I don’t seem to recall many posts from PW of any owners of Fazioli. Only videos people share of the instrument, or threads discussing the VSTs.
I’ve seen posts from people who own every imaginable maker I can think of, but none so far from a Fazioli owner.
In short— anyone here own a Fazioli?
IIRC, PW member Ken Lisaka has not one, but two Fazioli grands at home. Hmm, maybe you two would get along 
Well out of my price range!
A story I told at PW many years ago when I was hunting for my piano. I took my then 12-year-old son on a bonding trip to search for pianos. The instrument was my midlife crisis toy, but it was really for my rapidly improving son to play. We ventured from Raleigh NC up to NYC.
When in Raleigh, we spent some quality time at Ruggero's. I remember playing around on some M&H models and an Estonia on the floor and then looking up to see where the rascal was. Well, he wasn't. Couldn't see him anywhere. I wasn't panicked. Where could he go? Mr. Ruggero's son smiled and pointed to a small door at the end of the display room. I walked through the door and discovered that the store had a small concert venue attached, and there was a 7+ foot Fazioli on the stage. Piano*Son was happily playing on it, and announced that he had found his piano. 
Mr. Ruggero spent some quality time with him explaining all the bells and whistles, and I spent some quality time with him explaining family economics!
One of the pianos I’ve always wanted to play! Sigh.
Actually, there’s a Fazioli in one of the concert halls here on campus, I heard a performance on it this past semester, it sounded beautiful! that was my first time to hear one live.
I've been lucky to play a few examples over the years. Absolutely stunning instruments. My first impressions left me feeling the tone was almost too pure, "clinical" perhaps, though more recently I've come to love what I'd describe as a clean, bell-like sonority.
If finances permitted (lottery, rich uncle I don't know about, etc.), an F228 would be a definite contender.
2005 August Förster 215
Maybe a Blüthner one day...
Timothy I've been lucky to play a few examples over the years
Great to hear those experiences! When we were shopping for a piano for my wife (originally for me), we played a few (F212 and F228), but the dealer clearly didn’t voice them so we ruled them out.
All the Faziolis we have heard in concerts live and in recordings sound amazing. But much like Steinway, we had challenges finding one that was well prepped from a consumer standpoint.
I assume the ones you played were well taken care of!
I got to play one at a Portland Piano Players Meetup last fall. Our monthly meetings are generally held at one of three piano stores in Portland, Oregon. I've gotten to play some really nice pianos. Our next meeting is at the same store that had it, so maybe I'll get to play one again.
HeartKeys I assume the ones you played were well taken care of!
I'm certain preparation plays a notable role in perception. FWIW the most recent ones I've played have all been prepped by the same technician, who's been to the Fazioli workshop in Sacile for technical training. He's also my personal tech and mentor!
2005 August Förster 215
Maybe a Blüthner one day...
Timothy My first impressions left me feeling the tone was almost too pure, "clinical" perhaps
This is very interesting. I played a Yamaha AvantGrand (the digital hybrid piano that has a real action but strings) and I remember thinking that while it sounded great and was pretty nice to play, it had the “too clean” sound that I dislike in digital pianos.
Somehow I’m certain that your “too pure” sound of the Fazioli is not the same as the “too clean” sound of the digital. But I’m super curious.
I mentioned above that I’ve only heard a Fazioli live once, but it wasn’t a solo piano concert, it was actually my piano teacher accompanying his wife who is a violinist, so violin was the center point. I wonder how it would have been different with an all-solo piano program…
Hopefully sometime I’ll find out!
I don't own one, but while searching for an instrument, I played an F183, 2xF212, 2xF228, and an F278. I strongly considered an F212 that was being offered for slightly less than SMP of a Steinway B. These are my thoughts after spending ~6-8 hours playing the above instruments. Take with a grain of 
.
The Fazioli touch and tone is definitely unique; you hear and feel it right away. The first thing I noticed at each instrument was the incredible dynamic range under your fingertips. They are LOUD instruments, with a much greater controllable dynamic range in the f-fff range than any other piano I've played. Of course they can also be played quite softly, but the extra degree of control at the top of end of the dynamic range is what really stood out to me. You have so much power in reserve. It's like driving a race car.
