Early pianos each had their own distinctive features. Early German pianos had sustain pedals. Early Viennese pianos had black naturals and white sharps (pictured here).
Do you know the truth about German handcrafted pianos? Though the piano originated in Italy around 1704, it didn’t arrive with any kind of fanfare. In fact, Cristofori himself didn’t even consider it a new instrument. We know this by the name Cristofori gave his invention: “Clavicembalo col Piano e Forte” (“Harpsichord with Soft and Loud” in English). It wasn’t until instrument makers in England, Austria and Germany began building their versions of Cristofori’s “newfangled harpsichord” that composers – and music lovers around Europe – began thinking of “The Soft” (“The Piano”) as a new and unique instrument. A German organ builder named Gottfried Silbermann added a mechanism to Cristofori’s design and began marketing his pianos with a revolutionary new feature – what we know today as the modern “sustain pedal.” He even introduced Bach to the piano and – though Bach was slow to adopt the new instrument – by the mid-1700s, he was selling pianos for Silbermann in Europe. Many piano builders in Vienna were famous for building pianos with black “naturals” and white “sharps” (the opposite coloring we use today) and Mozart himself wrote countless pieces on these early pianos. With every new industrial development, the piano became more unique, more powerful and more beloved around the world.
With such an incredible history centered around Europe (and Germany specifically), it’s no wonder that modern German piano builders still have a reputation for producing great-playing, great-sounding instruments. …but – though there is a general impression that some of the best pianos made in the world are made in and around Germany – most people can’t actually name any modern German piano builders. Names like August Forester, Bechstein, Bluthner, Grotrain-Steinweg, Pfeiffer, Ronisch, Steingraeber, and more are virtually unknown to most folks outside of the piano business. In fact, these (and others like them) have a few things in common: They are little known outside of Europe or the piano industry; They are made with high quality European woods and materials; They are very expensive by today’s standards (uprights averaging in the mid-$30,000 range and grands averaging from around $70,000 to nearly $300,000 depending on size). As such, many of these famous German handcrafted pianos are priced beyond most piano buyers’ budgets… and that disparity has opened the door for piano manufacturers who build instruments elsewhere to wrap themselves in the time-tested reputation of “German handcrafted pianos” when their pianos are nothing alike. Over time, this has become a major problem for piano buyers who don’t know the difference.
The Problem with German Handcrafted Pianos Today
The Truth about German Handcrafted Pianos is that 95% of the companies that claim to be made in Germany today really aren’t. In fact – though they may buy strings or hammers from German companies or they may have a business office located in Germany – most of these piano builders are claiming a German heritage they have no right to. In point of fact, there are only 13 companies that still build high-quality pianos in Germany. …and even some of these companies (like Seiler, Schimmel, Grotrian, and more) offer lower-quality, mass-produced lines that are “globally sourced and manufactured” (ie – not made in Germany) for far lower prices. 
In addition, other piano manufacturers around the world (hoping to “cash in” on the reputation of German handcrafted pianos) have purchased the rights to use German names for their businesses – even though their pianos have nothing in common. These practices have made it nearly impossible for the average piano buyer to know whether or not the piano (s)he is considering is made cheaply with a German name or if it’s truly a German, handcrafted instrument.
Unfortunately, unscrupulous piano salespeople have exacerbated this problem in recent years. With misleading marketing and a clever turn of phrase, many piano dealers have chosen to walk a razor-thin line between “puffery” (exaggerating the virtues of their instruments within the legal boundaries) and outright fraud. It’s confusing and shameful – yet it is a common practice in some piano dealerships around the world.
Real-World Examples
A. Geyer Pianos
Though they have an office in Germany and a German name, A. Geyer pianos are entirely made in China using Chinese materials by Chinese labor.
Here is a great example: According to the Piano Buyers Guide (a well-respected industry reference book) A. Geyer’s company headquarters IS in Wiesbaden Germany. However, their pianos (according to Piano Buyer) are manufactured in “a piano factory in Zhejiang Province, China”. The original A. Geyer piano factory was established in 1877 and it became the Steinberg factory which is now owned by Perzina. Today’s A. Geyer is a new company that doesn’t make its own pianos. They don’t even own a piano factory! They paid a German firm to design their key actions, but the rest of their instruments are Chinese designed and built near Shanghai at some other “unnamed” piano manufacturer’s facility. The only international outsourcing we could find were the hammers on their upright pianos (which use Wurzen felt from Germany), the Abel hammers for the grands (Abel is a German company that builds a variety of hammers at different price points and quality levels) and the Japanese Suzuki strings. However, that is where the ties to Germany end. A. Geyer pianos all have laminated soundboards, which you’ll never find on a high-quality German-made piano. Despite what some less ethical salespeople may tell you, the truth about A. Geyer pianos is that they are entirely made in China using Chinese materials by Chinese labor. A. Geyer doesn’t even offer an industry-standard warranty on their pianos (10yrs on “main structural elements” and 5yrs on everything else)! This is another clue that A. Geyer is not a German, handcrafted piano company.
