Hailun Pianos

The VALUE of Hailun Pianos

Hailun Comparisons

 

William Joseph on the Hailun 178 Grand - Awarded "Piano Line of the Year"!

 Brigham is the industry authority on Hailun Pianos and proud to be Utah's exclusive Hailun dealer, and to share the beauty of Hailun pianos with families all over the state and all over the nation.

 

With more than 20 years of successful manufacturing experience, Hailun has become the standard for high quality piano manufacturing across the Far East. This uncompromising insistence to achieve maximum quality and product excellence has made Hailun the piano of choice for thousands all over the world!

 

Hailun’s Beginnings

Mr. Hailun Chen is the founder and the first-generation company owner of Hailun Pianos. He started his business in 1986, making parts for other piano companies after graduating from the Piano Technology School in Beijing.  Over the years, the quality increased more and more and he became the premier provider of metal parts and other parts for some very famous pianos around the globe.

In the mid-’90s he had the desire to make a piano of his own. From the beginning, he was very careful and intentional about the right way to develop his company. It was a lot of work to go from doing all the parts to building a whole piano. Over the years, he had formed European partnerships with German and Austrian experts, designers, and technicians to help them assemble the piano. That’s why Hailun pianos are so much like a European piano and not like Asian pianos. He used designers such as Peter Veletzky, Stephen Paulello, and George F. Emerson. ALL the designers and helpers were from Europe. The pianos are based on European standards. In 2001, his dream came to fruition.

 

HAILUN CEO INTERVIEW

Brigham visited the Hailun Piano Factory in Ningbo, China and was able to visit Mr Chen’s personal office. Brigham also had the opportunity to interview Mark Chen, who is the CEO of Hailun China. Mark was there from the beginning with Mr. Hailun Chen in developing the name of Hailun. He started as Mr. Chen’s driver, translator, secretary, and was Mr. Chen’s first sales representative.

See the interview HERE!

NINGBO-Home of Hailun Pianos

 

Ningbo, the home of Hailun Pianos, is a city that is famous for hand works. Their people have always made high quality products. They did not follow the traditional Chinese way to do lower quality, lower priced instruments. It would have been too hard when the Chinese had already been developing that market for over 50 years. They had to think differently! This is one way they have broken free from the reputation of making cheap goods.

From the very beginning, it was hard to visit dealers in China because no one had heard of Hailun. Mark Chen said they were even advised to put a German or European name on the piano—but they insisted on keeping their name. The first 5 years was difficult. But today there are hundreds and hundreds of Hailun dealers. China found out over the years what a quality product Hailun was and what a stable piano it is. Step by step they opened the market.

Rethinking Chinese Manufacture

Brigham explains in this video why he changed his mind concerning Chinese piano manufacture. He shares how not only the piano industry, but other industries as well have seen a very positive shift over the last 15 years.  

The History of Hailun Design

Presenting the Visionaries Behind the Excellence: Pioneers in Piano Design at Brigham Larson Pianos, Utah's Exclusive Hailun Distributor

Distinguished American Piano Designer George F. Emerson, renowned as the Chief Scale Designer and Lead Engineer for HAILUN Piano, boasts an extensive 32-year tenure in the field. Notably, between 1989 and 1997, Emerson lent his expertise to esteemed companies such as Baldwin Piano and Organ. Progressing to 2005, he directed his creative prowess towards Mason & Hamlin, solidifying his status as a preeminent figure in the industry. Emerson's unparalleled ingenuity has rightly earned him the moniker, "The Designer of a Generation."

Hailing from Austria, the illustrious Sibin Zlakovic serves as the Director of Tuning and Voicing. With an impressive 20-year pedigree cultivated at Europe's venerable institution, Bösendorfer, Zlakovic has honed his craft in tuning, voicing, and sound quality preservation. His role extends beyond the meticulous tuning of HAILUN pianos, encompassing the development and management of a comprehensive training program that elevates the proficiency of other tuners within the HAILUN fold.

Austrian Designer Peter Veletzky, distinguished as the Senior Technical Advisor, is a seasoned veteran with three decades of piano crafting expertise. Trained from his formative years, Veletzky's prodigious talents led him to become the youngest licensed piano producer in Austria at the age of 22, a testament to his unwavering commitment to the art of piano construction.

Renowned Japanese Piano Expert Ema Shigeru serves as the Hailun Piano Voicing Consultant, drawing upon his extensive 35-year tenure at Kawai Piano Co., where he excelled in voicing and contributed to the training of burgeoning voicing talents at HAILUN.

