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I’ve stayed away from this forum for the past few months due to the constant berating of the hybrid issue. I can accept it’s NOT a hybrid and let’s move on from there.

The instrument still gives me pleasure to play and I’ve found some great scene settings that really do well for me. The big challenge was creating the scene settings that best showed off the instrument for different styles of music. A major choice is the hall acoustic. Selecting this improves the decay note issue. But I found that playing a single note in the upper register often had an untrue sounding note. It would sound a little shaky or wavy (sorry I can’t perfectly describe it). Then I found that happened due to settings in other areas being just lightly too high. There is SO MUCH customization allowed that you need to be a technician to really create the sound you want to hear. Even the setting of how much the lid is opened affects not only the volume, but the tone as well. I like the lid-removed setting on almost every instance.

To the horror of most members here I did not try ANY other brand of DP. This is wholly due to C. Bechstein. This is the piano I’ve always wanted to have in my living room. Nothing could top it for me regardless of the action possibly being better or any other reason. There is nothing like playing Debussy on a Bechstein, IMO. I can make this DP sound “almost” like the Bechstein I’ve always wanted, not exactly, but close enough. The Steinway sound is just okay, but I haven’t gone through the tweaking process as I’ve done with the Bechstein setting. I don’t really care for the sampling for the Bösendorfer. It’s not like my grandmother’s Bösendorfer. Here’s the surprising thing that occurred.

The entire family came to hear and see the new piano and were COMPLETELY shocked to see a DP in my living room. Nobody liked it at all! I told everyone that I got a Bechstein, but not that it is digital. For many years I said that when I retire (just turned 65) that I would get a Bechstein. I tried showing off the Casio but to no avail. Most of them have Steinway grands because they were raised here in the States. I went back and forth growing up from the US to Europe. I studied with Geza Anda in Switzerland and also studied in Salzburg.

The final result is that I am now in the market for a real Bechstein grand piano. I happen to be going to Berlin in a few weeks and will go to their main showroom. Bechsteins are very difficult to find in my area but can be shipped from Germany. I’ve already contacted the shop and will let you know the outcomes. But in the meantime I will enjoy my Casio.

Cool Tenor1. Glad you found a piano sound/make that you love. Who could argue with that.

Best of luck finding one that speaks to you

Thanks for the update. Please make and post pictures of the trip(If they allow)

Would love to see that.

Also can you share the setting I would love to try it.

Sorry to hear the family wasn't taken by the Casio. Sounds like they may have felt a bit deceived when you pumped up your new piano as a Bechstein, which they assumed was an acoustic grand. IMO you set expectations pretty high with that, so there was nowhere to go but down when they saw the DP in person.

Just curious, are you looking for a real Bechstein for them, or for yourself? From reading your account I get the sense that you're fully satisfied with the Casio, but your family's opinions are an important part of your piano owning decision, so you're doing this to satisfy them?

I'm confused. You talk about how much you love your DP, yet as soon as your family discovers that it's a DP and thus don't seem interested in it, you suddenly have a change of heart, and now need to go out and buy yourself a grand piano? It seems to me that you should be able to have what you want, rather than what your family wants you to have.

+1!

We have a family ski house and everyone would like the Casio to reside in it. It’s really a win/win for everyone. But I will really miss playing with headphones. I think the sound is a little better through them and I can play anytime without disturbing anyone. I won’t feel compromised getting a Bechstein grand. I’ll grin and bare it. My concern is the size. The room is almost 50” x 24 feet so something between 6-7 foot would do nicely.

Sorry to hear the family wasn't taken by the Casio. Sounds like they may have felt a bit deceived when you pumped up your new piano as a Bechstein, which they assumed was an acoustic grand. IMO you set expectations pretty high with that, so there was nowhere to go but down when they saw the DP in person.

Just curious, are you looking for a real Bechstein for them, or for yourself? From reading your account I get the sense that you're fully satisfied with the Casio, but your family's opinions are an important part of your piano owning decision, so you're doing this to satisfy them?[/quote]

Here are settings that I like for Debussy, using the mellow Berlin and mellow Hamburg.

Hammer Response (D)
Lid Simulator (Removed)
Damper Resonance (2)
Damper Noise (D)
String Resonance (4)
Open String Resonance (2)
Aliquot (3)
Pedal Action Noise (D)
Key Action Noise (D)

Hall Simulator (Dutch Church)

Just got mine a couple of weeks ago so will def give this a try!

Did you really study with Geza Anda, how cool! How was he as a teacher?

That sounds like a perfect April Fools trick to pull on family members... I think it's hilarious; I hope you were able to find the humor in your action, your family's reactions and not be too offended

If you're 65, have loved Bechstein grands all your life, have the room for one, can afford one, I'd say go for it and smile from ear to ear every morning when you wake up. If you want to put the Casio in the same room so you can just swing your legs around the bench to switch between pianos, even better and If you're buying a Bechstein grand partly because of your family, that's ok too!!!

+1!

Funny what you remember after so many years. He was very kind and I loved taking the train to his home. He was intense about making everything musical, even scales. I remember it was very difficult to play scales perfectly even, smooth and quiet. He was pretty tough when it came to lessons.

Oh dear!

You REALLY told them you'd got a Bechstein, without qualifying that statement in any way?

By your logic any DP that has a Bechstein voice onboard is a Bechstein, right? That means anyone with a Korg GrandStage owns a Bechstein. Or anyone that is playing the PianoTeq Bechstein model owns a Bechstein.

I think you were the cause of their shock and disappointment, not the poor little Casio.

Enjoy your trip to Berlin but there are some very fine used and/or fully restored Bechsteins out there. Some of the best are in the UK because outside of Germany Britain was Bechstein's biggest market by far until the 1920s. Their success in Britain would probably have continued had certain members of the Bechstein family not aligned themselves so closely with Hitler.

Although not at all common in the USA there will be a used Bechstein or two on the market in America, I have no doubt. I am sure Bechstein sells their new pianos through authorised dealers in the USA too.

Good luck in your search for a nice Bechstein grand. I enjoy mine very much indeed although I have no doubt at all that your musicianship skills will far far outweigh my meagre talents!

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/msg/d/los-angeles-bechstein-model-grand-piano/7016800534.html

Here's a 1912 6'8" Beckstein in great condition for sale in the LA area.

Thanks I contacted the sellers.

I hope everything works out for you!