Schimmel Pianos
Now owned by Pearl River (a state-run Chinese piano builder), Schimmel makes pianos in Germany, Poland and China.
Schimmel offers another unique example of the confusion surrounding this topic. For decades, Schimmel was a respected German piano builder in Braunschweig. In 2016, however, the state-run Chinese piano builder Pearl River purchased 90% of Schimmel’s shares and took over the company’s operation. Today, Schimmel’s Konzert Series is still handcrafted in Germany and is priced in the mid-$30,000 range (uprights) and from the mid $80,000 range to the mid $100,000 range (grands). The Classic Series features older designs, but is also made in Germany (priced a bit lower – $20,000 range for uprights and mid-$60,000 to mid $70,000 range for grands). The Wilhelm Schimmel Series (formerly called “Vogel”), however, is Schimmel’s mid-priced line produced in Poland and priced at about 30% less than a true Schimmel piano. Finally, Pearl River builds the Fridolin line entirely in China with designs from the German Schimmel factory. Fridolin Schimmel pianos are priced much lower (starting at $7800 in an upright and around $16,000 in a grand). Thus, only the Konzert and Classic Series Schimmel pianos can truly be considered “German handcrafted pianos.” They should be compared to other similarly-built instruments around the world.
Seiler Pianos
Though not all Seiler pianos are so… exotic, all Eduard and Johannes Seiler pianos are made in Indonesia by Samick.
Yet another example is the Seiler piano company (now owned by Samick – a South Korean company that builds its pianos in Indonesia). Seiler pianos are built in Germany by hand. They are lovely, but expensive, instruments priced above what one would pay for an American piano (like Steinway or Mason). When Samick purchased the factory, however, they decided to reverse-engineer four of the most popular Seiler models and mass-produce these pianos in their Indonesian factory. That is where the brand “Eduard Seiler” came from. According to Piano Buyer (and Samick themselves), Eduard Seiler pianos are made entirely by Samick in their Indonesian piano factory. Created as more affordable “mid-level” instruments in the Seiler family, these pianos include some Renner action parts (Renner is a German company), but their hammers and keys are made entirely by Samick. To complete their family of Seiler pianos, Samick also introduced the Johannes Seiler brand. Johannes Seiler pianos are entry-level pianos made entirely by Samick (including the action parts and hammers) using scale designs Samick already owned before acquiring the Seiler name. Though both Eduard and Johannes Seiler pianos serve their functions well, they are often misrepresented as German handcrafted pianos, when – in fact – they are not. They are Indonesian pianos inspired by German designs – and there is nothing wrong with that (as long as it is factually represented so the buyer knows what he or she is paying for).
True German Handcrafted Pianos
Currently, the EU has very lax “Made in…” label requirements. The Bundesverband Klavier is working to change that – with strict guidelines for companies trying to claim a German heritage.
Common sense tells us that a Seiler upright that retails for $53,000 is a much better piano than a Johannes Seiler that retails for $11,000 – and it most definitely is. The Seiler is made in Germany with German parts and technology. The Johannes Seiler is not, but what can we do about all the confusion, misrepresentation and – in some cases – fraud that often surrounds this idea of a “German Handcrafted Piano?”
The Bundesverband Klavier (BVK) – the German Piano Manufacturers Association – has created a new “Made in Germany” certificate for those pianos that are 100% made in Germany. Once adopted (and, hopefully, codified into German law), this will give consumers a clearer picture of which pianos have a right to claim Germany’s rich piano building heritage and which companies do not. Until this is accomplished and widely communicated around the world, however, the average consumer will probably not know the difference between the facts and fiction. Common sense, good research and honest piano dealers are the only defenses against bad information and untrustworthy salespeople. There are no true German handcrafted pianos for sale in the $5000 – $10,000 range – regardless of what a salesperson may tell you. If the price seems “too good to be true,” it probably is and you have only your logical skepticism to prevent you from falling victim to this common scam.
The Bottom Line
Yamaha makes its grand pianos in Japan (with the exception of the GB1K, which – like several Yamaha upright pianos – is made in Indonesia). Yamaha emphasizes the COMPANY of origin – not the COUNTRY of origin. Good quality is important no matter where the piano is made.
