Baldwin Upright Pianos

Baldwin Upright Pianos

Baldwin played a vital role in establishing the benchmark for top-notch upright pianos. From the late 1800s all the way to the early 2000s, Baldwin not only excelled in playability, tone, and character but also in furniture styles, helping to set the industry standard. However, as time went by and preferences changed in the United States, the demand for different pianos arose.

Back in the day, the majority of pianos produced were made of Walnut, Mahogany, Cherry, and other similar materials. Almost every piano manufacturer focused on crafting instruments with wood finishes and furniture styles. However, as we entered the new millennium, a shift occurred.

Nowadays, most pianos boast a high polish finish, primarily in ebony, occasional mahogany, and rare instances of walnut designs. In fact, approximately 90% of pianos sold in the U.S. today feature a high gloss ebony look.

Baldwin, recognizing the evolving trends, followed suit in recent years. While they still offer a variety of wood pianos with satin finishes, their main focus has become high gloss ebony and high gloss mahogany options.

In the past, Baldwin’s lineup consisted of three remarkable series: The Classic, The Acrosonic, and The Hamilton. However, in recent times, they have made adjustments to cater to the changing demands of the market.

Get ready to be inspired by the amazing Classic Series Upright Pianos. These incredible 43″ models are crafted with the finest manufactured wood, also known as presswood or MDF.

Step up your musical game with the Acrosonic Series Upright Pianos. These sleek 45″ pianos not only feature solid wood throughout, but also boast stylish cabinets.Experience the pinnacle of elegance with the Hamilton Series Upright Pianos. Ranging from 47″ to 49″ in height, these pianos are meticulously crafted from solid wood.

While the specifications of these series are fairly similar, it’s the height that truly sets them apart. However, Baldwin now uses different model numbers to signify the various sizes and styles of their pianos.

Don’t worry, I’m here to simplify things for you. Let’s dive into the details of each model and make choosing your perfect piano a breeze.

Baldwin Furniture Style Piano

The Baldwin 342 is a traditional furniture style piano.  This piano is more of a step back to Baldwin of years past with a  very nice music desk and curved legs.  This is also the shortest model that Baldwin makes. It measures 43″ tall.  The finish on this piano is satin and is really a fantastic looking model if you are in the market for a furniture style piano.

Just like every other Baldwin Upright Piano, the B342 model stays true to the renowned Baldwin Scale Design, which is a precise formula for achieving the perfect shape of the sound board area, string length, and placement of bridges and hammer strike points. This formula ensures that the piano produces the best tone and maintains a balanced frequency range.

Standing at a height of 43 ½ inches, the B342  allows for a bigger soundboard and results in a powerful and full sound. The longer strings of the piano are enhanced by the purity and balance of the 100% virgin wool hammers. Baldwin also utilizes high-quality tonewoods and components, the same ones used in their top-of-the-line professional pianos.

These include a spruce soundboard, a solid two-ply beech and hard maple bridge, spruce ribs and 5 well placed back posts, and a 19-ply hard maple pinblock. To top it off, Baldwin’s Full Blow Direct Action ensures a superior feel and response, creating an exceptionally expressive playing experience.

At this time this is the only furniture style cabinet that Baldwin makes that is more traditional and in satin with the fancier music desk and legs.

Entry Into The Taller More Modern Pianos

The next step into the Baldwin upright pianos is the BP1 series.  The BP1 series of Baldwin upright Pianos is the 47″ piano. The Baldwin model BP1. This piano has a slightly different upper front panel than its counterpart the BPE1. The scale design is the same, and all other specifications are the same.  The only difference you will see here is the upper front panels.

The BP1 model also allows for two different finish accessories. The one pictured here is in a nickel plated finish for the logo, the pedals and the upper hinges along with the wheels at the bottom.

The BPE1 model is only done in brass finishes with a plain upper panel as shown here to the right.  This piano follows all the same

protocol and specs as the BP1 with the exception  that there is only one choice in accessories (brass) and the top panel is plain rather than fancy.

Just like all other Baldwin Upright Pianos, the BP1 series continues to uphold the renowned Baldwin Scale Design, which determines the best shape of the soundboard area, the length of the strings, and the placement of bridges and hammer strike points. This results in an exceptional tone and perfect balance throughout the entire frequency range.

