which is probably the most perfect piano. My overall favorite is the newer 5'4" B. It is amazing. It does not lack in the bass. How they got the huge bass in this small piano is a miracle.

[@Velostigmat]

The melodeon is an early reed organ with a horizontal reservoir bellows and single exhauster. Emmons Hamlin discovered a way to voice organ reeds, the Masons were well-connected musicians, and Oliver Ditson helped bankroll the new Mason & Hamlin company.

[@Chopinzee613]

Most of the videos on my YT channel were made on my Mason & Hamlin BB (2007 vintage) piano. I am an absolute devotee to the M&H sound, and I developed in a school of pianists that held the M&H in very high esteem. I invite YT listeners to sample those recordings and tell me whether they don't agree!

[@rocnrob7532]

Great video. What year is the Model A you were playing?

[@apianogallery]

1981. Here is a link to the listing www.alamomusic.com/mason-hamlin-model-a-grand-piano-polished-mahogany/

[@gregdixon3797]

Beautiful piano. I would have to watch the video again to see how the quality was in 1981.

[@zackeryhardy9504]

@@gregdixon3797 The 1981 was when Aeolian were in panick mode trying to get their quality back up. In 1982-3 they Hired Bruce Clark (current engineer at mason) To fix their pianos. Previously Bruce had designed pianos over at the Falconi Piano company. In other words the 1970s and 1980s were the worst pianos ever produced by Mason. What you are hearing is as bad as it gets. And I say that is a testimate to how good the Mason Design was. I mean its a good sounding piano and beats a lot of other instruments on the market. I am currently rebuilding a 1982 A and while the workmanship is sloppy, the design is still there and though some work, its potential can be unleashed. But they still will not pass what they were in the 1920s or the current ones. But the Aeolian mason rebuilds tend to be about unlocking the potential of the instrument by redoing some of the aspects which were just done in a sloppy way. Once you get it done right the instrument just sings. I have talked to Bruce about his time with Aeolian, and the stories I got were not pretty. There is a reason the Aeolian Piano Company went bankrupt and that Mason & Hamlin isn't currently a household name. In the 1920s Mason & Hamlin pianos sold for a higher price than Steinway pianos and were considered to be an uptra-premium brand while steinway due to their larger production capability was the average good piano. But the Aeolian Piano company essentially drove the piano into the ground. That full maple rim was gone. They used a layer on the inside and ouside and filled the center with poplar. Int eh 1950s (could also be the 40s) they removed the taper to the board and adopted cheaper manufacturing processes which led to a worse off piano. In the 1920s and 30s, Mason and Steinway were neck and neck and both talked about, but as Mason went down with aeolian, Steinway keeped up their marketing and didn't dive down deeply, though the 70s Steinways are also terrible. The 50s through the 80s were terrible years for the piano industry as a hole which led to a race from the bottom. You also had yamaha and Kawai comming in while the market was already diminished due to 1 major factor that no one outside of the industry talked about. In the 1960s and 1970s womens sports became popular. Previously in the 1920s piano lessons were one of the most common after school activities for little girls, and with sports opening up to women, they decided they wanted to do that instead. This mean that a massive portion of the marketshare went away and less people were investing in painos. Then of course price point became the thing to beat and what you get is what I call the race to the bottom. Now with the low end market being dominated by price the only way forward is the high end market which is why you see companies like Mason Bluthner, Fazioli, and Bechstein all making a comeback. And all of them are going for the high end market. The low end is dominated by companies like peral river, sammick, Yamaha, Kawai, and Parsons. So there is no room to compete there, but the high end market right now demands quality which has created a resurgence of quality based design. The era from the 90s through now is what I call new beginnings. The 90s up to today is all about rediscovering all of the information and knowledge we lost from the golden age of piano design, and now many companies are going beyond that.

[@CHRISPOPTV]

What was this song selection? It was beautiful

[@theUrbanJoe]

Steinways have always has a weird feel to me. I grew up with a 1924 Mason grand and it’s far superior in my experience. Steinway succeeded in promoting their brand and pushing it as the best and sadly many have bought into that brainwashing. That said, there have been a number of brands that have, at times, created magnificent instruments.