The bass on all of the instruments I played was full, powerful, and clear. More robust than any other instrument in their respective size classes. The tenor and treble are clear and pure without sounding harsh or shrill. The attack is warm and soft - not a hint of the metallic pinging you can sometimes get on bright/clear instruments.
The fit/finish is immaculate. It has the most beautiful finish on a piano harp I've come across, a deep gold color that sparkles with transverse lighting. Truly breathtaking.
The tone / harmonic profile is decidedly European. Fazioli trades the lush harmonics you might find in Steinway for clarity. But unlike most other European instruments I've tried, it does so while maintaining a sense of warmth, in contrast with other makers' instruments that may end up sounding cold or harsh in their pursuit for clarity.
In my personal opinion, the "weakness" of Fazioli is a more limited color profile throughout the dynamic range. The difference between pianissimo and fortissimo with respect to volume is enormous, but the tone itself doesn't change all that much. American Steinways sound fuzzy, warm and lush at pianissimo, become a bit more clear and bright when pushed louder, and eventually the tone strains and begins breaking apart when you really push it to ff and beyond. A Steinway will shout with you. A Fazioli just sings louder. This comes down to a difference in philosophy surrounding how the piano should ideally perform. For me, I prefer the Steinway approach and feel more tonally limited with Fazioli. Others may admire a tone that remains pure regardless of how hard you push the instrument.
@shawarma_bees thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! I read them with fascination. Also, I feel like it helps me understand what I heard better, and now I really want to hear that Fazioli in another concert. There are several S&S concert grands on this campus as well, so I hope to have the chance to compare some day.
shawarma_bees Your detailed notes explain some of my experience with that piano. My notes after playing it at the meeting were "light action; trouble playing softly". I'm an early intermediate player, so I figured it had more to do with my lacking skills than the piano.
haha, unlike Ken Iisaka, I only have one Fazioli! Before anybody jumps to any conclusions, I lucked out and acquired it preowned. Also, unlike Mr. Iisaka who plays magnificently, I'm just an adult re-beginner. After spending about a year and a half looking for my mid-life crisis piano, I was about ready to start negotiating earnestly on my short list of 3 pre-owned concert grands (Steinway D, M&H CC, and Bechstein D280), but this Fazioli blew them all away by such a margin, it was a no-brainer purchase. It's inspirational and a treat when friends and family who play much better than me are thrilled at the opportunity to come over and try it. The clarity and the responsiveness is a gift to those who are capable of harnessing it. It's so easy to hear your mistakes, but when you voice your chords/playing just right, your attention to detail is reflected back at you. No note a finger plays is wasted (i.e. lost in excess overtones of previously played notes).
Me at Faust-Harrison in NYC (2022) I am playing a Fazioli F212, it was truly beautiful, clean/bright/velvety.
Unfortunately, I then went over to the piano sitting 10' from the Fazioli. The Bechstein is an C234 in the picture with the tag hanging off of it. I have to say, I really liked the Fazioli but was surprised it didnt blow me away.
This is after I played 3 Bosie's at Cunningham's (1 being like playing Velvet with a silvery tone) and the Bechstein
sitting just off to the left of it.
I kept going back and forth - the tone of the Fazioli was a little too bright and caused my inner ear to ring/vibrate.
I wished I had taken a vid or photo of the Bechstein.
brdwyguy
PS a vid that Faust sent me demonstrating the C Bechstein C234
I named my kitten Fazi after Fazioli pianos...does that count? :-)
88Keys Grey-haired like Paolo!?
twocats recital piano (not for sale) at Portland Piano? I think that one is a little worn and it's hard to control
Yeah. No surprise to me unfortunately, that appears to be the case universally from my personal experiences.
I’ve never enjoyed a single recital piano I’ve tested, which included a Yamaha S7X, Steinway D, Fazioli F212, C.Bechstein C234, Steingraeber E272, Shigeru Kawai SK-EX.
Most of them had nice showroom pianos but the ones used for recitals were likely banged up and needed regulation and voicing.
I also recently played a pre-owned Bluthner Model One at someone’s house and felt it was problematic. Lo and behold it was previously played at recitals, concerts, and showcased (and likely abused by players) at NAMM. The owner is now getting its hammers replaced, not long after having purchased it.
