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Ok,I'm fully aware that this quite a strange question,but I've read strange topics on this forums during the past months,so why not add mine?
Seriously now,I'm wondering which upright is more similar to a Fazioli grand?I'm looking for an upright and so far I have decided what I like or don't like in general,but I'm in love with Faziolis(and far from being able to afford one in the next ten years at least)so the question popped up in my mind and decided to ask.This doesn't mean of course that I'm looking for something like this,but I'd really be interested to know.
Opinions anyone?

That IS a unique question!!!

Since I have never played a Fazioli, I can't begin to answer it. But my sneaking suspicion would be that the upright most like a Fazioli is nothing like a Fazioli.

Can anybody knock my speculation down? (I hope so...)

Good suggestion.. never played a Bechie upright either.

AD,

That was my thought exactly.

Hi Cornelia,

My question would be...

WHAT sound do you hear in the Fazioli that you like?

Things like, clean crystal clear? Thick rich? Mellow, bright, etc. And where on the keyboard do you hear them.

The C Bech uprights that I have played do not sound like the one Fazioli that I played. Sorry, guys.

Rather than try to poll people on which upright they think sounds most like a Fazioli - how many of us have had the opportunity to play a Fazioli, anyway? - why not just try as many different uprights as you can and find one that you like, whether it sounds like a Fazioli, a Steinburger or a Dumkopf?

I would think that the key to pianistic contentment is not trying to find that elusive piano that may sound like something else, but one whose sound you fall in love with.

Regards,

Bruce, you forgot that other great fallboard name: Frankenstein.

Actually, I had the opportunity to play two Faziolis at Ruggero's in Raleigh NC. They had the big concert grand and a smaller 225 (I think that was the length). I had to pry my son off of them so he could go play the more reasonably priced pianos on the showroom floor. I think part of the problem was that the Faziolis were in a small concert hall that allowed their power to be heard and felt full force.

Cheers,

DF

Bruce: how many of us have had the opportunity to play a Fazioli, anyway?

Perhaps because it's only an hour down the motorway to Italy from where I sit, our local dealer has a hoard of Faziolis of the 183/212/228 flavours, and as I've mentioned (a few times) before, the music school my children attend in Geneva bought an F212 earlier this year, on which I accompanied my son during his double-bass end of year recital/exam before the summer break.

I also got to try out some 212 and 228 instruments at another establishment when I was first shopping for pianos 5 years ago. Faziolis are indeed very fine pianos, but, going by most examples I've experienced, what others might call crystal clarity (or whatever), sounds to my ears like over-brightness in the treble. That said, one particular 228 I played 5 years ago was sparkly but not harsh, and remains in my memory as one of the greatest-sounding pianos I've ever played.

As for which upright sounds like a Fazioli, I have absolutely no clue at all. Seems a rather odd thing to wonder about, really...

-Michael B.

Michael: Perhaps because it's only an hour down the motorway to Italy from where I sit ...

I doubt it; perhaps it's because you sit close to a large number of wealthy residents of Switzerland?
I suspect there may not even be a Fazioli dealer in Torino, and even if there were one, there would probably still be no Fazioli pianos in town - the theoretical Bösendorfer dealer has no Bösendorfer pianos in his showroom either.

I don't think the Bechstein and Fazioli sound similar. They both have a certain tonal clarity but that's about it. Overall, the Fazioli sound reminds me more of a Yamaha than anything else, but with more distinctive voicing in different regions of the compass.

JP

I have played the top 3 Fazioli model sizes including the 10'. While it's a good instrument, I did not like them. They tended to have a bland tone, i.e., nothing that attracts the attention. At worst, their upper trebles were positively harsh, very grating and painful on the ears. And of the three I played, all but the 10' model had a distinct and very unpleasant break somewhere above the killer octave. Ugh. But I will grant that they had huge power.

Thanks Mik for noticing that my question stands out from the crowd!
To all of you who replied I should try to find something unique that is more similar to a grand,I didn't ask the question cause I want to buy a piano that sounds like Fazioli,it was just something that popped up in my mind and,as we are in an all-piano forum,I said it does no harm to ask.

Cornelia, I personally have a Wurlitzer spinet that, since I bought my grand, I would be willing to let go inexpensively. I played it last night, and guess what? It sounds and plays REMARKABLY like a Fazioli!!!! YOu would love it. Please send me a check for $10,000 and your address so that I may ship this piece of cr... er.. I mean fine piano work to you.

But seriously, like people, one can fall in love with more than one piano.. most of us, however, may purchase only one. If you are really looking for an upright, what kind of budget did you have in mind? It would be easier to make recommendations on what you might look at.

Faziolis are fantastic - in their place. Certainly bright and clear, and the action is excellent.

I have never heard an upright that sounds like a small faz grand, let alone a big one. This is dreamland I fear.

My suggestion, if you want to replicate grand sounds is to buy a digital piano. I am sure some of you will be shocked to hear me say this, but I am in thr market for one myself and some of them are actually remarkably good.

I have decided to buy a Yamaha CLP 280 in gloss black finish. This has wooden keys, escapement action and a lot of samples based on for example CF111S. These instruments can get remarkably close to an acoustic grand sound and the action feel is quite acceptable. The sound can be mdifed a lot and you will get closer to a Fazioli bright and clear sound with this than with an urpight I surmise. In the UK they are available for about £2,100.

In my ignorance I had largely dismissed electric pianos. But in recent years they have clearly had a leap forward and although I prefer my grand pianos, the electric has its uses, particaulrly if space is an issue or if one wishes to resrtict volume without adjusting playing style. Also no humidity, regulation or tuning issues to contend with. I recommend you try one before dismissing the concept. I should add that the cheap ones with plastic keys and few midi samples are generally very unrealistic.

Good luck

Adrian

My budget is about 4.000-5.000 euro.If I don't find a good used european upright(a small schimmel in relatively good condition for example) I'm probably going to have a look at the kawais and samicks.Do you have anything else to propose?I live in Europe and I could find a new Yamaha for that money,but I really don't like them.

Have a look at Bohemias.. lovely tone, IMO.

Cornelia:

I suggest you also try out a Kawai MP8 digital keyboard. Great action and the sound isn't bad either. But I'm not sure that the Kawai piano it comes from is any closer to a Fazioli than the Yamaha suggested by Adrian might be.

Howard