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The former Steinway dealer in WNY that is now a Kawai dealer has taken delivery of Bechstein. The location in the Buffalo area had 2 grands (A175 and A208 I think) but they have had no dealer prep yet.

I played them anyway... and headed right back to the Kawai SK5. The Bechsteins were good for Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert maybe, but the warm mellowness of the Shigeru appealed to me more. I'll go back again in a few weeks to see if they Bechsteins match better with my playing after they have settled in.

I would say that the Academy Bechstein pianos are not in the same league as C.Bechstein or Shigeru Kawai. It will be interesting for you to return in a few weeks and make another comparison then.

Regards,
Robert.

Keep in mind that the A175 and A208 models are of the mid-level Bechstein line. (This line can be called either "Bechstein" or "C. Bechstein Academy", depending on the vintage of the pianos.)

The "C. Bechstein" or "C. Bechstein Concert" models are the flagship line. See if you can try some of them when you return to the dealer.

I recently played a new C. Bechstein grand (L 167), their smallest. Absolutely stunning. Of course not a 7 foot bass, but a wonderful and balanced instrument that I would be happy with for the rest of my life. Can only imagine the rest of the models.

Thanks for the heads-up, Peter! I was just reading through the Bechstein website and I'm kind of drooling. I'll have to stop in Denton's this weekend and see which ones they have. Why do I torture myself like this, LOL?? It's just so exciting to be able to play these wonderful instruments here!

I think playing the sk5 was a mistake. I really can't stop thinking about it. Need to start playing the lottery now.

Oh dear, you're where I was a week and a half ago! That situation ended up with me buying said piano, LOL. It really is a form of torture!

The worst part is that I just bought my Baldwin M a little over a year ago. My family thinks I'm crazy for still going around playing these other pianos.

Pianos can always be traded, LOL! Not that I mean anything by that....

Totally understand where you're coming from, I'm exactly the same.

Peter:

Don't be too hard on yourself. I sometimes think that all of us who play Classical pieces on the piano are a bit crazy to begin with!

It's not just the Classical folks! I don't know too many piano players who don't love to go out an experiment with pianos, anywhere and any time. I did it just this last weekend. I played all makes and models even though I've got a beautiful NY S&S B just waiting on me at home.

Well, I just ordered my mulch from the nursery next door to Denton's so I really have no choice but to go pre-pay it, and then OF COURSE stop in and see the Bechsteins! Happy Friday, everyone!

Of course. You need to help break them in so they play nicely when other come in to shop!

Make sure you report back on your impressions. I'm curious if they have had a chance to do any prep on them yet.

You should try the white Baldwin M that they have in the front - I think that instrument sounds a lot better than it looks, but I am very partial to Baldwins.

I had a Baldwin R a couple years ago, but it was way too big for my room and overwhelmed everything. Sadly, I ended up selling it. I don't think I can accommodate a grand properly in my house. The Baldwins have a lovely sound and the action on my old R was very good! I saw the white one when I was there last week.

It's a tough job but somebody has to do it, LOL!

I had to do that on a nice Steinway D last weekend. Man, was that torture. Hahahaha!