[@LS-ei7qb]

His name was Richard Gertz, not Michael. I did enjoy the video, thank you for making it and educating people about this magnificent brand. But Mr. Gertz was the driving force behind so many of the design improvements that made M&H so superior and we should remember his name. My understanding is that he was deported in 1917 as WW1 began because of his German nationality. I do not have the details and suspect that any nuance about this is lost to time. Not only did he have the design ideas, he was reportedly extremely hands on in the factory. I have long sought an early 1910s CC.

[@alicewilliams4036]

I tried a 1917 Model A M&H recently and loved it. It was rebuilt at some point but I don't know when. How long could a piano like that last? I need it to outlive me, so another 20 -25 years.

[@zackeryhardy9504]

Those pianos are known for their logevity. Usually a rebuild of those means reconditioning the action, replacing the strings and pinblock, and a fresh coat of paint. Unlike Steinway and Chickerings, Masons are known for being pulled appart and still having their crown in the sound board 100 years later. There may be some cracks that need to be reshimmed and some other work done, but if looks don't matter much to you, rebuilding the action and a new set of strings should get you another 50 years if you use wood parts. If you go for a new WNG action, you are looking at another 100 with some parts like the hammers and strings being regularly replaced every 20-50 years. That being said, how well you take care of the piano makes a large impact on longevity. A well taken care of piano with regular maintinance and tuning may last 20-30 years longer than a piano that sits in a garage. Keeping the humidity correct will ensure the board doesn't crack, and I don't even mean a damp chaser. A full room humidity solution is really the only way to go if you live in an area which large fluctuations. I mean if its dry enough where a flannel blanket will spark with static electricity, your sound board is cracking. If you are just damp from the humidity in the air, then your piano is developing a pressure ridge. So the key is to take care of it. Getting it tune dregularly is like getting your oil changed in your car. It 1 keeps the piano at tension to prevend issues associated with a piano resting at low tension, but it also gives a tech a chance to see if there are any problems with it like changing your oil can inform you if you have an issue in your engine. You take care if your piano, it will last you beyond your children's lifetime. Abuse it, and it may not even outlast your pets lifetime.

[@gregdixon3797]

I watched another video on Mason and Hamlin after this one and the reviewer briefly mentioned something about inconsistent quality over the last several years. But he was playing an AA in the review and it sounded amazing. Also, I don’t think you guys explained why the 1990-94 MH models are so sought after. What makes them particularly special?

[@itstheweather642]

Yes, I would like to know also.

[@gregdixon3797]

@@kevinr278 Thanks for the insight on the inner workings of the company. Do you, by any chance, know why the reviewers mentioned that the 1990-94 models are the most highly prized?

[@gregdixon3797]

@@kevinr278 thank you so much for looking into that. I was very curious!

[@Classical416]

The dealer network and support is really lacking from Mason and Hamlin. I live in a large metropolitan city and there is no dealer for Mason and Hamlin. I wanted to try it and considered buying it at one point but it was simply impossible to find.

[@jc_rogers]

What is the name of the first piece you played on the piano?

[@fho4316]

Is the post WWII period the worst for Mason & Hamlin? And do 1945 Mason and Hamlin consoles have the tension resonator?

[@marathonx3]

My 1920's era upright does but my 1946 console Mason and Hamlin does not have a tension system. They put a new type plastic key top material on post war small pianos that shrunk and curled up. We had to have new keytops put on our Mason and Hamlin console piano. Still, it is superior to most small pianos though not as powerful a sound as our upright.

[@zackeryhardy9504]

No late 40s and 50s masons are ok. They just stopped innovating then, but still had the same good labor force. But the 70s are the worst. Interestingly enough the piano played at the end of the video appears to a 70s or 80s aeolian Mason which were the worst pianos of the lot. But they are still good. As much as aeolian tried, they couldn't completely kill that piano. I personally think the vx era will be the best of their pianos. Better bridge placement, plate design innovation, and WNG have made them even better than the Gertz era. Also the consoles didn't have a tension resonator

[@michaelw6554]

Mason secondary lines are made by Pearl River.

[@michelprimeau4531]

Can you do W.Knabe review like that?

