Music is a wonderful way to express yourself and practice a new hobby and find the best instrument to facilitate it can be an exciting, yet challenging task.
Pianos are one of the best instruments to learn to play and are widely known in the music community. This is a key instrument in many cultures, genres, and traditions, and is beloved by children and adults alike.
With this widespread popularity comes a similarly vast range of popular piano brands, and for those just dipping their toes into playing the piano, it can quickly become an overwhelming feat to sort through the good piano brands. Ultimately, the right brand can be selected based on your needs and standards, and with a range of options to choose from, you can certainly find one that not only helps you expand your musical repertoire but remains in the budget, too.
To help you explore the best piano brands and find the right one for your musical exploration, our experts at Musical Exchange are breaking it all down. Keep reading to learn more about the top 10 piano brands, and make an appointment online or visit one of our Music Exchange stores to see the pianos in action.
Let’s dive right in!
1. Yamaha
One of our go-to piano manufacturers at Music Exchange is Yamaha. Yamaha is one of the world's largest piano makers, so it’s no surprise that it offers some of the best pianos in the world. Around for more than 100 years, the brand has continued to evolve over the years to upgrade its pianos with the latest advancements in building and technology.
With this, Yamaha is touted for offering one of the best concert grand pianos on the market, the 9’ CFX. Which has a profoundly rich tone and responsive action that makes it perfect for large stages and concert halls.
Yamaha also offers an extensive range of grand, upright, digital, and hybrid pianos for music students and piano lovers of all skill levels. And with craftsmanship backed by a century of experience, it remains one of the best piano brands to buy.
2. Bösendorfer
Another of the best piano makers is Bösendorfer. The company was founded in 1828 by Ignaz Bösendorfer in Vienna, Austria, and is particularly prominent due to its unparalleled level of craftsmanship and premium line of hand-crafted grand and upright pianos. One of their most impressive models includes a 9’6 Imperial Grand model and features a 97-key keyboard — used for special pieces that require extra bass notes.
As of 2006, Bösendorfer is owned by Yamaha, yet maintains their separate business. The brand remains focused on acoustic pianos, yet offers quite an exclusive range. In fact, the brand manufactures just around 300 pianos a year. Yet this hard-to-get design is well worth it.
3. Steinway & Sons
As one of the most respected and famous piano brands on the market, Steinway & Sons has set the standard for piano manufacturers across the world. Their pianos are made with special care by highly skilled craftsmen, and each includes over 12,000 components for a thoughtful, intricate design.
Whether you’re searching for a piano for your home or the stage, Steinway & Sons has a selection of grand and upright pianos to choose from. Both grand and upright pianos are handcrafted by artisans to ensure each instrument is a true masterpiece. However, due to their top-notch design, Steinway & Sons pianos do come at a higher cost. For those who want a particularly unique centerpiece, Steinway also offers their Crown Jewel Collection of rare and exotic woods to choose from.
4. Kawai
Next in the best piano brand ranking is Kawai. Established in Hamamatsu, Japan in 1927, Kawai is one of the largest piano companies in the world. They offer a range of high-end acoustic grand, upright, digital, and hybrid pianos for students, hobbyists, and professional musicians at a more affordable price range.
Kawai’s pianos are unique compared to some other piano brands. Many of their acoustic pianos feature longer keys to provide a more consistent touch along with their Millennium III composite action that features carbon fiber to help combat the challenges of fluctuating climate changes throughout the year found in traditional wood actions.
5. Schimmel
Schimmel pianos are one of the most well-respected, popular piano brands in the world. Originally made in Germany, Schimmel pianos offer a high-quality tone that’s rich and clear. With a wonderful balance between treble and bass, these pianos produce a powerful sound and can be found in concert venues, as well as in homes.
Schimmel features high-end upright and grand pianos and offers a richer sound than some of the other top 10 piano brands. And as a pioneer in terms of computer-aided design and manufacturing, they are able to produce more pianos than some of the other upscale brands - including around 500 grands per year and 2,500 uprights.
6. Fazioli
Fazioli is a more recent Italian piano brand that was established in 1981 and exclusively manufactures grand and concert grand pianos, of which there are only six models for sale. Some consider Fazioli to be the best piano brand thanks to the unique design of the pianos. The Fazioli F308 is actually the longest piano presently available and has a fourth pedal that reduces the volume without changing the timbre. This is achieved by reducing the key height and hammer blow distance.
Manufactured in Italy, Fazioli pianos are also some of the most expensive on the market; their prices range anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000. Additionally, the brand is on the smaller side and only makes about 100-130 pianos a year.
7. Steingraeber & Söhne
With a family-run business that began in 1852 and a commitment to making pianos by hand, Steingraeber & Söhne has been rightfully ranked as one of the best piano manufacturers. This German piano company makes both upright and grand pianos, built with high-quality materials and skilled craftsmanship.
Steingraeber & Söhne offers a number of options in color, veneers, and sound. Try an upright Model 122 for your studies, music making, or home, or an upright Model 130 if you’re seeking fuller sound and incredibly quick action. The 122 has the option of “twist and change” panels, which are two-sided panels with one ebony side and the other side displaying a rare wood veneer. If you’re looking to switch up your home decor whenever you’d like, this is the model for you.
8. Bluthner
Bluthner pianos find themselves high on the best piano brand ranking list thanks to their upright and grand pianos’ warm rich sound. This German piano brand offers instruments with a deeper sound than their counterparts. They are also well-known for their gorgeous, crystal transparent pianos.
Though this renowned piano manufacturer creates verticals in four sizes, the two most popular models are Model B and Model S.
Model S offers a perfectly proportioned design with its longer height, width, and depth. Model S pianos give a similar sound to a grand piano, without the need for so much floor-space. Model B, on the other hand, is a smaller option with a proportionally smaller price tag. Despite its smaller stature, the Model B provides the incredibly rich tonal color and unparalleled dynamic range that sets Bluthner apart from its competitors.
9. Sauter
Another very famous piano brands, Sauter upright pianos stand out for their sleek and modern designs that, coupled with their excellent sound quality, make them a fan favorite. Sauter patented an auxiliary jack spring for their uprights called the R2 Double Escapement action, which allows for faster repetition; the tongue-like shape of the spring puts it directly at the butt of the hammer, allowing it to mimic gravity’s effect on a grand piano.
Sauter pianos have been described as “bell-like”, offering a lush and warm sound that gives them a concert-quality sound.
Their unique, inventive look makes them the perfect choice for any modern, sophisticated apartment or home. Interior designer Peter Maly designed several unique and modern grand and upright pianos. You can find these pianos in crisp white, or, for a more exciting look, try their green glass pianos that are sure to catch anyone’s eye.
10. Grotrian
Established in the 19th century, this top-quality piano manufacturer has been endorsed by famous pianists for years. These grand and upright pianos offer a sustained treble, a powerful bass, and a light sound of attack.
Grotrian pianos feature a star-shaped back-frame with two strong layers that were patented by Grotrian in 1905. This design is considered the best way to construct the instrument to best absorb tension. These pianos also boast an iron frame with a continuous molded edge, as well as strengthening stars in the frame that have been precisely calculated for optimal performance.
Which Piano Maker Is Right for You?
While different instrument trends come and go, the best piano brands have withstood the test of time. With all our favorite brands having years of experience in the industry, and delivering the best instruments money can buy, you can't go wrong with any of the top 10 piano brands.
So, which one is right for you? At Music Exchange, we not only offer brand new Yamaha and Bösendorfer pianos but feature a wide range of pre-owned instruments from various other manufacturers as well. To begin exploring our assortment, contact us today, and we will help you find the best piano for you.