You're very welcome! Thank you for taking the time to check out the video! The C. Bechstein B212 is an absolutely stunning instrument with immense musicality and expressivity! :)
Hi! Brent here! Thank you for tuning in! The B212 is truly spectacular. As great as it sounds in this recording, I promise you that it sounds even better in person. ;)
Thank you for the beautiful music and loads of information about the building of the stunning piano, I love the unique sound of C Bechstein, ( and I am lucky to have a old model A grand C Bechstein).
I have a 9ft. 2, C. Bechestein Concert Grand, bought in 1983 brand new, with real Ivory Keys. a Joy to play, the sound is out of this world - action is easy and quick.. I used to own a NY Steinway B, but it would be out of tune before the tuner left the house. My C. Bechestein stays in tune - Should you want to play it and review it, let me know. I live in Central New Jersey. Thanks for reviewing the C. Bechestein - now I know why it sounds so good ! PHIL
C.Bechstein ist meiner Meinung nach die beste Manufaktur weltweit einfach perfekt von der Verarbeitung bis zum Ton mit unglaublich vielen Klangfarben. Gerade der B212 ist mein Favorit und mein Trauminstrument und ich würde ihm jedem Steinway vorziehen . Weil dieses Instrument ist so inspirierend...allerdings würde ich mir dieses Instrument nicht in schwarz kaufen sondern in einem Pyramidenmahagoni Finish hochglanzpoliert weil ich mag es zusehen wie das Holz gewachsen ist.
All I know is this one sounds great. I agree with you about a more natural finish. I prefer satin over high gloss. High gloss black has a certain appeal when it comes to pianos, but a polyester resin finish can dull and oxidize over time.
Hey Stu. Probably the best piano that you shot a video about, thank you very much. If I may ask, is it the one you used to record 'Slow it down' album, which, by the way, is so beautiful. Thank you again for all the reviews and the sweet taste of your music 👍
I bought the smallest Concert Upright from C. Bechstein: 116k Millenium. It sounds absolutely amazing. I testet around 100 uprights and some grands. This small upright sounds better than cheap grands which still blows me away. One day when I'm rich I want a C. Bechstein Concert Grand^^
I couldn't agree more! The C. Bechstein uprights are incredible pianos and even the smaller models like the 116K greatly outperform much taller uprights and even some grands from other manufacturers. It is a testament to the unparalleled craftsmanship and caliber of materials. Enjoy your 116K Millennium until your eventual C. Bechstein Concert grand purchase! ;)
Hi Stu thanks for another great video. It would be great if you did a comparison of this model B with a new Hamburg Steinway. Also fascinating would be this model B with a 1920/30s Bechstein B. Well i suppose it is asking for a bit much but it would be super interesting i reckon.
Hi Charles! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the kind words and suggestions! We actually have a 1960s C. Bechstein Model B right now. So, perhaps, a comparison between the "then and now" versions of the model would be an interesting video comparison to tackle. We will do our best to tackle the suggestions you've made. :)
Close. But if you get your hands on one of the all-agraffe Bechstein's, you'll experience a whole new dimension of expressivity. Pity Schulze & Thomma couldn't have retained that feature in one or two of the new models.
At 96.000 € list price (for 2020), this is not entirely what one would call a bargain. But surely worth every penny! The sound is unbevlievably rich and colourful. If you (like me) can't afford one though, look for a used August Förster (post 1990), Rudolf Ibach, or Grotrian-Steinweg. Whilst not at the same level of quality and sound, these are very fine grand pianos for a fraction of the price.
I would argue each of those brands, and even more so each of their respective models have their own voices, not necessarily worse, but different to the modern Bechstein. To say they're not of the same "quality" is really pushing it.
This sounds amazing :o I’d be intimidated walking up to a piano I blatantly can’t afford (and don’t intend to buy) in a shop and start playing it... I never know how the staff would feel about it.. A video on etiquette and the ‘dos and donts’ in a piano shop would be great! I assume don’t play things you can’t afford for too long?... and not playing boogie woogie next to a member or staff who is trying to sell a piano to a customer!? Any less obvious things??
That is a very good question/video idea indeed! I guess it also greatly depends on the size of the piano shop/the size of the city it is in. As a teenager I used to often go to a small piano store where my parents bought a small upright, and they were always happy to see me even when I was playing on pianos I could probably never afford. But then I guess if you go to shop that you don't know and have never bought anything in, or if the shop is in the middle of NYC or Paris, then unless you show buying interest ...
