Piano and Music Videos

Welcome to LivingPianos.com. I’m Robert Estrin. And today we’re talking about the Baldwin piano, not just any Baldwin, but the ones that piano technicians, concert pianists, and serious collectors hunt for. The ones built in Cincinnati during what is now called the Golden Era.

Baldwin in the Golden Era

For well over a century, Baldwin was considered the gold standard of American piano craftsmanship. Not a distant second to Steinway, but a genuine rival. These pianos were on the stages of Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. They were in the hands of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. At the center of it all was the Artist Series Baldwin piano, grand pianos that many piano experts, myself included, consider the best value-for-performance piano ever built in the United States. That’s a big claim. Stick with me, because I’m going to back it up.

The Bechstein Connection

Now here’s something most people do not know, and this is where the story gets really fascinating. In the 1970s, the Baldwin Piano Company owned C. Bechstein, one of the most revered piano makers in all of Europe, and the brand that Debussy championed. Think about what that means. You had American manufacturing muscle, American scale, American power behind the soundboard, fused with European refinement. Bechstein’s legendary tonal clarity, their scale design philosophy, and their approach to voicing and touch all influenced what was being built right there in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The pianos from this period—Baldwin grand pianos and concert grand pianos with Bechstein-influenced scale design—have a clarity in the treble and a singing quality in the midrange that you simply do not find in most American grand pianos of that era. That sustain and bloom reflect two great piano-making traditions meeting at exactly the right moment in history.

The Accu-Just Hitch Pin System

Now I want to talk about something specific; something that separates these Baldwins from earlier ones. Something called the Accu-Just hitch pin system. Baldwin patented this system, and it was one of the most innovative advances in piano sustain of the 20th century. Here’s the problem it solved: in a traditional piano, strings are looped around fixed hitch pins in the plate. Over time, the string does not always bear evenly across the bridge. You get what is called false bearing, which kills sustain and muddies the tone. You’ve heard pianos that sound kind of dead. That’s often a factor. The Accu-Just system allowed adjustable hitch pins. When a piano is strung, the downbearing can be fine-tuned for each string. The result is better contact across the bridge, better energy transfer, and greater sustain. Notes last longer and sing more clearly. This is why technicians seek these instruments out.

What Happened to Baldwin

So if the Baldwin piano was this good, if they owned Bechstein, and if they had innovations like this, what happened?

In the 1980s Baldwin moved its factory. That in itself was not a big deal, but it was part of a much larger corporate pivot. Baldwin had been aggressively expanding into financial services, banking, and insurance. The executives running the company were no longer piano people. They were finance people. And the pianos started reflecting that.

One hundred and twenty years of accumulated craftsman knowledge—the workers, the culture, the institutional memory of how to build a great piano—you cannot just pack that into a moving truck and transplant it to a new state. You can try, but it’s not the same. The Bechstein ownership ended too. So what you’re left with is a very clear dividing line: Baldwin as the number one American piano manufacturer and the choice of countless concert pianists, to a company that grew so large financially that the piano business became peripheral to them.

Why These Pianos Matter Today

Here’s the thing about these pianos that makes them increasingly important: they’re disappearing. Not because they’re falling apart, quite the opposite. A well-maintained pre-early 2000s Baldwin Artist Series is built to last. These instruments can outlast most of what’s being made today. But they’re being absorbed into private collections. They’re being bought by university music programs. They’re being restored by technicians who know exactly what they have. The supply is finite. These pianos are not being made anymore. And as awareness of the Golden Era grows, demand goes up.

I’ve had piano technicians come into this store and practically become emotional when they see one in great condition. Because they know. They’ve worked on hundreds of pianos, and they recognize immediately what this instrument represents. The value proposition here is extraordinary. You are getting a piano with the tonal character of an instrument that would cost two or three times as much if it wore a different nameplate. The Baldwin brand never commanded the premium of Steinway, even at its peak. Which means these Golden Era instruments are, in many ways, the most undervalued pianos in the American market right now.

How to Recognize a Great Baldwin

So how do you identify a great Baldwin? What should you look for? First, the serial number. Pre-early 2000s built Baldwins fall within a specific serial number range (380,000).

Second, look for the Accu-Just hitch pin system. A good piano technician can identify these immediately. This feature is a strong indicator you’re looking at a Golden Era instrument, although many Baldwin pianos made before this innovation are also phenomenal instruments.

