Bechstein question

[antares]

Hello list,

The Bechstein of today is a different story than the one of the past.
I was invited by the Bechstein factory this last September for a training
because they had sold three grands to the Amsterdam Conservatory (where I
have worked as a freelancer for a very long time).

This gave me an opportunity to get a fresh and direct look and feel of what
Bechstein is about these days.

As you probably had imagined it is quite different from the past.
Why is it different?

because :

a. they have appointed a new technical director with a vision

b. they have developed different kind of grands for different markets (a
less expensive one and the expensive one but still les expensive than very
expensive)

c. the more expensive grand no longer has agraffes in the high treble.
Instead, they have copied the more modern version like Yamaha or Steinway.

d. They no longer work in the old Bechstein building but instead build their
instruments in a factory in the South of Germany.
In Berlin there is a building where they rent space to finish important
instruments.
This is the place I went to for my never ending lessons.
I stayed in a hotel more or less nearby and arrived at the factory at seven
am.
They have very long workdays because it is not unusual to go on working till
5 pm or even longer.

In this finishing factory there are a number of specialists who each have
been working for Bechstein for at least 25 or 30 years. There are some
younger people for training and, overall, I think Bechstein is in the
process of coming back full force.
I was very, but  very.. impressed with their latest concert grand.

I received my lessons from a very gifted intoneur. His name is Naoki
Yamauchi and he too has been working there for over thirty years.\He
originally came from Kawai in Japan and has become German.
he is a gifted craftsman and makes the tone of Bechstein today.

my euro cents.


friendly greetings
from

Antares,

Amsterdam, Holland

"where music is, no harm can be"

visit my website at :  http://www.concertpianoservice.nl/


> From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
> Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 07:33:47 -0500
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: Bechstein question
> 
> So where would a Model A1 (approximately 180 cm) made in 1900 fit in? Perhaps
> it is part of a new series (reletive to those described below) of designs as
> it has a continuous rim around the tail, but it does have a sharp corner at
> the high treble end?
> 
> Terry Farrell
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Calin Tantareanu" <dnu@fx.ro>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 3:09 AM
> Subject: Re: Bechstein question
> 
> 
> Hello!
> 
> It is probably the piano model; isn't it around 218cm long?
> Up to around 1902, Bechstein built 5 sizes of grand; these were known as
> models I to V ('roman' 1-5).
> The largest was the Model 'I' which was 9ft (275cm) long; Bechstein's Concert
> Grand. 
> The Model 'II' was 8ft 4in (254cm) long;
> the Model 'III' was 7ft 8in (234cm) long;
> the Model 'IV' was 7ft 2in (218cm) long;
> the Model 'V' - the shortest and most frequently built - was 6ft 7in (200cm)
> long. 
> 
> These usually don't have a continous rim, but one made of pieces, so the tail
> has corners.
> 
> I hope this helps.
> 
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------
> Calin Tantareanu
> ----------------------------------------------------
> e-mail: dnu@fx.ro
> http://calintantareanu.tripod.com
> ----------------------------------------------------
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David Love 
> To: Pianotech 
> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 6:49 AM
> Subject: Bechstein question
> 
> 
> What does the roman numeral IV printed on the soundboard refer to.
> 
> David Love
> 
> 
>