I started looking for a piano 5-ish years ago, and wanted to rekindle my rather short-lived passion for playing the piano during my Secondary School. During that time, I had played on quite a number of pianos, and the one that struck me most was the beautiful melancholy sound of the upright steinway and sons at a friend's home. It really had a beautiful sound and I was inspired to find a piano like that some day. 

 

During the course of my study of music and pianos, I also realised that there was a distinct difference between a grand piano, where the keys fall back due to gravity, and the upright piano where the keys return through the use of a spring. That's when I learnt about a double repetition mechanism for upright pianos developed by some manufacturers that mimic the repetitive capability that comes naturally with the grand piano key action. I don't have space for a full grand piano, and I think it takes up too much space in a home anyway. So I was naturally intrigued by the Sauter Masterclass pianos that I heard online, and also by the reviews. But will it sound as good as the Steinway piano that I had played when I was young?

 

I met Alvin back in Nov 15. He had a fascinating history and not only had a passion for Sauter pianos but also a deep affection for them. He had worked for a time in the Sauter factory in Germany, building these pianos under the guidance of the master craftsmen there. In fact, he has a really good relationship with Mr Sauter himself, and if not because of Alvin, there may not have been a dealer for Sauter pianos in Singapore. He introduced me to the Masterclass, and when I played on it, I really fell in love with the sound. It's difficult to describe, and I suppose in a large part had got to do with the amazing properties of the soundboard, which is made from the same spruce that grew in the same altitudes in Italy that once made the Stradivari violins. That's not to say that the amazing craftsmanship of the Sauter craftsmen didn't matter. Any of the other Sauter pianos sounded really fabulous, but the Masterclass really spoke to me. The piano didn't come cheap and for its price, you can easily get a grand piano from Yamaha, or one of its equivalent brands. But if you're a person who deeply cares about sound, it doesn't certainly doesn't  disappoint and would be easily mistaken for a grand piano. You'll have to play it yourself to believe it. 

 

My only advise is in your own quest to find the right piano for yourself, do make Sauter the last stop. Otherwise, after you hear it, you'll find that nothing else compares, and everything else is but a compromise. Good luck!