Is there a large difference in sound quality amongst Bosendorfer 225's?

[cate33]

I am thinking of purchasing a lightly used (2011) Bosendorfer 225.  My child's teacher advised us to purchase a new Bosendorfer 225 from the dealer since they offer a warranty.  If I can save money by buying a Bosendorfer that is one or two years old, I would rather do that.  What is the downside?  Your input would be appreciated.

[sirpazhan]

there's really is no downside to a 2 year old piano.. its still practically new.  If anything the second hand piano is broken in.. plus if you're buying the 2nd hand piano from a dealer,, they usually offer their own warranty in connection with the existing factory warranty.. and from what I remember, the bose factory warranty is about 10 years..

its like buying a second hand car from the dealer,,with a 1000 miles on the odometer..  you save yourself that initial drop in price that brand new cars suffer from the second they're driven off the lot.  

just get the 2nd hand piano,, assuming its not banged up or something seriously wrong with it.. ie: the previous owner spilled a pitcher of water inside of it.  etc

[quantum]

Just have it checked out by an independent tech.  If all is well, there is no reason not to get a second-hand piano.  Besides, Bosendorfer is a respected maker, it is very unlikely the piano will self-destruct within a week.

Personally, I too like the idea of a broken-in piano as things have had a chance to settle in.  My own piano was bought second-hand. 

You could also ask your tech for his/her opinion on what can be done in terms of voicing or regulation prior and post purchase. 

[withindale]

+1 +1

I came across two similar new Bosendorfers side by side at a main dealer's showroom the other day. The treble was completely different.

Go for the used one if you like it and it checks out. I'd ask about its history.

[pogmoger]

Hello Cate33,

According to Larry Fine's Piano Buyer, Boesendorfer offers a 10 year warranty for new instruments transferable to a new owner if sold during this period. (See https://www.pianobuyer.com/spring13/163.html). So the 2011 model should still have a full warranty until 2021 even with change of ownership. Piano Buyer is primarily written with the US market in mind, however, so depending on your location this may be worth double checking - might not apply worldwide. You could always e-mail Boesendorfer directly to confirm this.

As the others have mentioned, it's worth checking out the history of the 2011 model. Has it been with a private owner, and if so why are they selling? Or is it from a teaching studio/practice room? Either way, at two years old it's probably still in very good shape. Most important is to get a technician to check out its current state to confirm it is in good working order and worth the price being asked.

And as Withindale says, individual Boesendorfers can vary quite a bit in tone and character - so try out several instruments if you can and see which one you think sounds/feels best (or get some help with this if you don't play yourself.) I'm considering buying a new Boesendorfer at the moment (probably a 185 or 200cs), and if I decide to go ahead with the purchase, I plan to visit the factory in Vienna personally to pick one out - I'm fussy! Having said that, if a stunning two year old piano turned up on the secondhand market in pristine condition and the price was right, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it!

[awesom_o]

Yes, in my experience there is a large variation in sound quality with this model. Some are lovely, and some are lackluster.

[chrisbutch]

The date in this case is significant, since  it was probably made just before the Yamaha takeover of the company. During the previous decade Bosendorfer had a very difficult time, with several changes of ownership, including a bank with very little understanding of the business. The workforce was downsized, and several highly skilled craftsmen with many years experience building these instruments were lost. In consequence the quality was much more variable than it had been historically (Bosendorfer quality had always been  more consistent than Steinway, for instance). Some good instruments were still made, but also some duds (one of which I know well). There was, in particular, a problem with falseness at the top end of the piano. I'm told that since the Yamaha acquisition and the introduction of Japanese quality control methods, this problem has largely been corrected.
With this in mind, I would be very cautious about the 2011 instrument, and have it independently assessed before making a decision. It may be superb. On the other hand it may not. And if it's afflicted with the falseness blight, there's not a lot which can be done ('once false, always false' my technician guru used to say).

[cate33]

Thank you for your advice.  It is extremely helpful.