Geez Maneez! 7 foot plus new C. Bechstein....

[hbofinger]

Yo! I just walked into the local Bechstein dealership, and they directed me to a B sized C. Bechstein which has been sitting for a year and was "marked down" from 115k or so to around 54k.

I was simply blown away by it. Growling bass. Full throttled piano!

Problem is I can't afford it right now. But at least my eyes are now open to what a Bechstein can be. I used to be skeptical.

Does anyone know the difference between "C. Bechstein" and simply "Bechstein"? I was told the C. was the "Conservatory", or lower end product. It has a shiny finish though, which I hear the academy series does not. Also, when listening to this one, I was wondering what actually COULD be improved upon... (I am German, so I like brighter instruments, and this one I felt really had it in it)

[richard black]

C. Bechstein is 'Carl Bechstein'. I think the ones without the C are the cheaper range, though someone may correct me if I'm wrong!

115k for a B size? (which is 6ft 8 or thereabouts, not 7 ft plus). Sounds like a lot of money. Maybe a case of spurious discount?

[pianolive]

C. Bechstein is made by C. Bechstein. C stands for the name Carl.
C. Bechstein is the real thing.
Bechstein is designed by C. Bechstein and put together at the old Bohemia and maybe in some other places. Cheaper materials too.
They have made what they call a low cost production line.
They call them Academy also 

[hbofinger]

Well, this one really had it. Magnificent instrument. Too bad I can't wing it.

One thing was peculiar: The lyre seemed set further back. I had to stretch my legs to reach the pedals. I am 5'11", but from someone shorter this might have been hard. Found this an interesting factoid....

[pbryld]

Well, this one really had it. Magnificent instrument. Too bad I can't wing it.

One thing was peculiar: The lyre seemed set further back. I had to stretch my legs to reach the pedals. I am 5'11", but from someone shorter this might have been hard. Found this an interesting factoid....

"C. Bechstein" is the best of Bechstein. Bechstein Academy is the conservatory line which is exact copies of the C. Bechsteins 15 years ago, before they started making new models.

[hbofinger]

This was a good one. They did not ruin it like the others. They (the dealer) voice them down for American markets on arrival, and they failed to do this on this particular one. I wish they wouldn't ruin good instruments like that. I played all the other Bechsteins in that dealership, and they put me to sleep.