[@webz3589]

They're my dream piano, but you don't really see them much here in the UK

[@shvartze]

I love that you made a historical video on Mason and Hamlin, but you are wrong about some of the aspects of these great pianos. First off you should never demonstrate on a Mason and Hamlin that is after 1935 or before 1996 (maybe later) when purchased by Burgett. These '36 to '96 should not even be called Mason Hamlin. I consider myself fairly well versed on these pianos. Originally, I had a 2001 BB that I traded in. I have a modern CC94 (replaced composite action with all wood), a newer B, and a 1911 A that brought up to the most modern standard (original walnut finish and original soundboard is perfect!). You neglected to mention what may be their nicest overall piano next to the BB. The 5'4" B is a miracle piano with a huge balanced sound. It is brilliant on top but had a fantastic bass that you would only expect out of a 7' piano. It is also gorgeous! Hate to tell you guys but their WNG carbon composite action sucks big time - and they know it. They have been spending years attempting to fix it. It is nothing like a Shigeru which is only partial composite. Shigeru/Kawai kept wood shanks. Mason uses a carbon fiber shank with a 'steel' insert so they are heavy. They are very prone to inertia problems cause by having to use extreme amounts of lead in the keys. This can exhaust your fingers in a minute. The larger the model, the worse it gets. I wish they would resolve their issues and offer better customer support. There is nothing like the sound of a Mason Hamlin. It is huge and crystalline. It is extremely satisfying for the performer unlike many pianos that only sound good from the side.

[@granvilles.wright6757]

"Good Afternoon, Alamo Music Company, God Bless U Always. How much does the--Mason & Hamlin 5 ft. 4inches cost, please. And then, how much does the Mason & Hamlin Model C--5 ft. 1 inch, Baby Grand Piano cost, please, to compare prices within it's own Company Brand? Thank You, And May God And Jesus Christ--Provide More Videos From Your Company On These 2 Baby Grand Mason & Hamlin Pianos, the 5 ft. 4 inches, and the--Model C, the--5ft. 1 inch one. God Bless Your Show And Company, Hope To See More Videos Of These 2 Baby Grand Mason And Hamlin Pianos. Mr. Granville S. Wright, Church Musician, Fellow Toastmaster, And Admirer Of Mason & Hamlin Pianos, From HaverHill, Massachusetts, Outside Boston, Massachusetts.

[@FrankMarter]

There are good Steinways and bad. Mostly because of who has worked on them. No two pianos are the same. Every piano is unique. Rebuilding should be relegated to technicians who know their business. If the soundboard is replaced then you lose the original sound of the piano. However the new soundboard might be even better depending on who built and installs it. If all you have left is the frame then you have a piano that really isn’t an example of the name on the fall board. There are many good pianos to be had today both new and used.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Nobody who doesn’t live near Haverhill can ever pronounce it correctly. It’s hilarious listening to people try though.

[@donprior9144]

should have tune it before demoing it

[@marcusvaldes]

Umm, they STILL rival Steinway. Probably better.

[@michaelaurelius8507]

The Mason CC-94 I have played numerous times at the NAMM show and it’s BY FAR one of THE most disappointing pianos I have ever played. Action is sluggish, the bass in the lowest notes are WEAK, so-so overall tone as if it’s over engineered or something. Something is truly missing with their new pianos. I did play an older 70s or 80s 7 ft Mason and that piano by contrast really took me by surprise in the most astonishing way! I was like WOW! What a Gorgeous sound! What the hell are they doing today?! Contrast that with the Sauter Orpheus that I played at NAMM 2 years in a row and MY GOD! The most perfect piano I EVER laid my hands on! It’s SO exclusive and SO RARE that that it’s not even listed at their own website! They have the Concert 275 but I was told by the executive sales rep at NAMM 2012 that it’s NOT the same model.

[@komoru]

Do you have any audio recordings of you playing the sauter?

[@michaelaurelius8507]

@@komoru I wish! But if you look up Ravenscroft Pianos and you check out the 7ft 220 model you’ll get an idea of how incredible it sounds. Basically, Ravenscroft took the Sauter Orpheus and made a 7ft version that literally sounds just as incredible and the 9ft 275 is the Orpheus on steroids! They actually made the Orpheus even BETTER! It’s truly mind blowing! Go check them out and you’ll get a sense of how unbelievable of a piano this is!

