Topic by bazzo

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Topic: Instrument choice for beginner

Hi everyone,

I'm Sebastian from Germany and recently started learning piano. I'll start taking lessons in two weeks and I'm just fiddling around with the Pianoteq Trial. Since it sounds by far better than the Rolands internal sounds, i decided to purchase PTQ-Stage soon. Whats holding me back is, that i dont feel confident in selecting the right instrument packs.

What i know so far is, that i'll definitely take the Bösendorfer, its by far my favorite among the grands.

I'am pretty unsure about which 2nd instrument pack to choose and hope for some thought or recommendations from you guys.
I really like the sound of the electrics but i think i don't really need them, since i'll focus on acoustics in my early learning stages.

As a total beginner, who doesn't even know in which direction (classic, rock, jazz,...) i'll go, i have a hard time on deciding, weather a second grand or the upright would be the better choice to have more versatility for different genres. I guess the Bösendorfer covers classics pretty well, but maybe its not the best option for others.

Things i'm unsure about:
- maybe the KIVIR Pack covers some gaps the Bösendorfer leaves open
- maybe modartt will add more presets to the Bösendorfer in future (Has this happend to other relative new instrument packs?)
- maybe i can add more versatility by playing around with modified presets/FXPs

If i had to choose right now, i'd go for Bösendorfer and the electrics, knowing, if this is not optimal, i can correct that for 50 bucks. But i dont like spending money for something that gets rarely or not used.

Your thoughts on this are very welcome. ;-)

regards Sebastian

Reply by BlackForest

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Re: Instrument choice for beginner

What about the Steinway Model D, which comes in two flavours in one package?

Reply by bazzo

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Re: Instrument choice for beginner

BlackForest wrote:

What about the Steinway Model D, which comes in two flavours in one package?

Thanks, thought about them. Even if there are 2 models with more presets, i like the Bösendorfer more. I guess if i take those, i'll end up not using them and prefer the BD. They sound different, but i feel like they're too close to the BD (purpose wise) to increase the versatility. ... and I like the Petrofs more than the Steinways, so before i take SW i'd take the Petrofs.

Reply by Pianoteqenthusiast

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Re: Instrument choice for beginner

Hi bazzo. I suggest Petrof Mistral. A good choice together with Bösendorfer.
It is their largest piano, and is loved for its tremendous bass and resonant treble. I have all pianos, and the sound is different from Bösendorfer but I like the warm preset as a contrast to Bösendorfer.
You ”doesn't even know in which direction (classic, rock, jazz,...) i'll go”,
Petrof mistral  and Bösendorfer cover a wide range of different music. And with many of us, after a while one want one more piano and one more piano…I have all now and yet I’m waiting for next one they probably already working on….

Good Luck!

Beat wishes,

Stig

Reply by bazzo

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Re: Instrument choice for beginner

Hi Stig, thanks, i think thats the way i'll go. I compared the Mistral a lot against BD today and indeed, its very different and i like it.
The moment i feel the urge to get one more instruments, i'll consider upgrading to Standard anyways ;-).

regards Sebastian

Reply by Coises

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Re: Instrument choice for beginner

By now I have seven of the modern piano packs (Steinway D, Steinway B, Bösendorfer, C. Bechstein DG, Petrof, Blüthner and YC5), plus the electric pianos and the Hohner collection. And of all those, the one I use by far the most for daily playing and practice is the Steinway B.

That may be because of two things. I listen through headphones; and I learned to play piano on an acoustic piano in our living room. It was taller than a spinet but shorter than an upright (they called it a “console”). I don’t really care for the sound of the U4 demo, but all the grands besides the Steinway B sound “too big” to me. I’m not used to playing in a concert hall, just a normal room. The B, to me, has a very sweet sound, but one that feels natural to me, like it belongs in an ordinary space. It sounds the least “artificial” to me of all the Pianoteq grands.

It might not be what you want, but I’d like to suggest that you spend a bit of time with the demo and don’t just pass by the Steinway B simply because it isn’t as “flashy” as the other grands.

Reply by bazzo

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Re: Instrument choice for beginner

Thanks Coises,
much appreciated. But its too late. I purchased the Bösendorfer and Petrofs last night.

I think in the end its a personal preference which is formed by listening and playing experience. Yours is developed over years (or even decades) mine over a couple of days. Thats why i didn't totally trust mine. ;-)

I didn't rush it, i spend a lot of time with the PTQ Trial, but the SWB didn't impress me as much as the others. I must confess, i didn't really have considered it. ("If a SW, then the D." was the thought i had)

What finally made me pull the trigger, was the conclusion, that my time would be better invested in practicing than in fiddling around with the tech and A/B-ing the overwhelming choice of instruments PTQ offers . The most important thing is to have at least one piano that is enjoyable enough to keep me motivated to sit down and practice. With developing skills and experience, i can easily add more later.

regards Sebastian

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: Instrument choice for beginner

bazzo wrote:

Thanks Coises,
much appreciated. But its too late. I purchased the Bösendorfer and Petrofs last night.

I think in the end its a personal preference which is formed by listening and playing experience. Yours is developed over years (or even decades) mine over a couple of days. Thats why i didn't totally trust mine. ;-)

I didn't rush it, i spend a lot of time with the PTQ Trial, but the SWB didn't impress me as much as the others. I must confess, i didn't really have considered it. ("If a SW, then the D." was the thought i had)

What finally made me pull the trigger, was the conclusion, that my time would be better invested in practicing than in fiddling around with the tech and A/B-ing the overwhelming choice of instruments PTQ offers . The most important thing is to have at least one piano that is enjoyable enough to keep me motivated to sit down and practice. With developing skills and experience, i can easily add more later.

regards Sebastian

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the modern pianos.
Those pianos are excellent choices with substantially different sound good. You also have the Pleyel, Errard and CP80 in the Kivir collection for free!