Very good points! They all make a lot of sense. I've always tried to be friendly and honest with the staff, instead of just sitting down at a really expensive piano without having spoken anyone in there first!
There is one shop I frequently visit (at least I used to before the pandemic) and thankfully they are always encouraging me to play around. They say a good(ish) customer playing their instruments usually attracts people and give them a sense of more objective perception of the instrument.
I am an adult learning piano and would please like to know the title of that classic composition at 15:15. Thank you for the education on the C. Bechstein construction.
You're very welcome! It is on the tip of my tongue right now, but the piece title and composer is escaping me at the moment. Perhaps, one of our helpful community members will be able to chime in and fill in the blank!
@@MerriamPianos Ok Stu, thank you so much for the speedy reply. If do you come across the name of the composition and its composer please let me know. Thank you kindly.
Question to Stu: how would you compare a Kawai (gx2 or sk2) and a Bechstein of a similar size (not necessarily the concert line)? I mean not in terms of "who wins" but, what are the differences between Japanese and German pianos? As always, awesome review supported by awesome piano skills !
My opinion is Asian instruments will never equal European and American instruments. The reason being the Asian concept of tone quality is very different. It's an issue to which I have given a lot of thought.
@@JoeLinux2000 At the Chopin Competition in 2015 the Yamaha CF-X was the most popular piano among the contestants, and was ultimately selected by three of the six finalists. So I think it is fair to say that some pretty fine musicians would disagree with you about the quality of Asian instruments.
@@499735 , What I noticed or learned some years ago is that Yamaha is a brand that a lot of institutions and competitions have. Parents buy Yamaha pianos hoping to give their kids an edge in auditions and competitions. If the kids play on a Yamaha at home they will end up playing a Yamaha in the competition, It's understandable. I heard Chick Corea play on a 7 ft Yamaha at the Blue Note in NYC with Bobby McFerrin. The piano was fantastic in all respects, tuning and miking. So yes, they can be good. Gerald Clayton is also a Yamaha artist. But, I still stand by my claim. Steinways have become so expensive, almost no one can afford one. I lot has to do with hammer voicing which Stu is pointing out in this particular video. I like the sound of this Bechstein. It's the real deal.
I totally agree with Internet Privacy. In all the years I've studied and all the pianos along the way, the Japanese pianos have nice actions but no tonal variation in the sound. I hear loud to soft in dynamics but cannot hear different tones like I can achieve playing a Steinway or Bechstein.
I think it isn't always so easy to shrug of a piano manufacturer or a mamufacturing country altogether. I think (for whatever it is worth) Shigeru's are not so far off to C.Bechstein with their vision. They also have very high manufacturing standards and material quality. Even though C.Bechstein is my favorite brand, the Shigeru's (which I also passionately love), imho, can give many European and American pianos a run for their money.
How do you record these piano's? What mic, cable and interface/pre? stereo? What type of stereo miking? Can you compare this piano A/B with the Schimmel K219?
Hi! Brent here! We typically capture our audio with a stereo pair of Rode NT5 microphones in an XY setup. These microphones are running into a Focusrite Scarlett interface and Roland XLR cables. We will do our best to tackle a comparison against the K219 if the opportunity presents. I will pass the suggestion along to our production team. :)
The treble bell's function as described here, was in fact not its primary function when Steinway came up with it. It's a mass coupling system that's there to stop the plate from vibrating too much, therefore robbing the strings of energy. Early pianos (though certainly not all) were notorious for often having weak treble sustain due to vibrating plates and/or rims. Perhaps its use in the Bechstein is different? However, I would not trust Bechstein's own marketing on this matter. On another note, I think this piano sounds incredible. It's almost too colorful for my taste. It has a real wow factor due to all those harmonics, but all those loud overtones can get tiresome after a while. Melodic lines get very interesting though when even single notes have so much color.
It is hands down the best piano in the market. As mentioned on a comment under another video, even the D282 IMHO and for my use is inferior to this. I haven,t played the C.
Is there like a contract that doesn't allow you to compare the new yamaha 700s to the kawai CA??? Just doesn't make sense that you won't do the video the do many people is waiting on.