Hailing from France, the dynamic duo of Stephen Paulello and Claire assumes pivotal roles within HAILUN's grand piano production sphere. Stephen Paulello holds the esteemed position of Production Director for Grand Piano at HAILUN, while Claire is the incumbent HAILUN Piano Company Triangle Qin General Counsel. Stephen Paulello's accomplishments include his professorship at the College of Music in Paris, alongside accolades such as the 1982 and 1983 Vienna International Pianist Awards. The esteemed couple's contribution extends to the International Piano Institute and the French Piano Technology Association, fostering an indelible legacy in the realm of piano craftsmanship.

The year 2006 marked a monumental triumph for HAILUN, as the Danish Royal family selected a HAILUN piano for use in the Royal Palace. Simultaneously, HAILUN Piano was honored with the coveted "China's Top Brand Name" award, a distinction presented once every three years to only a select few among China's extensive roster of piano manufacturers. This esteemed recognition marked a historic moment, as a privately held non-government entity clinched this prestigious accolade for the first time.

In a resplendent celebration of the one-year countdown to the Beijing Olympics in August 2007, the HAILUN 277 Professional Concert Grand took center stage. Esteemed pianists Lang Lang and Robert Wells delivered an unforgettable performance, solidifying HAILUN's prowess. HAILUN's acclaim continued into the 2008 Olympics, where its pianos were selected for performances and received the prestigious International Six Golden Star Medal from DIAPASON, a revered European music magazine. This accolade stood as a momentous achievement, marking the first time a Chinese piano was lauded with such a high honor on the global stage of European piano contests.

The year 2009 witnessed HAILUN Piano Company's authorization as a national-level industrial culture demonstrative site and a pivotal player in China's culture export landscape. Subsequently, in January 2010, HAILUN pianos underwent rigorous examination for music quality at the China Light Industry Musical Instrument Quality Supervise & Exam Center.

The years 2012, 2013, and 2014 ushered a triumphant streak for HAILUN, clinching the MMR Magazine's esteemed "Acoustic Piano Line of the Year" award for three consecutive years. This unbroken trajectory led to the coveted "Legacy Award" in 2015 at NAMM 2016 show in Anaheim, California, USA, underscoring HAILUN's unswerving dominance in the acoustic piano arena. The legacy continued in 2016 with Mr. Hailun Chen's recognition through the Schumpeter Award, an accolade that highlighted his exceptional contributions to the world of music and solidified his stature as a premier piano maker. Notably, the year 2017 bore witness to HAILUN Piano's consecutive victory in clinching the MMR Magazine's "Acoustic Piano Line of the Year" award.

Today, HAILUN pianos bask in global acclaim, resonating with international audiences. A staggering 60% of HAILUN's pianos embark on journeys to Europe, Japan, America, and other corners of the world. With an ever-expanding network of over 580 dealers, HAILUN's legacy of excellence continues to thrive and resonate.

 

 

Brigham is the industry authority on Hailun Pianos with over 300 sold! 

I had heard great reviews about Hailun but was a bit skeptical until I played one … and then bought one to take home. I inspected it, took it completely apart, fully prepped it, and was blown away by its structure, touch, tone, materials, craftsmanship, and more. I told my wife while tuning my first unboxed Hailun in my living room, “This piano is better than Yamaha and Kawai, but I can’t tell people that because it will sound like a sales pitch since no one has heard of Hailun yet.”

At that moment I knew: this is the real deal. From several standpoints, Hailun is simply unbeatable. 

1. As a career piano technician, As a registered piano technician with over 24+ years experience, I’ve tuned more than 20,000 pianos and have rebuilt thousands. I’m passionate about Hailun from a technical aspect — it is a solid instrument that’s a joy to work on!
2. As a lifelong musician and jazz pianist, I love the Hailun touch and tone — it is powerful, rich, deep, and full!
3. As a father with a family of my own,  I know Hailun is a fantastic instrument that will inspire my children and it comes at a significantly more affordable price than comparable brands. 

This is why I became the exclusive Hailun dealer in Utah — Hailun’s dedication to design, architecture, materials, innovation, and manufacturing and quality control standards is something I completely stand behind. 

— Hailun is in my showroom because I truly love the piano. 

