LEGO has just released the largest LEGO Ideas set to date with the Grand Piano (21323) and we’ve finally gotten our review copy to see if it is worth the price. Coming in at 3,662 pieces, the set retails for $349.99 which is also the most expensive Ideas set as well. The contents of the box include 21 numbered bags, some of which are also packaged inside an inner box along with the thick instruction booklet. Please forgive my terminology for the piano or the lack of.
Instruction Booklet
Like with the other LEGO Ideas sets, the front of the instructions give a short blurb about the Grand Piano as well as interviews with the fan designer Donny Chen and LEGO designers Woon Tze Chee and Steen Sig Andersen.
Build
The first bag is basically used to build the backside base of the piano. There’s nothing too interesting about this part but there there are some ball joints that are used later on to connect the outer frame.
For the second bag, you add more to the base and there’s an intricate mechanism used in conjunction with the included Powered Up motor and hub. Also connecting to the hub is one of the new WeDo 2.0 motion sensors that was previously only available in the WeDo Core Set.
Bag 3 has a number of Technic axles that is part of the hammer that hits the strings. The whole bag is dedicated to building this mechanism.
The next bag is used to build the frame that goes on top of the soundboard. There are also a number of pearl-gold clips which are used for the strings later on.
For bag 6, we finally get to cover up the back side of the piano which uses a lot of curved bricks along with 2×4 tiles. In addition, you also will be adding more to the frame where more string clips are added as well as some pearl-gold curved tiles. Sorry about the non fully connected bricks at the bottom right.
Next up, we have the front part of the piano right below the keys. Again, nothing too special about it. For bag 8, we connect this whole section to the piano itself and there’s a long Technic bar that goes across it. We also add the “strings” on which are just some pearl-gold hoses in different lengths and are attached to the numerous clips that are on the frame.
Next up, we have the parts to cover up the rest other side of the piano. There is also a door that allows access to the hub that is inside. The door swings open on some Technic beams.
For bag 10, we go to the underside of the piano where we build the legs as well the foot pedals. Each of the legs has wheels that swivel which is a nice addition. Only one of the pedals actually works by connecting a pin to the underside which has a pin that moves the dampers.
Bags 11-14 are used for the keys on the Grand Piano. There are four sets of keys to build and each has the same mechanism that allows each key to move independently of each other including the flat and sharp keys. The sections are connected to each other using some Technic pins.
Bag 15 has parts for the highest note key which is connected on the right side. The whole section fits perfectly where it should it and is secured by a section that goes on top of it.
Following that, we have the folding fallboard for the keys. They attach to the piano on the sides. What’s nice about it is that there’s a printed 2×2 tile for the LEGO logo right in the middle, again, another nice touch.
There are 17 dampers to put on in the 17th bag which gets a bit repetitive. You will also build the folding sheet music rack which can also double up as a stand for your smartphone. It is adjustable on the sloped grill pieces on the sides.
As of now, the Grand Piano is pretty much finished. Bags 18 and 19 are solely used for the piano cover. There are hinges so it can open up to use the rack without having to open up the cover.
Bag 20 has some Technic beams to stabilize the cover as well as attaching it to the piano side. I think it works well enough but I suggest not opening the cover fully as it will snap off.
Lastly, we have the small bench that actually has a lot packed into it. Inside the bench, there’s a Technic mechanism that allows it to be raised and lowered using the knobs on the sides.
Results
Overall, the LEGO Ideas Grand Piano (21323) is the largest in terms of pieces and most priciest set in the theme. Is it worth the price that LEGO is asking for? That is very subjective but to me, I’m slightly leaning to yes. The amount of detail and functions that are included with it make it very realistic and a great display piece. It is bigger than you expect it to be so be prepared to have a decent sized space for it.
The Powered Up companion app makes it interactive but the one thing I bothered me about it was that you can’t actually make music with it which could make or break a purchase for some. While you can use the “play” feature on app, it is a template. You don’t have to play the right keys for the song to play and the whole song can be played using one key on the piano. The “listen” feature lets you listen to various songs while the piano plays itself. The keys are a set pattern that is programmed so the keys pressed aren’t the right ones on the sheet music. Speaking of sheet music, there is also a printed tile for Playday which is an original song my Donny Chen. I do commend LEGO on the whole hub to app connectivity and it works well to an extent.
Currently, the Grand Piano seems to be pretty popular at launch and it is temporarily sold out on Shop@Home. You can check to see if your closest LEGO Store has it but I doubt many will have any in stock.
Thank you to LEGO for sending in this set for me to review. The content above represents my own opinion and not the company. Review sets sent in does not guarantee a positive review.
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