Standing at a height of 120 cm (47″), the BP1 series has a larger soundboard compared to some uprights in the same size, allowing for a fuller and more powerful sound. The longer strings are further enhanced by the excellent quality and balance of the 100% virgin wool hammers.

Additionally, Baldwin utilizes the same high-quality tonewoods and components found in its professional pianos, including a spruce soundboard, a solid two-ply beech and hard maple bridge, spruce ribs and back frame, and a 19-ply hard maple pinblock. The Full Blow Direct Action by Baldwin enhances the overall feel and response of the piano, providing an incredibly expressive playing experience.

The Institutional Piano That Put Baldwin On The Map

The Baldwin 243 model was a game-changer for Baldwin. It was an absolute hit when they first introduced it many years ago. Just like the Baldwin BP1 and BPE1, it is a 47″ upright piano. It seems that countless institutions, including churches, auditoriums, recording studios, and schools, have embraced the 243s. This piano was renowned as the true workhorse of the entire lineup. For numerous years, it was Baldwin’s top-selling piano, breaking all records due to its incredible demand.

One of the standout features of this piano is its rubber casters (wheels). They make moving the piano from one place to another an effortless task.

As a result, institutions were able to transport this piano with ease, and that alone is a testament to its brilliant design.

The piano is available in walnut, as shown, and also comes in satin black. However, this particular model is not available in high polish.

The Baldwin B243 is not just a great instrument, it is designed to handle the tough demands of schools, studios, and other institutional settings. It comes with locks to keep the lid and key cover secure, and has durable rubber casters to make moving it around easier.

Standing at 47″ tall, the B243 has a larger soundboard compared to other studio pianos, resulting in a full and powerful sound. The longer strings are optimized by the high-quality virgin wool hammers, which offer exceptional purity and balance. Baldwin uses top-notch tonewoods and components in the B243, just like its premium professional pianos.

These include a spruce soundboard, solid two-ply beech and hard maple bridge, spruce ribs and back frame, and a 19 ply hard maple pinblock. With Baldwin’s Full Blow Direct Action, the B243 provides an incredibly expressive playing experience with its superior feel and responsiveness.

 

Baldwin Upright Pianos

Let’s dive into the exciting world of the magnificent Baldwin series of 48″ pianos! These remarkable instruments rival the renowned Yamaha U1 in height, and they go by the name of the BP3 series. Within this series, we have two outstanding models that are simply awe-inspiring. Their only difference lies in the splendid cabinets they come with, as one boasts a fancier design while the other is available in not one, but two stunning colors!

The amazing Baldwin model BP3 is only available in the elegant rosewood color. Its grand style lid adds a touch of fashion to this exceptional piano. What truly sets this model apart is its beautifully curved leg design. Standing tall at 48″, this model encompasses all the exceptional Baldwin specifications you would expect from a piano of this size.

On the other hand, the Baldwin Upright Pianos model BP3T offers you the choice between two exquisite colors – Rosewood and Ebony, both featuring a stunning high polish finish. The BP3T showcases sleek and straight legs, while still retaining the grand style lid and superior Baldwin specifications that are characteristic of this series.

Just like every other Baldwin Upright Piano, the BP3T adheres to the renowned Baldwin Scale Design. This design ensures that the shape of the sounding area, length of the strings, and the placement of bridges and strike points are perfectly optimized to produce the most amazing tone and balance across all frequencies.

Standing at 124 cm (48″) tall, the BP3T has a larger soundboard compared to other compact upright pianos, resulting in a full and powerful sound. The longer strings are further enhanced by the virgin wool hammers, which provide purity and balance. Baldwin also incorporates premium tonewoods and components used in their top-of-the-line professional pianos, such as a spruce soundboard, solid two-ply beech and hard maple bridge, spruce ribs and back frame, and a 19 ply hard maple pinblock.

The Full Blow Direct Action by Baldwin ensures a superior feel and response, making the playing experience incredibly expressive.

These Are The Baldwin Upright Pianos Models From The 43″ To The 48″

These Are The Baldwin Upright Pianos Models From The 43″ To The 48″. I am going to post in the next article the other taller models of the Baldwin Upright Pianos. There are 2 more series and three more sizes to be discussed.

R. Kassman is the Bay Area’s leading Baldwin dealer and very proud of it.  If you would like to see this incredible line of pianos, please feel free to stop by anytime and take a look.  I believe you will be glad you did.

Ric Overton