Which is worth it? In this video, you'll learn the in's and out's of
how Steinway and Yamaha pianos are made and why. What
about these pianos is similar, what is different, and how does
that determine which piano is right for you and your playing style.

Transcript:
This video will share information to consider when buying a preowned or restored Steinway versus a new Yamaha.

And which one is worth it? 97% of concert pianists select Steinway as their piano of choice. But is it because Steinway's quality is that much better? Or is it just good marketing? Considering that a brandnew Yamaha CX Grand costs roughly the same as a restored or preowned Steinway, it could be confusing to figure out the differences. While many reviews compare sound exclusively, we will look at the materials used, quality of craftsmanship, instrument longevity, and how these factors influence the sound.

Steinway & Sons have been in the pianomaking business since 1853 – longer than most other piano manufacturers today. There's a reason they're considered the industry leader; they've nailed their formula. Steinway is the pioneer of the modern piano. They build their pianos to the highest quality possible and use bestinclass materials, including a cast iron harp, hard rock maple, premium wool felt, and a onepiece continuous bent rim. They handcraft each piano to ensure depth of sound and longevity. Steinway pianos are built to be restored, which allows these instruments to be cherished for generations. The biggest drawback of a new Steinway grand is the price. Typically, a new Steinway model M, which is 5' 7", can range anywhere from $90,000 to $100,000. And like a brandnew car, a piano's value depreciates as soon as it leaves the store. If you can find a highquality restored Steinway, you'll save tens of thousands of dollars without losing the quality or integrity of the piano.

But how does it compare to a new Yamaha Cseries? Well, Yamaha is a very good piano manufacturing company. They were founded in 1887, and they started crafting pianos around 1900. The big difference between Yamaha and Steinway is their pianomaking philosophy. Yamaha Grands are factory massproduced and built to a price point, which does indicate a buildtoquality difference. And specifically with the harp and rim creation. To put together the harp, Yamaha conducts a vPro vacuum shield process where molten iron is quickly vacuumed into a mold. These massproduced harps tend to be thinner and lighter, and professionals have reported metallic sounds from the pianos that use this vPro method.

Yamaha presses the inner and outer rims together after making them, rather than all at once like Steinway. While efficient, this process could cause increased sound leaking out of the rim and can lessen the length of a note's sustain. These processes are how Yamaha makes their G and CX series grand pianos. And as of 2021, they range in price from $15,000 to $83,000. The lower price point means you'll notice significant differences in quality, manufacturing, location, wood types, harp casting method, and craftsmanship used. The Yamaha CX series is massproduced and cost half as much as the Yamaha CF Series piano. Therefore, one must look to the CF series to find a higherquality Yamaha. The Yamaha CF series is their highend handcrafted piano built and priced to compete with new Steinway grands. A properly restored Steinway, however, can provide the same quality, tone, sound projection, longevity, and craftsmanship for just half the price of a new Steinway.

Ultimately, most artists care about the sound, sustain, projection, and tonal shape of each note, which is why most professionals prefer Steinways.

As of 2021, the Yamaha CX series and our Lindeblad restored Steinways, or preowned Steinways, have roughly the same range in price. For example, a 6' 1" Yamaha C3X costs around $58,000. And for that price, one can purchase a Lindeblad fully restored Steinway model A. Since the price range is the same, the best value is the higherquality piano built to last – a Steinway. We conducted a poll where we reached out to music professionals who have either a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree in music performance. And over 90% preferred either a preowned or fully restored Steinway over a new Yamaha.

The more affordable Yamaha G Series is well suited for those who want a grand piano for the best possible price or want their children to learn on a grand piano. And for those who play professionally, more frequently, or desire the best sound quality and a piano to last for generations, a preowned or restored Steinway is a better piano to choose.