[@jasonsolomonides]

Totally disagree. I performed a recital on a beautifully prepared new Mason & Hamlin CC-94 and the played the very first Mason & Hamlin VX-94 9'4" Concert Grand and they are two of the finest pianos I've ever played! Perhaps the one you sampled was just not properly set up and tone regulated being rushed to the NAMM show? Listen to pianist Dejan Lazić perform some Schumann and demonstrate some of his favorite elements of the Mason & Hamlin sound with the CC-94. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaCclKaHedKll68

[@michaelaurelius8507]

@@jasonsolomonides I’m actually super excited about the VX-94! From what I heard this is one of the finest if not THE FINEST American made piano ever made, next to the NY Steinway and it’s the modern day Chickering Piano or if you go later the Baldwin SD-10 that’s always been the cream of the crop. There was another model before the SD-10 which was the SD-6 and that’s even better apparently. I’d love to play the VX-94! When I first heard about everything about it amazed me. And what I heard about the CC-94 was that its sound was directed at the audience rather than the player. So it’s actually perfect for recording because of that. That’s why I wasn’t impressed and why I felt it lacking so much.

[@zackeryhardy9504]

@@michaelaurelius8507 the vx cc-94 is an amazing instrument. I had the luxuary of being able to play that very same CC-94 every day for 6 months straight before it was shiped off for the 2021 PTG convention in Florida where it was then shipped back to the mason factory. Currently there are 2 in existance with a 3rd on the way. I have played both concert grands side by side and both pianos are fantastic. With the 2 having consistent quality it is clearly a good design. I look forward to seeing them make their way to concert halls and other institutions across the country. I got to play the Fazioli bechstein and compare them dirrectly within a few weeks to the CC and hands down the CC is just a better piano now that the VX has come out. Compared to the old CC, it s a large improvement. The old cc was a fantastic piano, but it was still based on the older CC from the gertz era. While this is considered the golden era, it still is behind where we are now. I mean its hard to believe that some companies still sell those old designs for top dollar with no intentions to update ;) The new vx had several changes. A big one was bridges were moved to be more centered on the board a new style cutoff bar and beefier plate was made for this piano which has brought it to the next level. I still have yet to find a piano to top the new vx.

[@Mercy_Pants]

I am a huge fan of the older MH and the 90s golden era. I actually grew up playing the older models in my teens and absolutely loved the sound and action. I tried the new MH at Namm 15’ and again when out piano shopping just a couple months ago. Each time it felt like something was missing. The sound was there (mostly) but the power and feel of the composite action just didn’t add up the way I was expecting. It’s as if the action isn’t as uniform feeling as a wooden action. The action is quick but the key travel from attack to keybed seem shorter. As a result I don’t feel I’m able to get the same type of power I once could out of the older Masons. This was a MH BB. I then went to the Steinway gallery right after to try a new B and honestly it played how I was expecting and hoping the MH would play. Key travel, power, attack everything was there and it was perfect. The Mason had a slightly clearer treble, but honestly the Steinway beat it in every other category including the mids and bass registers. I was a bit disappointed because I wanted to go with something other than Steinway. Having said all this, the new MH aren’t bad pianos, in fact they are very well made and quite good. But as a professional pianist who knows what they are looking for and what MH once was, these pianos simply aren’t the same.

[@zackeryhardy9504]

That would be how the action was regulated. The wngs usually tend to be the most stable and uniform action on the market, but if one were out of regulation then that would contribute to a lack of uniformity. It also is possible you were looking for a different feel in terms of different aspects of regulation such as checking distance, amount of after-touch and drop distance. While there are guildline specs for these, they can be modified for a different feel and different manufacturers do use different principles in regulation. I have seen some people who have thought it was all about keytravel and others where its all about blow distance being the consistent spec. Regulation might be something you want to check as regulation is never perfect from the factory for a few reasons. Alternatively the store's piano tech may be regulating to a different philosophy than what you aim for. But the new masons certainly are not the same as the old. Very much a case of the owners taking what they liked about the old masons and doing what they can to improve upon the design which may or may not be to some people's liking. I have heard people both say that the new ones are worse and better than the old masons. I think its all about personal preference in what sound someone is looking for.

[@gisenda]

I have an upright piano that has a serial number # 65169 It says only Hamlin Hamlin piano co., Boston It also says special improved repeating action. I know nothing on pianos, we had bought it in a thrift store about 20 years ago. Does anybody know why it only says Hamlin and what year it is? Thank you so much