The confusing thing is this: Germany isn’t the only place to find good pianos! There are a lot of very good, affordable pianos being made in China and Indonesia today. You may not need to spend the money on something handcrafted in Europe. You might be happy with a good quality, mass-produced instrument from Japan, Indonesia, and, yes, even China! Riverton is proud to represent Yamaha Pianos – a company that builds instruments all over the world… and few would seriously question their quality or longevity. We also represent Chinese-built Baldwin and Schumann pianos. We proudly tell their stories because we believe they offer tremendous quality and performance for the price. What we don’t do is try to claim that they are built in America or Germany just because their designs (and many of their materials) come from outside of China.
The Bottom Line is this: You deserve to purchase a good quality piano from an honest, reputable piano retailer. If your salesperson is misleading you about the history, construction or quality of the instrument they are showing you (and some will – we even have one here in the Phoenix area who is famous for this), you should feel free to take your business elsewhere. Selecting a piano is a difficult and expensive process, but – if done right – it should be one of the greatest experiences in your family’s lives. Contact us today and we can help you find the truth about the pianos you’re considering – and we can even show you third-party documentation to back up our claims. As a family-owned company with a 50+ year reputation for service and integrity, we understand that the most important thing is the smile on your face when you find the perfect piano for your family. We’re here to help you find that smile again and again for decades to come.
Hi I can’t find C.Bechstein piano listed on the BVK website. Does this mean they are not made in Germany? I thought these are top of the range Germany made pianos?
Hi, Tina! C. Bechstein pianos are not entirely made in Germany anymore. They build some parts of their pianos in Seifhennersdorf, Germany and some parts in The Czech Republic (with other components sourced by “premium suppliers worldwide”). This doesn’t mean they are bad pianos by any means. It just means they don’t currently meet the BVK standards for a “Made in Germany” designation. Thanks for a great question! I hope this helps to clarify Bechstein’s situation for you.
I was told at the NAMM show by an official Bechstein representative that the pinblocks and other components are made in China. Regardless which line from Bechstein you pick, they have Chinese Parts.
This is likely why they are not certified by the BVK in Germany.
Thank you, Bozkurt! You are, of course, correct. Thanks for your thoughts!
Hi I have a Hoelling Spangenberg 1885 upright piano (German} want to sell in immaculate condition, any reasonable offer would be appreciated, bearing in mind I don’t have space, since I’m a pensioner. I’ll attach pictures if need be.
Hi, Hans, and thank you for reaching out. Unfortunately, we are unable to help with this piano. Because of its extreme age, it would require quite a bit of work to meet modern performance standards. Also, we don’t do any business in South Africa so we would have no way to get the piano here. Finally, the brand is not “in demand” so we don’t have a market for Spangenberg pianos. You can get more info about older piano values here: https://blog.rivertonpiano.com/2025/01/02/which-pianos-hold-their-value/ Thanks for reaching out!
So is my 5’4’ Vogel purchased new in 2010 made in what was my understanding a Schimmel owned factory in Poland using Schimmel parts a German Handcrafted piano?
Hi, David, and thank you for stopping by. Unfortunately, no. Your Vogel piano was built in Poland (not Germany) where the cost of labor is considerably lower. It was a nice, mid-priced piano brand (before Schimmel retired it in favor of the “Wilhelm Schimmel” name). that sourced its rims, soundboards and strings from Germany, it’s action parts from Asia, and its cabinet components from Poland. It was never a German handcrafted piano. Still, for mid-priced pianos, they were very nice. I hope that helps!
If “made in Germany” is printed on the Seiler piano, it is definitely made in Germany. Right?
That’s a great question. Thank you for asking it. Unfortunately, we can’t be sure without doing a bit more research. Seiler does build pianos in Germany. …but their parent company is Samick (which builds “Eduard Seiler” and “Johannes Seiler” pianos in Indonesia.) We caught the local Seiler dealer purchasing “Made in Germany” stickers and applying them to their Eduard and Johannes Seiler pianos after-market. Of course, THESE pianos weren’t made in Germany at all. …so you’d need to check your model number and the price you paid for your piano. If the model number is listed as a handcrafted, German Seiler AND you paid more than $30,000 for it when it was new, you can feel comfortable that you have a German-built piano. I hope that helps!
Could you please give suggestions about choosing pianos for advanced performers with budgets around 30k us dollars? How is w. hoffman T161? Does it a good alternative for Bechstein with more affordable price? What is the difference in making? How is Hoffman baby grand piano compared to Japanese brand Yamaha and Kawai? Thanks!
