SampleTekk's Summer Sale starts June 27 and ends on July 27.  Great discounts on their piano samples and other samples.  

I definitely am going to buy White Grand/White Sister bundle.  I already own their Old Lady and Emperor, one of their Yamaha C7's and the Bosendorfer 290, but have been waiting for this sale to grab the White Bundle.

What other instruments do you guys recommend from them?

The White Grand/White Sister is really nice. It's pretty bright, but it sounds really good. I like the vertikal jazz - based on a Yamaha U5 if memory serves. The Rain Piano is cool if you need something a bit honky-tonkish (but not over the top). The one I'll probably pick up next time around is the re-released Black Grand package, but I've just moved and don't have my stuff set up yet. Personally, I think that if you have the Old Lady and Emperor, you've already got the two best sounding ST products - they're my favorites.

You've already got a Yamaha, a Steinway and two Bosendorfers. I'd say you've got the essentials covered, except...the only thing lacking from your collection is a snappy rockin' upright. 

I've been thinking about the Vertikal Pop for awhile now to fill that role. Similar in tone to the Vertikal Jazz mentioned above, but close-miked for when you want something more up front with less ambiance. 

Thanks both Bitflipper and Craigfowler.  I had not considered the vertikal jazz or vertikal pop instruments.  I will give them a listen.

craigfowler

The White Grand/White Sister is really nice. It's pretty bright, but it sounds really good. I like the vertikal jazz - based on a Yamaha U5 if memory serves. The Rain Piano is cool if you need something a bit honky-tonkish (but not over the top). The one I'll probably pick up next time around is the re-released Black Grand package, but I've just moved and don't have my stuff set up yet. Personally, I think that if you have the Old Lady and Emperor, you've already got the two best sounding ST products - they're my favorites.

Craigfowler.  Do you know if the White or if the Black have new GUI interfaces for Kontakt or if they have the bland ordinary standard gui like the ones in The Emperor and The Old Lady?  Which Black version was reissued?  They seem to have several Blacks. I love the Emperor and the Old Lady,but don't like the old style gui interface they have for Kontakt.  

I suspect that by getting the White bundle that I could avoid getting Ivory II.  With the White bundle (both close and ambient mics) and The Old Lady, I would have that Steinway well covered [Edited: Dummy that I am-- the White is not a Steinway it is a Malmsjo made in Sweden, but if I get the Black with new GUI it will be a nice steinway companion for the Old Lady].  With The Emperor and PMI Bosendorfer 290 I have the Bosendorfer covered as well.


[Edited:  After reading your post, I have been re-listening carefully and agree that the White is very bright, but perfect to cut through mixes.  I now think that I will just get the White Grand (no White Sister), and also get the Black with the new GUI and refined samples--this one http://www.sampletekk.com/proddetail.php?prod=STDELIVER-039-KONT.  The latter sounds warmer and the new GUI allows for more sound sculpting.  This should be a good combination.  The White will cut through; the Black will be great for solo piano accompaniment.  Thanks for the heads up about the White's brightness.  Cecelius2]

Good choices! I can't remember which clip it was, but there was one of the WG in a rock/pop context where it sounded excellent. The WS is nice to have so you can mix them, but you'll like what you're getting. Report back on the Black Grand! Would be very curious how you feel it compares to the Old Lady. I'm tempted (as you were) simply for the improved GUI, but am curious how it sounds and plays.

I suspect that by getting the White bundle that I could avoid getting Ivory II.  

At these prices, you could get half the Sampletekk catalog for less than the price of Ivory II! 

bitflipper

I suspect that by getting the White bundle that I could avoid getting Ivory II.  

 At these prices, you could get half the Sampletekk catalog for less than the price of Ivory II! 

Yeah with these Summer Sale discounts, I have or will have all I want in Acoustic Pianos.  Per is also really good with returning, old customers and has been great when I needed to re-download the Old Lady recently (her multis got messed up).  Thanks Bit for this lead several months ago.  I also really like the demos of the White Grand on their resource page http://www.sampletekk.com/wgresource.php; the Jazz demos sound great and while it is bright, it is not harsh. Further, I value Trevor Rabin's endorsement; he knows prog rock and scoring.  The SampleTekk Black that i am getting is the new "refined version" of their Black Grand with a much, much nicer GUI that can control the resonance, eq, reverb if needed, and has velocity curve adjustments.  As some have indicated elsewhere, the sound quality of PMI/SampleTekk samples is excellent, the price also excellent, but the old default stock Kontakt GUI's need to be updated; that is one reason I am getting this version of the Black.  

Ah, GUI schmui - I have a baby grand in my living room whose user interface hasn't changed since the 19th century. Still plays OK.

Although I wouldn't mind if they added an auto-tune button...

I've had The Old Lady and Emperor since 2005, it was PMI productions back in those days.

Is there anything that I am really missing from SampleTekk's sale? Really only interested in using it for Jazz tunes.

Also have Alicia's Keys and Art Vista grand piano in samples and a Korg Oasys and Kurz K2661 that have some pretty good piano sounds that sit well back in a mix.

Kind regards,
Rick

Have a listen to the Rain upright, Vertikal Jazz and Vertikal Pop. All are different from what you've presently got.