Welcome to the Piano World Piano Forums Over 3 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments. Over 100,000 members from around the world.
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!
I would also expect the bass strings on 230VC to be substantially longer than 225. 225's strings are only as long as typical pianos around 214cm / 7', and 290's strings are only as long as typical concert grands of 272-280cm (around 9')
Ken - I am not sure where you got your information, but the 225 #1 bass string (the lowest note, which is an "f") is 69.3" (this is four notes below the standard low 'a"). By the way, the standard lowest note, the "a", on a Bosie 225 is 68". In comparison a Steinway B's lowest note is is only 59 1/4".
Keep in mind, the wider piano offers an opportunity for a steeper cross stringing while still preserving a nice back scale on the 225.
I love the sound of all of the VC models on the recordings I've heard. The 214VC that I actually tried when I was piano-shopping seemed way too bright in person (in fairness, that was immediately after playing the relatively mellow 225 that we ended up buying) but I would bet that was just a matter of the preparation of that particular piano at that particular store. Not that we could have afforded a new 214VC in any case!
On a separate note, and it's purely vanity, but I miss the sharper corner in the cabinet from the 290/225 in the new 280VC/230VC, lol.
... the 225 #1 bass string (the lowest note, which is an "f") is 69.3" (this is four notes below the standard low 'a"). By the way, the standard lowest note, the "a", on a Bosie 225 is 68". In comparison a Steinway B's lowest note is is only 59 1/4".
Just to clarify, are these speaking lengths?
Ian Russell Schiedmayer & Soehne, 1925 Model 14, 140cm Ibach, 1905 F-IV, 235cm
Its a lovely piano. Very similar to the 225 which I know well, without the extra bass notes. Some people are bothered by those extra notes, so the 230VC is a nice alternative. I imagined the 225 has a bit more low resonance - but that might have just b been my expectation, and not reality. Ive only played one so far in Europe - no idea about availability in US ... but Id want to play several if I was in the market. I played 5 Bosendorfer 225s before I found the one that spoke to me. Just sayin ...
A mild digression, but still a Bosendorfer - a 280-VC and a Steinway D. Both are stupendous instruments. The piece is Philip Glass Etude No. 20, played in both cases by Maki Namekawa. The first is on the Steinway D
The second is on the Bosendorfer. The video includes etude no. 9, and no. 20 kicks in at about 3:05.
Have fun. What say you?
fine grand piano custom rebuilding, piano technician and tuner
At first the sonorities of the Steinway appealed but then the precision and clarity of the Bosendorfer captivated, not to mention that dress. What do do you think?
Ian Russell Schiedmayer & Soehne, 1925 Model 14, 140cm Ibach, 1905 F-IV, 235cm
The clarity of the bass won out for me with the Bosendorfer, as did the clarity and singing quality of the treble. It is quite a remarkable instrument, and it serves Glass's music well. The Steinway is remarkable in its own way, but stands in the shadow of a better instrument.
I have heard Maki Namekawa's music elsewhere, and she is a true force of nature who brings expression to his music in a way that I have not heard from others. He has written a piano sonata for her, so he must like her playing. :-)
fine grand piano custom rebuilding, piano technician and tuner
The clarity of the bass won out for me with the Bosendorfer, as did the clarity and singing quality of the treble. It is quite a remarkable instrument, and it serves Glass's music well. The Steinway is remarkable in its own way, but stands in the shadow of a better instrument.
I have heard Maki Namekawa's music elsewhere, and she is a true force of nature who brings expression to his music in a way that I have not heard from others. He has written a piano sonata for her, so he must like her playing. :-)
I haven't watched those videos above as I'm at work. But the Steinway would be a more powerful instrument, which would probably make it more suitable for a concert particularly with an orchestra. This is true even of the VC variants which are supposed to be more powerful, but clearly lag Steinway/Yamaha. Bosendorfers have always been the most beautiful piano, but it's mainly because of the treble. The bass and tenor are much less special IMO. Still, the treble is where you play the melody.
RobAC, Not to start an argument, I heard "Music is both 'intuitive' and universal."
"Imagine it in all its primatic colorings, its counterpart in our souls - our souls that are great pianos whose strings, of honey and of steel, the divisions of the rainbow set twanging, loosing on the air great novels of adventure!" - William Carlos Williams
