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<DIV>Hi Ric.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I must agree with you, the pre destruction of the Berlin factories
Bechstein model D is a very nice design : I had some in my hands, and all were
at least interesting pianos, at best really thrilling ones. Just, in each
case, some problems at the three or four notes around the alto-soprano
strut, but else, wow.</DIV>
<DIV>On the other hand, among the four pre destruction of the Berlin production
facilities model E that I ran across, only one was a nice instrument (yes, it is
the one I bought, hehe, and it is from 1928, so I don't think it was
discontinued, I only think there were few ever made). The three others
(unrestored, I admit, but then ...) were totally gutless. I noticed also
that Bechstein did change the soundboard desing of the model E a few times, sign
that they were not happy with it. One of them even had a double ribbing
sheme : one set of you would say normal ribs, and another set of ribs running
across the previous ones, in a second layer. But no power at all, even
with new hammers.</DIV>
<DIV>I believe this is one of the reasons why Bechstein has gained his pre
disaster popularity with the model B (200 cm) renowned as a perfect chamber
music piano.</DIV>
<DIV>Sorry for restraining my comments to the older Bechstein pianos, but I
never even saw a modern Bechstein piano in real. Most probably, the newer
model D, which is a trifle longer than the pre etc model E, must be a
beast of high pedigree : I heard André (Oorebeek) speak wonders about the
prototype he saw and heard.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Best regards.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Stéphane Collin.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>P.s. : did I understand you are from UK ? I was wondering if
Bechstein ever had a production facility (I mean production facility, not only
show room) in UK. What makes me think that is that I have seen one (and
one only so far) Bechstein piano with the soundboard decal in english (most
probably original). I would be happy to know that, as I am most interested
in the history of pre war Bechstein pianos.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Byeway222@aol.com
href="mailto:Byeway222@aol.com">Byeway222@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, August 03, 2006 8:17
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Bechstein E?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV>Hello list,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Anyone know when the Bechstein 'E' was discontinued? I have
certainly come across 2 model 'D's in my tuning career and one of them
was the best Bechstein I have ever tuned or played. We are inundated
with Bechsteins in UK, most of them pretty tired! It was in light
mahogany with 'gate' legs and a rounded tail. I suspect 1920's.
The length would have been in the 8ft range. A stunning
piano! Any other sightings of this model?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>ric</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>