bechstein vs. bosendorfer

[roxanne]

Hey all,

I am in the process of buying a smaller to medium sized grand piano by either Bechstein or Bosendorfer (I know someone who is a dealer for these two brands and so I might get a good discount).

Any ideas on particular characteristics of each make for the size range I am looking at or suggestions for which might be better?

Also, how much of a role does Yamaha and Samick (two brands that I hate) owning Bosendorfer and Bechstein respectively make a difference on their quality?

Thanks, look forward to some responses.

[pianocarlier]

Good day Roxanne,

if i had to choose between Bechstein ore Bosendorfer...Wel, i prefeer Bechstein. Bechstein invests miljens of Euro's in reachartch and developement. Thej create a more universal piano.
The best technicians in the world, are in my opinion with Bechstein...

And, Samick dos NOT own Bechstein! The brands C. Bechstein; Bechstein Academy; Zimmermann are made in GERMANY. The others "sub"brands like Hoffmann and Euterpe are partely made in cooperation with Samick, however thej do not own Bechstein.

Hope this was helpful,
   Steve from Belgium

[prongated]

I am not familiar with Bechsteins, but Bosendorfers usually have a rich, warm sound that I like when playing particularly Schubert piano pieces.

As regards size, it should be suited to where you are going to put the piano in. For example, if the room is small, you don't want something more than 6-foot long. If the floor is timber and the room small, then you really want a small one (or consider putting it elsewhere). Carpeted floor will absorb some of the sound very nicely though!

As regards the ownerships, it doesn't affect the quality of the pianos at all I should think. The operations of the factories remain the same. It's just business for Yamaha it seems, although Samick has taken the steps to take lessons from Bechstein in making their new(ish) NSG-series grand pianos - which are actually not bad for what it is!

And, Samick dos NOT own Bechstein!

Uh, yes Samick does. Sorry to disappoint you then; https://www.allbusiness.com/company-activities-management/product-management/8780702-1.html

[keys60]

Samick does own a major stake (majority) in Bechstein. To the best of my knowledge, the uprights are no longer made in Germany, the grands are.

[iumonito]

What a great problem to have!

I am an old Bechstein lover and a recovering Bosendorfer hater, and yet ...

These two pianos, by design, have very different personalities.  It, of course, comes down to you playing a particular instrument and falling in love with it.

Bechsteins generally have a more direct, extroverted sound that Boses.  I find Boses incapable of making an ugly sound, but I also find them somewhat limited in their tonal palette.  I can't imagine playing Prokofiev on a Bosendorfer.  On the other hand, I can't imagine playing Mozart or Schubert on a better-suited instrument.  Debussy and Ravel also come through in Bosendoerfer delightfully well, so if your repertoire preferences gravitate that way, teh Bose should have a clear uppr hand.

A new Bosendorfer is a better-made piano than a new Bechstein, even though if by design the Bose will not do some things the Bechstein will, like screaming.

I find it unfortunate that Bechstein has moved in design over the past, what, 15 years or so, towards being closer to a Steinway and a Yamaha, than to the characteristics of the old Bechstein pianos, which were one of my favorites (I have a really old one that has a soul; I'll be recording some Schumann in the next few weeks if you want to hear it).  Gone are the transparency of sound, and certain singing-piercing sound that was particularly effective in the music of Debussy and Liszt, a sound of gold and crystal, if I can attempt such metaphor.  The new ones I have played, instead, had a rather non-descript sound, very much between Yamaha and Steinway; unremarkable in my opinion.  And these pianos were actually very-well prepped (one in Pescara at Fabbrini's shop, the other at Pianocraft in Gaithersburg, both world-class).  I guess it is a matter of taste.  Of course they are fabulous instruments; they just did not call my name.

Bosendorfer, on the other hand, makes such exquisite-sounding pianos!  I can't imagine owining one, though; I think it would soften the edges of my playing a lot; when I play them, I almost don't feel like going anywhere higher than a full mezzoforte.  I have played some Brahms and Beethoven that left me feeling I had bad manners for trying to get forte or fortissimo, as if the piano was asking why all that violence?

But then, why limit yourself to these two?  If you love one of them, please go for it and mind not what anyone tells you, but if you are hesitant, what about giving yourself some more time and exploring the likes of August Foerster, Bluthner, Steingraeber, Mason & Hamlin, Kawai, and Schimmel (all very different from each other, and all the favorite of someone).

[latrobe]

Bosendorfer, on the other hand, makes such exquisite-sounding pianos!  I can't imagine owining one, though; I think it would soften the edges of my playing a lot; when I play them, I almost don't feel like going anywhere higher than a full mezzoforte.  I have played some Brahms and Beethoven that left me feeling I had bad manners for trying to get forte or fortissimo, as if the piano was asking why all that violence?

Hi!

Yes - Bosendorfers are brilliant for getting that note to  the 2000th member of the audience in the gallery . . . but I went to a school string competition the other day and the piano drowned out all the players for the whole day . . .

Old Bechsteins - YES - magic!

Best wishes

David P

[fnkyazn]

To my most recent knowledge, all Bechstein's (C. and Academy), both uprights and grands, are made in Germany.  After recently speaking to a few Bechstein reps, I've confirmed this. 

Now, by glancing at the caliber of both brands that you're looking at, I'm assuming that you're looking at C. Bechstein, so you should be safe in that regard (unless the piano is made before 2006, at which point the majority of the Bechstein name was owned by Samick, which should bring cause for concern). 

As for which you should go for, I would agree with the posts above--you should pick whichever you think sounds best.  And contrary to popular belief, you don't necessarily need a trained ear.  It's no mystery that piano music is heavily oriented toward's emotion, so see which piano allows you to facilitate your emotion the most freely.

Now, from a technical standpoint, both pianos are similar in that they are high-end, performance pianos.  However, in regards to the mechanics of the pianos, both are very different--namely: the action.

It's important to pick a piano with a key action that fits you best.  With that in mind I recommend that you pay especially close attention, as your sense of touch must be in sync with the piano's action in order for you to truly take advantage of the piano's capabilities.

Good luck with your search!