The C. Bechstein is a splendid piano. Your demos are interesting, but I have to ask why you never play any classical piano pieces during your demos. Jazz pianists are not the only people interested in C. Bechstein.
Reducing his playing to "jazz" is inaccurate, in my opinion. Sure, he plays some jazz. I do think it'd be nice to hear him play a classical piece every once in a while, but not because I'm a devout classical player.
C/ Bechstein grands. To my ears "the best" sounding (my other favororites...Bluthner Model 2, Shimmel 230, Steinway B Hamburg or not...). But what's so ironic to me is people who CAN afford a 212 or any C Bechstein or other grands costing over $100k have no concept of room acoustics. They just place their grands iagainst a wall in the living room where it looks best. Like furniture. Usually on hardwood floor underneath. No carpet to reduce the sound bouncing off the floor then off the wallls and ceiling. Few if any have "piano rooms" (acoustically treated walls and sound surpressed..so they don't disturb neighbours playing the piano any time of the day or night). Even in C. Bechstein ads and videos...Pianos are placed too close to walls on hardwood floors with no carpeting...because the piano photographs well...maybe that's it...why they played the piano where they did..though that just tells some of the public they don't really know the whole picture about sound...shrug).
This is my favorite piano. The sound is so overwhelming. Thank you for the great introduction. That's spot on - simply great!
Thank you for tuning in! The C. Bechstein B212 epitomizes the word "stunning". It is a truly incredible instrument. :)
Perfect presentation of a perfect piano. Everything is mentioned in a true way. Thanks for these detailed informations. Bechstein is back on stage! 👍✨
You're very welcome! Thank you for taking the time to check out the video! The C. Bechstein B212 is an absolutely stunning instrument with immense musicality and expressivity! :)
Wow. What a wonderful tone!! 😃😃
Stu, wonderful information TY - and the piano sounds incredible, I can only imagine how it sounds LIVE ! wow, I'm melting.
Hi! Brent here! Thank you for tuning in! The B212 is truly spectacular. As great as it sounds in this recording, I promise you that it sounds even better in person. ;)
15:14 Stu showing us his "pathétique" side of piano playing which is, if you ask me, impeccable!
Sound crisp and clear
Thank you for the beautiful music and loads of information about the building of the stunning piano, I love the unique sound of C Bechstein, ( and I am lucky to have a old model A grand C Bechstein).
I have a 9ft. 2, C. Bechestein Concert Grand, bought in 1983 brand new, with real Ivory Keys. a Joy to play, the sound is out of this world - action is easy and quick.. I used to own a NY Steinway B, but it would be out of tune before the tuner left the house. My C. Bechestein stays in tune - Should you want to play it and review it, let me know. I live in Central New Jersey. Thanks for reviewing the C. Bechestein - now I know why it sounds so good ! PHIL
C.Bechstein ist meiner Meinung nach die beste Manufaktur weltweit einfach perfekt von der Verarbeitung bis zum Ton mit unglaublich vielen Klangfarben. Gerade der B212 ist mein Favorit und mein Trauminstrument und ich würde ihm jedem Steinway vorziehen . Weil dieses Instrument ist so inspirierend...allerdings würde ich mir dieses Instrument nicht in schwarz kaufen sondern in einem Pyramidenmahagoni Finish hochglanzpoliert weil ich mag es zusehen wie das Holz gewachsen ist.
All I know is this one sounds great. I agree with you about a more natural finish. I prefer satin over high gloss. High gloss black has a certain appeal when it comes to pianos, but a polyester resin finish can dull and oxidize over time.
Quel prix svp
Stellar video, Stu. As always!
Thanks for tuning in! We appreciate it. :)
Hey Stu. Probably the best piano that you shot a video about, thank you very much. If I may ask, is it the one you used to record 'Slow it down' album, which, by the way, is so beautiful. Thank you again for all the reviews and the sweet taste of your music 👍
I bought the smallest Concert Upright from C. Bechstein: 116k Millenium. It sounds absolutely amazing. I testet around 100 uprights and some grands. This small upright sounds better than cheap grands which still blows me away. One day when I'm rich I want a C. Bechstein Concert Grand^^
I couldn't agree more! The C. Bechstein uprights are incredible pianos and even the smaller models like the 116K greatly outperform much taller uprights and even some grands from other manufacturers. It is a testament to the unparalleled craftsmanship and caliber of materials. Enjoy your 116K Millennium until your eventual C. Bechstein Concert grand purchase! ;)
What’s that first song you play during the tone section? It’s amazing!