Hi, Tina! I always recommend Yamaha pianos in the $30k range. The quality of their construction is hard to beat. Hoffman might be ok as well. To be honest, I have never played one. …but there are no high-end performing artists that endorse Hoffman on stage and there are thousands of Yamaha Artists out there. I don’t recommend Kawai because they have a much smaller artist roster and I don’t care for the feel of a plastic action on a grand piano. To me, it’s a pretty simple decision. Go with the brand that the artists use all over the world. Hope that helps!
Who was piano maker Johann Rehfeld (Berlin). This name is on our piano but we cannot find any information about him. Please respond to me by email if possible. Will appreciate
Hi, Pierre, and thank you for contacting us online. Unfortunately, I don’t have any information on that piano maker. Best of luck to you.
My sister gave away my 1867 Gerald hiesmsn so?
Can’t find any info online
I’m in the process of tracking it down
I grew up heir music but I can only play that piano
Would love to know more about it’s history. ???
Hi, Tim. Are you talking about a Gerhard Heintzman piano?
Hi!
Thanks for your post! It really helps me to understand “German brands- not made in German”.
My understanding about “Seiler” is ED line is “replica of SE (Made in German Seiler) “. So Ed line uses same grade of material for almost main part that SE Seiler has(like same Abel hammer, wooden park of SE series), but labor force from Indonesia. So main difference between SE Seiler and ED Seiler is labor force park. Please let me know if this is not correct!
Hi, Tara, and thank you for stopping by! You are correct that the Eduard Seiler line is a replica of the SE-Series (Handcrafted German Pianos) that is mass-produced in Indonesia by Samick. …but there are a number of big differences between the brands outside of their location of origin. SE-Series German, Handcrafted pianos have full Renner actions. Only the whippen assembly in the Eduard Seiler pianos is made by Renner. The keys and other action parts are made by Samick. The Eduard Seiler pianos do not have quarter-sawn beech bridges, or Bavarian Spruce soundboards like the German pianos do. They also use different hammers than the German Seiler pianos. Finally, the SE-Series German Seiler pianos are handcrafted and the Eduard pianos are not. This is not to say they are bad pianos, but they aren’t as similar to their German relatives as Samick (and their dealers) would lead one to believe. You simply can’t make a German Handcrafted Piano replica for less then half the price of the original without cutting some corners.
Thank you for a very informative piece, though maybe some inaccuracies.? I’ve opened up my Seiler ED-168, and the hammer shanks, whippens, and rails are all printed with the Renner logo. The hammers have Abel on them. The brackets appear to be straight from the Renner catalog as well. Not to invalidate your point. In fact, I’d say it opens up another question, which is why are piano specs so opaque. If this was a bike, I could probably get an inventory of every single part. I wish pianos were as such!
Hi, Bradley. Thanks for stopping by! I am glad you found the article helpful, but I am curious about which “inaccuracies” you’re talking about. We clearly state in the article that Samick buys some of the action parts for its Eduard Seiler pianos from Renner (We even assume they use authentic German Renner and not the Chinese knockoffs.). That doesn’t change the fact that the pianos are entirely built in Indonesia. As for the hammers… it’s possible that – like countless other piano builders – Samick purchases hammers from Abel from time to time. They don’t claim this is a regular thing and that might help to answer your last question. Some piano builders who outsource parts (including brands like Steinway & Sons, Eduard Seiler, Baldwin, Kingsburg and more – we’re just showing a wide variety of quality and price ranges here) use different parts when their “normal” parts aren’t available. Renner and Abel are well-known third-party suppliers that can deliver a variety of components at various prices and quality levels. I’m not surprised Samick uses them. …but when you build pianos and you don’t do it entirely “in house,” your specs are subject to change based on what your suppliers have available and what you’re willing to pay. That’s why so many manufacturers are tight-lipped about their components. Others just don’t want their competition copying them. As a Yamaha dealer, I can confirm they are VERY tight-lipped about construction details – even from their dealers! In any case, I hope that helps. Thanks for your question! Best wishes!
Does your company take digital piano trade-ins for an acoustic piano purchase?
We sure do!
Hi, I just inherited an upright piano with candle holders and have just tuned it.
It seems to have been restrung and has hammers that have no indentations etc
It is an Eduard Nold & Sohn a/M Frankfurt piano.
I’m wondering whether it was made some time between 1912 and 1920, when I read that candle holders went out of fashion. I was told that the company was only making pianos from 1912 and 1929. I had never heard of that German company, and haven’t found any more pianos made by them online.
I wonder whether you have any idea how much it might be worth?
