Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Jansen Artist Bench--Leather Vs. Vinyl + $ ?

Only at PW could we find a 20 post discussion of leather vs. vinyl artist benches! Has anyone ever tried telling a non pianist friend about some ot the topic threads?

I think most would roll their eyes!

Yeah, but you should see some of the topics on any car site!

I just want to suggest that the European benches are lighter than the Jansen, surely last as long, and come in more sizes and types. They are the benches which are usually sold with the very finest European pianos and are shown in all of their pictures. The most common European brand is Discacciati from Italy. See our store or do a Google search. Several stores sell them in the US. http://www.discacciati-erminio.com/eng/gambeSmon.htm

Hi Deborah,...

There's no skirt on the bench so yes there's a gap when the seat is raised.

I'm not sure how deep the padding is,... but the upholstered portion of my bench that's raised by the mechanism is about 4 inches thick,... maybe others can provide
the same info for the regular bench for you to compare,...

Regards,

Robert

I happen to have both the vinyl version (that came with the S&S about 1.5 years ago), and the leather version (I bought from Jansen about 8 years ago). Here is a quick summary:

- Appearance: I can hardly tell the difference, but for the S&S emblem on the turning knobs on the vinyl version. They look virtually identical

- Comfort: the leather is slightly softer than the vinyl, and I (fat and heavy) can feel some differences. However my youngest son (who has a tender behind) swears that the difference is day and night, with the leather being much better. In fact he often cuts short his practice time if he has to sit on the vinyl version for more than an hour, using the hard surface as an excuse.

- Longevity: Too soon to tell, as both look just like new.

- Both are much sturdier and better in construction than other cheaper adjustable benches. I have another adjustable bench (Japanese made) about 8 years old, it is already quite wobbly and won’t last much longer, despite my diligent maintenance (periodic cleaning and greasing of the mechanism). So if I were to buy another bench, I will buy the Jansen only, and probably leather.

I have a Jensen artist bench in vinyl that came with my Estonia 190 ("Laul Estonia" name in the turning knobs). It's heavy enough that I certainly wouldn't want to be regularly having to move a duet bench of the same quality.

For duets, I have a second seat, a height-adjustable piano chair (polished ebony with marroon vinyl seat) for which I paid only $125.00 and which I place beside the artist bench when I need it for duets. Piano chair My one duet partner likes a very low seat, while I like a relatively high seat; this solves that dilemma. Otherwise, the chair sits in my foyer as a convenenience for those putting on or removing shoes. I prefer the convenience of a regular single bench at the piano 98.736% of the time as well as the convenience of an extra chair - wherever needed - that serves as a regular chair and doubles as an adjustable piano chair. At today's prices, it seems to be no more expensive to have the two than it would be to purchase a Jansen duet bench.

Regards,

Hi BruceD - Is the cushion on the adjustable piano chair in your link removable? Is the mechanism sturdy? Thanks!

I had Jansen make me a duet bench in high-gloss walnut w/ fluted legs in order to match (as best as possible) my Bluthner.

After looking carefully at the options, I ordered it with chocolate leather. I love the bench. It is heavy as all get out but it is rock solid, beautiful and very comfortable. The leather is soft but thick.

Jansen really knows how to build a bench!

I guess I'm late to this post but fwiw one of my few regrets with my piano purchase was to have not at least inquired about a leather seat for the artist bench that came with the piano. I just find the vinyl seat can be less comfortable when I'm wearing shorts and the bare skin of my legs is actually pressed against the vinyl. I don't know for sure but I'm assuming this would be less of an issue with a leather seat. I'll be happy if someone tells me this actually isn't the case. It will save me from making an unnecessary purchase, in the event I ever were to get around to actually buying another bench.

To nycplayer:

There's another PW regular named Kenny (surprised he hasn't posted to this thread) who shares your distaste for the vinyl top...sold one like that in order to get a leather one. And for the same reason, getting sweaty when in shorts.

I have a vinyl top and it doesn't bother me, even in shorts. It could just be that different people have different tolerances. Another remedy (I'm only half-kidding) might be to buy some longer shorts!

Shorts or longer shorts or pants on summer days make no difference - the vinyl still gets to be sweaty and uncomfortable, and this is with the air conditioning going. It must be the general humidity in the air and it affects certain people. I have never had this problem any time of year with my Jansen leather bench. It was an unexpected benefit of buying their higher quality bench, and it can add an hour or two of practice time on certain days.

That's very true. I would have gotten leather, too, if the bench hadn't have come with the piano! One day I plan to get a Jansen duet bench in leather for my piano. There's one down at the local Steinway store that is just heavenly to sit on, solid, and with plenty of room on top.

My duet leather bench from Jansen arrived last night. Yeh! This is what I saw and felt putting it side by side with the single vinyl bench made for Astonia which was sent as the temporary seat from the dealer.
1. The leather Jansen looks muted in color on the seat and the vinyl looks a little shinner.
2. The leather Jansen's seat surface is hard and the single vinyl one is softer. The difference is a little similar to that you feel when comparing hard and soft mattresses.
3. The leather one is warmer as I felt the vinyl one a little cold when I first sat in.
Having said that, they are both solid, rommy, and elegant!
We imagined that this duet bench would be useful for our girl when her teacher or duet player come but never thought my husband and I were the first to enjoy: we for the first time sat togehter, instead of one in bench one in a sofa far away or moving a chair close by, singing our favarite hymns last night. We felt so close to each other:-)

I have never had the vinyl feel sweaty on even the hottest or most humid summer days whether I wear shorts or long pants. So I would guess this varies for each person. I do have AC.

There is a lengthy and very positive review of a Murray Perahia Carnegie Hall recital in today's Times. Perhaps someone with an account can post it.

Here's a link to the very positive NY Times review of Murray Perahia's Lincoln Center performance Tuesday evening. I've also attached a link to an equally glowing Boston Globe review of his recent Symphony Hall concert.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/arts/music/02murr.html?scp=2&sq=murray%20perahia&st=cse

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/04/01/a_pianist_at_the_top_of_his_game/

I'm perplexed as to how this post got combined with one on piano benches. Maybe I should have started a new thread.

Yeah, a little confusion over topics going on ...

If anyone wants to comment further about Perahia reviews, there's an active thread over in the Pianists Corner. (nycplayer, I bet they'll want to see your link to the Boston review over there, if you haven't already added it to that thread.)

Sophie :

No, the cushion on the adjustable piano chair is not removable, as it's not really a cushion but a padded seat. The mechanism is sturdy enough that this type of chair is used in many of the teachers' studios and Conservatory practice and performance rooms here. I could add that there are some pretty portly piano players who use these chairs, too, over the years.

Regards,

Thanks for the info!

My bad. I must have been thinking about starting a thread while I was reading this post.