Working My Way Up to Something Special
Over the years, I gradually worked my way up through different pianos. At one point I had a Young Chang 6’1″, and from there I upgraded to a Baldwin L. Each instrument was a step forward, both musically and personally.
Then something unexpected happened. My top piano technician, who was a concert technician, owned an older Mason & Hamlin BB. For those of you who may not know, the BB is a 7-foot grand known for its massive construction and rich tone. Mason & Hamlin pianos have a distinctive depth of sound, and this one was particularly special.
What made it extraordinary was not just the design, but the care it had received. It belonged to a master technician. The regulation and voicing were superb. Everything about the instrument felt refined and responsive. When he decided to move away, he asked me to sell the piano for him. The moment I played it, I knew I wanted it myself. So I sold my piano and bought the Mason & Hamlin. I truly believed I had found the ultimate instrument.
An Offer I Did Not Expect
Not long after that, a concert pianist came in looking for a piano for a friend. At the time, I had a Baldwin L for sale. He tried it and liked it. Then he sat down at my Mason & Hamlin. I told him it was not for sale. He understood, but he kept playing it anyway.
A few days later, he returned and played both pianos again. This time, he made me an offer to purchase both instruments. It was not an easy decision. The Mason & Hamlin was supposed to be my piano. But the offer was significant, and I reluctantly agreed.
Almost immediately, I felt what you might call “seller’s remorse.” I realized that if I ever wanted something equal or better, I would have to look for a 9-foot concert grand. So that is exactly what I did.
Searching for the Ultimate Concert Grand
I brought my technician with me as we searched far and wide for the right instrument. At one point, I even purchased a 9-foot Baldwin in San Francisco. We brought it back and worked on it extensively. It was a fine piano, but it was not quite the extraordinary instrument I was hoping to find.
Then we discovered a Baldwin SD-10 concert grand in the San Fernando Valley. This is a 9-foot concert grand and one of the great American pianos. From the first notes, it was clear this was something very special. My technician told me it was one of the two or three finest pianos he had ever encountered, and he had worked on countless concert instruments. I absolutely loved that piano.
A Piano That Inspired Pianists
We used that Baldwin SD-10 for a concert series, and pianists who performed on it consistently praised it. Many told me it was the best piano they had ever played. It had power, warmth, and remarkable control across the entire range of the keyboard. It was everything I had hoped to find.
A Change of Circumstances
At the time, we were in a loft with 19-foot ceilings, and the piano filled the space beautifully. However, when we moved to a smaller location, it became clear that the instrument was simply too powerful for the room. It was more piano than the space could comfortably handle.
After much thought, I decided to put it up for sale. There was strong interest from around the country. Two different concert organizations were seriously considering purchasing it, and we even discussed the possibility of my performing a dedication recital when the piano was installed. It seemed like the perfect way to pass along such a remarkable instrument.
An Unexpected Buyer
Because those organizations needed board approvals, the process took time. Meanwhile, one Sunday afternoon, an elderly couple came in from the desert. They had seen the piano listed online and wanted to see it in person.
The gentleman sat down at the piano and played just one thing. He stood up and said, “I’ll take it.”
The one piece he played on that piano was Chopsticks!
Where It Ended Up
After all the performances, all the praise from accomplished pianists, and all the discussion of concert halls and dedication recitals, the greatest piano I ever owned ended up in a private home in the desert… For Chopsticks. So I have some mixed feelings about the sale of that piano.
So that is what happened to the greatest piano ever made, at least in my experience. If you have your own story about remarkable pianos, share them in the comments here at LivingPianos.com and on YouTube! Thanks again for joining me.
2 thoughts on “What Happened to the Greatest Piano Ever Made?”
i so have enjoyed learned from you over the years regarding the voices of unique instruments. instruments that speak to individuals. i finally got my 1902 restored
steinway A3. its in my girl garage with am QRS system so as to interetain .
thank u for the videos u share.
One of the best pianos I ever owned was a massive 1920’s upright “universal” player piano. It had a very light action and a remarkably deep bass for an upright. When I lived in Scotland, I found it at an auction sale and it had been in a castle somewhere and had not been played very much but was regularly tuned and maintained. I think it was around 1974 when I got it and I paid 20 GBP for it which was around $30 at that time. The player part was fully fuctional and it was a lot of fun at parties getting guests to sit down and pedal it! A few years after I emigrated to the US in 1987 the player part stopped working when the dry California climate caused all the bellows to persih and crack. I kept it for quite a few years then gave it away to a pianist then purchased a small grand piano which eventually proved too loud for my house and have now been using a yamaha clavinova which I love. I find I can play even advanced pieces on the clavinova and it never need tuned, voiced or regulated!