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#CBechstein #Bösendorfer #Pianos
Hello, and thanks for being here at the Merriam Pianos KZfaq channel. We’ve got a special video for you today wherein Stu Harrison guides the viewer through some ‘Tasting Notes’, or comparison points between two legendary European piano builders - Bosendorfer and C. Bechstein.
We decided to start with these two venerable brands as these seem to be the most often compared luxury piano brands, especially in Europe. In fact, Bosendorfer’s own promotional material cites C. Bechstein as their chief competitor, despite the hugely different musical experiences each brand offers.
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Similarities
One notable similarity between these two manufacturer’s is that they boast the longest two production times of any production piano on Earth. Though Bechstein’s timeline is marginally longer, each manufacturer’s flagship concert grand takes approximately 15 months to build after all of the wood and pre-assembly components are ready to be worked.
Secondly, they both occupied the majority of noble, royal, and cultural halls throughout Europe from the mid 1850’s up to about WW2. This is pretty much where the similarities stop.
Market Share
Despite fierce competition, the battle for market share is currently being won by C. Bechstein. In terms of the share of sales for performance level pianos, the 2019 retail statistics in Germany attribute 58% of all high-end grand and upright sales to C. Bechstein.
Philosophical Differences
Everything else about these two companies speaks to different philosophies, designs and ultimately, different playing experiences. Where Bosendorfer has stuck with their overall piano design for more than 100 years, C. Bechstein on the other hand have gone through many design innovations that continue to this day, driven by their R&D department.
Design Differences
Bosedorfer’s design highlights include the extra wide tail design, larger soundboard and spruce panels directly connected to the soundboard. The bass register features an unmistakably brassy tone, and certain models feature extra keys.
C. Bechstein’s design highlights include the use of a treble bell on certain models, multi capped vertically laminated bridges, scissor joinery on their Val di Fiemme soundboards and their full perimeter inner rim for maximum resonance.
Musical Differences
The playing experience between these two is easily articulated. The dynamic output between a Bosendorfer and it’s comparable Bechstein is quite different, to the point that even a smaller Bechstein will sound louder than a larger Bosendorfer.
The harmonic complexity of the Bechstein provides a thicker mid range and a more complex treble. The Bosendorfer creates a more orchestral sonic effect due to the rim design, which enhances the sense of space to the player.
Both pianos have a fluid and effortless action, amongst the best in the world today.
Company Differences
With little more than a few hundred pianos produced each year, Bosendorfer’s existing business model reached a point in the early 2010’s where new corporate ownership was the only feasible way forward with Yamaha stepping in and acquiring the company. Yamaha hasn’t changed the operation, but has benefited greatly from their association with the Bosendorfer brand.
C. Bechstein, while having changed hands several times, has done so under very different circumstances. Currently profitable and growing, back in the early 2000’s Bechstein attracted the attention of a wealthy Berlin based investor with a passion for the arts. Since his acquisition of the company, he has invested nearly 100 million Euro into the brand with the clear goal of dominance, both in terms of musicality and market share.
We hope you enjoyed this video. Thank you for watching!
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