Third, examine the overall build quality. The rim, the plate casting, the quality of the hammers and strings. These instruments were built with a level of attention that is visible when you look closely. Ask when it was last regulated and voiced. A great piano in neglect can be brought back, but you want to understand what you’re starting with. Check the soundboard for integrity since this is the soul of the piano.

And fourth, play it. Trust your ears. The Baldwin sound has a signature: clarity in the treble and a warm bloom in the bass. Once you hear it on a great instrument, you’ll recognize it again.

If you have questions about a piano, about Baldwin’s history, or about finding the right instrument for your situation, reach out to us. That’s what we’re here for at Living Pianos, Your Online Piano Store.

Welcome to LivingPianos.com, I’m Robert Estrin. The question today is: What is better, bright or warm voicing? Choosing between a warm or bright voicing for your piano can be a complex decision, but understanding what each term means can help you make the right choice for your needs.

What is Piano Voicing?

Voicing refers to the tone quality of a piano, which is influenced primarily by the hardness or softness of the hammers. Each of the 88 hammers in a piano must be individually adjusted to achieve the desired tone. This process involves not only adjusting the hardness of the hammers but also shaping them precisely and aligning them correctly. Regulation also plays a role in how the piano’s tone is perceived.

Factors Affecting Piano Voicing

Room Acoustics

The acoustics of the room where the piano is placed significantly impact its tone. In a small, acoustically bright room, a piano with a bright tone might sound harsh and overwhelming. In such cases, a warmer voicing can help mitigate this harshness. Conversely, in a larger space where the sound needs to travel farther, a brighter tone might be more suitable.

Musical Style

Your preferred musical style can also influence your choice. For example, a pianist who plays rock music might prefer a brighter tone for its cutting effect, while someone who plays new age music might lean towards a warmer, mellower sound to create soothing, sonorous qualities.

Playing Style and Power

The power and technique of the player are crucial considerations. A powerful player might prefer a piano with a broader dynamic range and warmer voicing to avoid a harsh sound, whereas a player with less strength might benefit from a brighter tone that requires less effort to produce sound.

Piano Types and Voicing

Different types of pianos naturally lend themselves to varying tonal qualities. For instance, American pianos like Steinway and Mason & Hamlin are often noted for their warmer tone compared to European pianos, which may have a brighter sound. However, every piano can be voiced to suit either preference, so the choice ultimately depends on personal taste and the specific use of the piano.

The More a Piano Is Played, the Brighter It Gets

Pianos tend to become brighter over time with regular use. The felt on the hammers compresses and hardens, leading to a brighter tone. To counteract this, it’s beneficial to start with a piano voiced on the warmer side. This allows for a more controlled and pleasant sound as the piano naturally brightens with use.

Seeking Professional Voicing

Voicing is a specialized skill. It’s essential to work with a skilled technician who can finely adjust the voicing to meet your specific needs. Look for a technician with experience in concert-level work, as they will have the expertise necessary to achieve the best results. Voicing needs to be even from key to key, which is a real challenge to achieve.

Personalized Voicing

Many pianos can be voiced with different tonal characteristics in various sections. For example, you might prefer a warmer middle register with brighter treble and bass notes. This customization can enhance the overall sound and suit your personal preferences. I have a personal story to share about my father, Morton Estrin. He was an incredibly powerful pianist, but he had remarkable control over his pianissimo playing as well. He truly loved exploring the full range of the piano. I remember visiting the Baldwin showroom in New York City with him, where, as a Baldwin artist, he would head to the back room filled with concert grands to test them for his New York recitals and recordings. He always sought out the piano with the warmest tone, knowing it would allow him to express himself fully without the risk of a harsh sound. His preference for a warmer voicing was because it enabled him to produce beautiful, delicate tones and, when played with more power, to reveal a range of rich, varied sounds. To contrast that, Vladimir Horowitz’s piano was known for its exceptional brightness. Horowitz’s control over this brightness was remarkable. His piano had a shallower key depth, allowing him to achieve a wide range of dynamics—from subtle nuances to powerful crescendos—with ease. His technical mastery and the unique characteristics of his piano created a dynamic and fiery performance.

Conclusion

Welcome to LivingPianos.com, I’m Robert Estrin. The subject today is about drummers who play the piano. Why do drummers love to play the piano? I want to hear from all of you drummers out there who tune in to this video. Tell us why you love to play the piano.

I have a lot of drummers in my life, and, almost categorically, they all love to play the piano!