Beautiful!!
Thank you! :)
Hi Stu thanks for another great video. It would be great if you did a comparison of this model B with a new Hamburg Steinway. Also fascinating would be this model B with a 1920/30s Bechstein B. Well i suppose it is asking for a bit much but it would be super interesting i reckon.
Hi Charles! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the kind words and suggestions! We actually have a 1960s C. Bechstein Model B right now. So, perhaps, a comparison between the "then and now" versions of the model would be an interesting video comparison to tackle. We will do our best to tackle the suggestions you've made. :)
Close. But if you get your hands on one of the all-agraffe Bechstein's, you'll experience a whole new dimension of expressivity. Pity Schulze & Thomma couldn't have retained that feature in one or two of the new models.
At 96.000 € list price (for 2020), this is not entirely what one would call a bargain. But surely worth every penny! The sound is unbevlievably rich and colourful. If you (like me) can't afford one though, look for a used August Förster (post 1990), Rudolf Ibach, or Grotrian-Steinweg. Whilst not at the same level of quality and sound, these are very fine grand pianos for a fraction of the price.
I would argue each of those brands, and even more so each of their respective models have their own voices, not necessarily worse, but different to the modern Bechstein. To say they're not of the same "quality" is really pushing it.
Awesome tone! Love me a very overtoney piano.
I completely agree! The tonal capabilities and immense colour of the C. Bechstein B212 is quite gorgeous and musical! :)
This sounds amazing :o
I’d be intimidated walking up to a piano I blatantly can’t afford (and don’t intend to buy) in a shop and start playing it... I never know how the staff would feel about it..
A video on etiquette and the ‘dos and donts’ in a piano shop would be great! I assume don’t play things you can’t afford for too long?... and not playing boogie woogie next to a member or staff who is trying to sell a piano to a customer!? Any less obvious things??
That is a very good question/video idea indeed! I guess it also greatly depends on the size of the piano shop/the size of the city it is in. As a teenager I used to often go to a small piano store where my parents bought a small upright, and they were always happy to see me even when I was playing on pianos I could probably never afford. But then I guess if you go to shop that you don't know and have never bought anything in, or if the shop is in the middle of NYC or Paris, then unless you show buying interest ...
Very good points! They all make a lot of sense. I've always tried to be friendly and honest with the staff, instead of just sitting down at a really expensive piano without having spoken anyone in there first!
There is one shop I frequently visit (at least I used to before the pandemic) and thankfully they are always encouraging me to play around. They say a good(ish) customer playing their instruments usually attracts people and give them a sense of more objective perception of the instrument.
It may be related to how well you play. They won't kick Yuja Wang off of any piano, no matter what the price.
@@JoeLinux2000 that's also a very solid point... Better get some pieces nailed down instead of the usual rough improv of half a song :/
I am an adult learning piano and would please like to know the title of that classic composition at 15:15. Thank you for the education on the C. Bechstein construction.
You're very welcome! It is on the tip of my tongue right now, but the piece title and composer is escaping me at the moment. Perhaps, one of our helpful community members will be able to chime in and fill in the blank!
@@MerriamPianos Ok Stu, thank you so much for the speedy reply. If do you come across the name of the composition and its composer please let me know. Thank you kindly.
It is Herr Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 8 in D Minor (the Pathétique), II. Adagio cantabile. 💖😊
Question to Stu: how would you compare a Kawai (gx2 or sk2) and a Bechstein of a similar size (not necessarily the concert line)? I mean not in terms of "who wins" but, what are the differences between Japanese and German pianos?
As always, awesome review supported by awesome piano skills !
My opinion is Asian instruments will never equal European and American instruments. The reason being the Asian concept of tone quality is very different. It's an issue to which I have given a lot of thought.
@@JoeLinux2000 At the Chopin Competition in 2015 the Yamaha CF-X was the most popular piano among the contestants, and was ultimately selected by three of the six finalists. So I think it is fair to say that some pretty fine musicians would disagree with you about the quality of Asian instruments.
