Wilhelm Schimmel W180 Grand Piano

Product Overview

The W180 is one of two grand pianos in the Wilhelm Schimmel line (with three upright pianos), entirely built in Poland as a lower-cost alternative to the Schimmel grand pianos made in Germany. As the 6 foot option, the W180 is Schimmel’s attempt at taking back some market share in the crucially important size range and class dominated by the Kawai GX-2, Yamaha C3X, and to a lesser extent, the Boston GP-178 (designed by Steinway and built by Kawai).

And what a success story the W180 Tradition is – this is a simply magnificent handmade piano that will undoubtedly stand out to anyone looking for a grand piano that feels and sounds European, not to mention the excellent price point.

With some of the same features as the Schimmel Classic C189, including the same hammers and soundboard wood sourced from the forests of Bavaria, the W180 will surely compel many to consider European instead of Japanese.

Action

Schimmel pianos are known for their slightly heavier actions with a fast attack. That rings true here, with this Schimmel designed, customer Renner built an action array.

Unlike the Konzert Schimmel grand pianos, the W180 does not have extended length keys, but it is regulated extensively at both the Polish and German piano factories, meaning it’s plays very well right out of the crate.

Tone

The W180 provides an authentic European musical experience that is sure to please anyone that isn’t in love with the tone Japanese pianos deliver.

Not as bright as the Schimmel Classic, but also not as dark as the Konzert series, the W180 offers a very nice middle ground as far as its tonal palate is concerned.

The playing experience is quite different from a GX2 or C3X, meaning you should definitely try a Schimmel W180 grand in a piano showroom before making a decision if those two models were already on your radar.

Hammers

The W180 grand piano uses Beech shanks instead of mahogany in the hammers which brightens up the tone to some extent. Wurzen supplies high-quality felt.

Soundboard

One of the highlights of the W180 is the German soundboard. While not as high grade as the soundboards selected for use in the Classic series, this is till a very good quality white spruce soundboard.

White spruce helps deliver the W180 specific tonal profile, as opposed to the Sitka used in Japanese instruments.

Cabinet/Rim

The W180 is housed in a solid, hardwood rim. Final cabinet work is completed in Germany.