Hi, Fran. It will only be worth what someone is willing to pay for it. I know how that sounds, but the brand doesn’t have any value. It’s a very old piano. It may have had some work done, but nobody knows what was done and how well the work was done. I would have a technician go over it and let you know it’s internal condition. Once you know that, you can put a price on it and just see how people will react. There’s no built-in value. Hope that helps!
Hi could you tell me what brands made in Germany and the price up to $ 80000 please.
Thanks
Hello and thanks for stopping by. If you’re looking for a specific price on specific models, I can’t help you with that. It’s not what we do. You can find a list of piano manufacturers that build pianos in Germany here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Piano_manufacturing_companies_of_Germany
This does not include companies like Bosendorfer (which builds pianos in Austria) or Seiler (which is now owned by Samick). It’s not a comprehensive list, but it’s a start.
If you’re interested in Bosendorfer pianos, we can give you prices on those as we are a Bosendorfer dealer.
Hi! I have a late 1800s ebony Renardi upright piano – ivory keys and gorgeous wood carving details. Was wondering if you could please provide any information as it is very difficult to find information on my piano.
Thanks!
Located in Melbourne, Australia.
Hi, Lachlan, and thanks for stopping by. Unfortunately, I don’t have any additional information to offer on this piano. I know several Renardi pianos were imported into Australia from Germany during the late 1800s and early 1900s and I know that Renardi was headquartered in Hamburg. Other than that, however, I can’t really offer much more info. This is a very obscure brand, I am afraid. Best of luck to you!
We have just purchased an Ed. Seiler baby grand piano from a very reputable dealer. It was supposedly made around 1930 and brought to Canada about 1958. It was shipped back over to Poland in 2023 and was totally restored to mint condition. It is a very unique small baby grand measuring 4’ 7”, Model 145, SN 81701. I am unable to find any info on the web about this particular model or any other Seiler of this size. Our dealer is currently compiling and documenting the history of the piano as best they can before we take delivery. Have you ever heard of this model of an old German Seiler? Thanks for any info you can share.
Hi, Ray. Thank you for stopping by. Unfortunately, I am not sure I can be of much help here. Eduard Seiler pianos began production around 2008 in Indonesia. If you have a Seiler piano that predates that – especially if it predates WW2 – you have a Seiler piano built in Liegnitz, Silesia (what we now call “Poland”). It is a very (extremely) old piano so I would demand an itemized list of what was done during the 2023 “restoration.” Did they use Seiler parts? Did they even use German parts? What did they replace? What did they repair? I am not personally familiar with this model, but I can say it’s a very small piano and I hope you got it for a very low price. …but it’s hard to do the research after you have made the purchase. There just isn’t much we can do to help. Best of luck to you!
Hi there, just so there is less misinformation, and full disclosure, I am a seller of C.Bechstein pianos. All C.Bechstein uprights and grands are manufactured in Seifhennersdorf Germany. The C.Bechstein Europe factory in Hradec Kralove Czech Republic produces the W.Hoffmann uprights and grands. No C.Bechstein branded pianos are manufactured in Czech, only the W.Hoffmann. I hope this helps clarify any misinformation.
Hi, Jenny, and thank you for your comment. Unfortunately, your statement is factually inaccurate. I’ll assume it’s a training problem and not intentional deception, but both Piano Buyer and the C.Bechstein website clearly explain that some parts (particularly plates, strings and other metal components) for *all* C.Bechstein brands are made in Hradec Kralove. Quoting Piano Buyer: “The company has developed “centers of competence” among its factories in Germany and the Czech Republic, each specializing in some part of the manufacturing process. For that reason, as well as for cost-effectiveness, some components of C. Bechstein-branded pianos may originate in the Czech Republic.” It’s also important to notice that the Bundesverband Klavier (BVK) Association has not certified C.Bechstein as fully “Made in Germany.” I recommend you speak with your manufacturer’s representative so you can update your information. I can see it’s important to you that piano retailers tell the truth and we couldn’t agree more. Misinformation hurts everybody. That said, I appreciate your feedback and wish you the best!
Our family has an Arteon parlor grand made by Schonfelder & Co. Our parents got the piano in Tokyo, Japan in 1948. It has a D.R. patent for the tuning pegs which I have found belonged to Ernst Schonfelder. My brother got the soundboard replaced in the 90s. It has been moved 11 times – not counting its move from Hamburg to Tokyo. Our parents said it had been auctioned from the Japanese German Embassy. We have tried finding more information on Arteon and only found that the company didn’t last very long. Does anyone else have any information?
Hi, Katherine, and thank you for reaching out. Just checking through our info channels, we were unable to find anything on Arteon or Schonfelder. I wish we had more info, but I am afraid we don’t. Best of luck to you!