@@499735 , What I noticed or learned some years ago is that Yamaha is a brand that a lot of institutions and competitions have. Parents buy Yamaha pianos hoping to give their kids an edge in auditions and competitions. If the kids play on a Yamaha at home they will end up playing a Yamaha in the competition, It's understandable. I heard Chick Corea play on a 7 ft Yamaha at the Blue Note in NYC with Bobby McFerrin. The piano was fantastic in all respects, tuning and miking. So yes, they can be good. Gerald Clayton is also a Yamaha artist. But, I still stand by my claim. Steinways have become so expensive, almost no one can afford one. I lot has to do with hammer voicing which Stu is pointing out in this particular video. I like the sound of this Bechstein. It's the real deal.
I totally agree with Internet Privacy. In all the years I've studied and all the pianos along the way, the Japanese pianos have nice actions but no tonal variation in the sound. I hear loud to soft in dynamics but cannot hear different tones like I can achieve playing a Steinway or Bechstein.
I think it isn't always so easy to shrug of a piano manufacturer or a mamufacturing country altogether. I think (for whatever it is worth) Shigeru's are not so far off to C.Bechstein with their vision. They also have very high manufacturing standards and material quality. Even though C.Bechstein is my favorite brand, the Shigeru's (which I also passionately love), imho, can give many European and American pianos a run for their money.
How do you record these piano's? What mic, cable and interface/pre? stereo? What type of stereo miking? Can you compare this piano A/B with the Schimmel K219?
Hi! Brent here! We typically capture our audio with a stereo pair of Rode NT5 microphones in an XY setup. These microphones are running into a Focusrite Scarlett interface and Roland XLR cables. We will do our best to tackle a comparison against the K219 if the opportunity presents. I will pass the suggestion along to our production team. :)
The treble bell's function as described here, was in fact not its primary function when Steinway came up with it. It's a mass coupling system that's there to stop the plate from vibrating too much, therefore robbing the strings of energy. Early pianos (though certainly not all) were notorious for often having weak treble sustain due to vibrating plates and/or rims. Perhaps its use in the Bechstein is different? However, I would not trust Bechstein's own marketing on this matter.
On another note, I think this piano sounds incredible. It's almost too colorful for my taste. It has a real wow factor due to all those harmonics, but all those loud overtones can get tiresome after a while. Melodic lines get very interesting though when even single notes have so much color.
My next piano.
The B212 is a stunning instrument in every respect! :)
It is hands down the best piano in the market. As mentioned on a comment under another video, even the D282 IMHO and for my use is inferior to this. I haven,t played the C.
Is there like a contract that doesn't allow you to compare the new yamaha 700s to the kawai CA??? Just doesn't make sense that you won't do the video the do many people is waiting on.
Two second rate pianos, the truth be known. Play some that are about 10 years old.
The C. Bechstein is a splendid piano. Your demos are interesting, but I have to ask why you never play any classical piano pieces during your demos. Jazz pianists are not the only people interested in C. Bechstein.
Those jazz chords help demonstrate the piano's 'tonal palate'. One can clearly hear the overtones above the primary note being struck.
Reducing his playing to "jazz" is inaccurate, in my opinion. Sure, he plays some jazz. I do think it'd be nice to hear him play a classical piece every once in a while, but not because I'm a devout classical player.
C/ Bechstein grands. To my ears "the best" sounding (my other favororites...Bluthner Model 2, Shimmel 230, Steinway B Hamburg or not...).
But what's so ironic to me is people who CAN afford a 212 or any C Bechstein or other grands costing over $100k have no concept of room acoustics. They just place their grands iagainst a wall in the living room where it looks best. Like furniture. Usually on hardwood floor underneath. No carpet to reduce the sound bouncing off the floor then off the wallls and ceiling. Few if any have "piano rooms" (acoustically treated walls and sound surpressed..so they don't disturb neighbours playing the piano any time of the day or night). Even in C. Bechstein ads and videos...Pianos are placed too close to walls on hardwood floors with no carpeting...because the piano photographs well...maybe that's it...why they played the piano where they did..though that just tells some of the public they don't really know the whole picture about sound...shrug).
Ya let me whip out $164,000
Great Job!
I subbed
I'm doing piano covers on my channel too 😊😊
I want one!!
*My bank account has left the chat 💬
Hi! Brent here! Haha I feel that sentiment too! The B212 is a stunning piano!
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