Best piano in your world.

[Stéphane Collin]

In my piano billboard, the n° 1 happen to change, from time to time.  
Last month n° 1 was a ... Hautrive (yes, yes, a belgian brand... Even I 
didn't expect that).  9ft, very massive and ugly 1920' Art Deco case, 
incredibly heavy, with a sound oh my god.  Deep bass, noble tenor, very 
long sustaining trebble and dynamic colour shades up till high end. 
Everything you dream about achieving in any piano you work on, plus that 
indicible magic that only time and hazard can mix in.  Very good 
predictible touch also, etc.
The fun is that my friend (Pierre ;-) ) who cares for it doesn't like it 
so much.  Makes me think about another 9 ft Bechstein that I didn't like 
at all, and that ended up making another friend of mine very, very 
happy.  He keeps telling me about pianists who really love to play on it.
So, could I add this question : apart from the best beloved piano of 
yours, what do you think come into the matter when we do such a jugement 
?  What conditions influence our intuitive aesthetical appreciation of 
an instrument ?
My guess :
1. Ideal piano in your head, built up with all the pianos you heard : 
the sound you expect from a piano and to which you compare one particular.
2. Brand name and glory, or ideas you attach to it (are you prepared to 
like a Wurlitzer upright ? or a no name 5 ft ?).
3. Physical condition of your ears at the first time you try it (if you 
come out of a harpsichord tuning job, you will probably find the piano 
very soft sounding).
4. Moral environment of that first try (if the piano belongs to someone 
you like, you will probably easier find it good, and opposite).
5. Repertoire you play at that moment (can reveal or hide the beauty of 
the instrument).
What else ?

Stéphane Collin.

Topperpiano@aol.com a écrit :

> Let's all think about the one piano that you have seen/heard/tuned 
> that really knocked your socks off.  The one piano that you 
> wanted to implant the sound in your head.  The one that you hoped the 
> little old lady who owned it would leave it to you because you were 
> the only one who really appreciated how truly amazing it was. 
>  
> Mine was a very old 7ft Ibach, ...
> Your turn. TP