Modern acoustic pianos come in two configurations: grand and upright. The first occurrence of piano-like instruments occurred in treatises from the 15th to 18th century. These instruments, pantaleons, were the descendants of the clavichord. Cristofori’s first “pianofortre” was based upon the design of a harpsichord, and German manufactures such as Stein and Silberman initially produced “square” pianos based on the design of the clavichord. Ultimately, it was this clavichord-based design that won in popularity with middle-class people, while the English and French manufacturers, such as Broadwood and Pleyel, started producing grand pianos in the traditional, harpsichord shape. Grand pianos and square pianos existed from the beginning,...

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When customers first walk into our store, the first thing they usually tell us is “Wow, you have a lot of pianos!” Stilwell Pianos, compared to any other store, has a greater and larger selection of used, restored, and new grand pianos than any other store in the Valley. Some stores focus solely on a high-or-low-end market, which often results in fewer pianos being sold. Fewer sales mean less pianos can be purchased and placed on the showroom floor. Do we maintain healthy relationships with many different vendors? Absolutely. This also enables us to get our pianos for less than...

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In the world of premium pianos, no market has exploded in recent years as much as rebuilt or restored vintage American pianos, such as Knabe, Mason & Hamlin, and Steinway. Out of the half-dozen or so brands worth rebuilding, Mason & Hamlin pianos stand out. These hand made pianos are unique and loved by technicians, because they are simply unmatched in quality, rigidity, and tone. At the height of the American piano industry a hundred years ago from today, Mason & Hamlin pianos were endorsed by legendary pianists, such as Harold Bauer, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Maurice Ravel. 

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Do you remember your first car? It was probably not the same grade of vehicle you currently drive, and there's a good chance looking back, it was (too be polite) a questionably safe people mover. Yes, although your Ford Pinto was ridiculously noisy and the opposite of smooth handling, you still drive--and the car you drive today is probably an improvement. Likewise, the house you own today is likely much more spacious and better furnished than the apartment you had rented in college. Pianos are different than cars and homes. Unlike vehicles or dwelling places, most people, including professional musicians,...

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Hailun HU1

Many people who enter our store request the famous U series Yamaha uprights. Whenever we advertise one in stock, regardless of how many decades of use it might have seen, we literally have a list of buyers who all want the piano; it’s not uncommon for several potential buyers to come within the week after it has sold.

We carry what is arguably the best upright on the market today: the Hailun HU1.

Our Hailun HU1 series uprights have super-tuned factory actions, steel termination bars for better clarity,...

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Schulze Pollmann

Some of the finest items in the world are produced in Italy--from the most beautiful wool suits and fastest super cars, Italy has a reputation for stylish performance that few countries can match. 

Here at Stilwell, we are proud to introduce an impressive new line of Italian-made pianos. Schulze Pollmann was founded by two German piano designers who sought to capture the charm and culture of Italy with German precision and Old World design. Schulze Pollmann pianos are equally rooted in German clarity and Italian flair. 

One can almost hear a bel...

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Acoustic and digital pianos have many advantages that are sometimes difficult to compare. The tonal richness and artistic possibilities of a grand piano are hard to beat, yet the versatility of digital pianos makes them essential for many people.  

Is there a clear advantage to purchasing an acoustic piano in the digital age? This is a frequent question many people ask us here at Stilwell Pianos, and the answer is a resounding YES for those who want the inherent advantages of an acoustic piano, such as the following: 

• Natural Sound
• Absolute Control
• Harmonic and Tonal Complexity...

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We get this question all the time and it always reminds us how small of a market the USA really is. I once heard a statistic that 80% of the pianos being made today are sold in Asia. That is a huge number! These days about 80% of the pianos made are made in China. This number has grown tremendously over the last 20 years as most manufacturers are moving their plants there to cut labor costs and to take advantage of a workforce with years of experience in piano manufacturing. This has lowered the price of pianos and has allowed families...

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Finding a piano with terrific sound and touch at an affordable price is not always easy. Piano students always benefit from practicing on a quality grand piano, because of its superior design; however, grand pianos do not always fit the budget of every person or family. Additionally, many people do not have the floorspace to accommodate anything besides an upright. 

The greatest disadvantage of an upright piano is its action mechanism, everything from the keys to the hammers that hit the strings. In an upright, the hammers strike vertically, and there is...

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Yes, I know it's not getting that close to Christmas just yet, though Halloween candy IS showing up on grocery store shelves already. Christmas actually is not the subject of this entry, though it does play a roll. If you've ever sold a piano on the private market, you may have the impression that it's a simple task, or you may think that finding a buyer is nearly impossible. Of course it always depends on what you have and what others are looking for, but one of the...

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