As a musician and Technician with 24+ years experience, I can say that Hailun’s award-winning pianos are in the same class as Yamaha, Kawai, and Boston at a fraction of the price — you will not find a better cost-to-value ratio for your money. 

The Value of Hailun Pianos

Hailun Factory Tours

There are a number of videos we made while visiting the Hailun Piano Factory in 2013 and 2018 which show lots of different aspects of the manufacturing process.

Our 2013 factory tour:  In 2013, I visited the Hailun manufacturing facilities and my experience there only confirmed that the Hailun standard is extremely high. Hailuns are not “stencil pianos” — the company does not outsource the construction of its pianos and never skimps on quality.

Our 2018 factory tour: This time I took all my piano technicians with me to the Hailun Piano Factory.

I encourage my customers to do their own research. Read reviews, check pricing, and note industry standards-here are a few sources I recommend:

• Larry Fine's Piano Buyer- He is like the blue book of pianos and has great info on all piano brands
• Piano World Forum: just type in Hailun, or any other brand or question
• Hailun's Official website 
• A Few blog posts from our website about Hailun 
• Just Google it and look all over-I think you'll discover that the vast majority of opinions are very positive, particularly, again, in relation to bang-for-buck.

I also want to personally invite you to come by our showroom so you can experience it firsthand. I know once you try it, you’ll fall in love with it, too!

 

I’ve been a piano technician for over two decades and have worked on over 20,000 pianos, and I continue to be impressed with Hailun’s high standards of manufacture and affordability. 

And it’s no surprise — Hailun is a favorite among pianists and aficionados alike. Not only has Hailun won Piano of the Year three years in a row for their excellence, they continue to be recognized for their innovation with additional accolades, such as:

 

Brigham Larson Pianos is proud to be Utah’s exclusive Hailun dealer, and to share the beauty of Hailun pianos with families all over the state.

 

Hailun Highlights

• 2011 – Piano Technicians Guild selects Hailun
• Hailun Action model used to test piano technicians nationwide to pass the Registered Piano Technician Designation (RPT Exam)
• 178 Hailun grands which are awarded “The Piano of the Year”, best piano in North America in 2013
• 2012 – Industry selects Hailun for “Acoustic Piano Line of the Year”, specifically the HU5P – Piano of the Year. (MMR Magazine, Dealers Choice Awards)
• 2013 – Industry selects Hailun AGAIN for “Acoustic Piano Line of the Year”, specifically the 178 Grand – Piano of the Year. (MMR Magazine, Dealers Choice Awards)
• 2014 – Steinway selects Hailun Designer of the 116 upright and 198 grand, George F. Emerson (Frank) commissioned by Steinway to design new Steinway Piano beginning March 1st 2014
• 2014 PIANO OF THE YEAR —– AGAIN!!!!

• To give a comparison, Larry Fine (Piano Buyer Guide publisher and renowned piano critic) ranks Hailun in the same tier for quality and performance as Yamaha and Kawai. In other words, Hailun is rated in the same class as the Yamaha and Kawai flagship models.
• The price of Hailun performance uprights, however, is comparable to Yamaha and Kawai’s economy series, a significantly reduced price due to the lower quality of parts in the lower tiered Yamaha and Kawai instruments.

Other Noteworthy Mentionables:

• Safety Ease Lid assist technology partners with Hailun, exclusive patent.
• Only slow fall grand lid among all piano manufacturers.
• Research Hailun on-line…. it’s getting rave reviews everywhere. The more you research Hailun, the more you will want to buy one!Great reviews & chats on Pianoworld.com about Hailun and elsewhere!
• Don’t just take our word for it… do some research! EVERYONE is raving about Hailun!!

FOR THE TECHNICAL ONES….

If you like to know the technical highlights of what makes Hailun AMAZING…. this is for YOU!

Discover Hailun’s superior design and construction by learning about the technical aspects listed below. Watch Brigham’s Hailun Factory Tour Videos at BrighamLarsonPianos on YouTUBE: (Do a search for Hailun Factory Tour)

• Hailun hand crafted soundboards
• Hand crafting bridges
• Mating the the pinblock
• Duplex scaling
• Rim hardwood inserts
• Soundboard dead zone
• Aluminum key bed video- side by side comparison
• Speaking length rod
• Pre-stressing the strings and action
• Electrical gluing process
• Lyre and leg room (perfecting the parts no one will ever see defines craftsmanship)
• Chinese craftsmanship, belly man, observe the handcrafted work of the artisan
• Final USA selection process
• Book matched veneer