Are there any bosendorfer dealers/showrooms around Williamsport or central PA? I've been searching and not coming up with much.

Cunningham's in Philly is likely the closest.

And the best!!!!

Thats unfortunate, I only have time to travel an hour or so, ill have to do it later in the year if thats the closest. There is a large steinway dealer within 15 mins of me, but I really wanted to try a bosendorfer haha.

a trip to Cunningham's would be valuable on many levels.

Well for us it would be about a 10 hour drive to try a Bosendorfer. So consider yourself lucky.

Dan

I agree with the posters above who suggest that you go to Cunningham Piano Co. in Philadelphia. It is more than worth the trip, especially if you are considering Bosendorfer--and you should try Mason and Hamlin too. In the grand scheme of things, it is not all that far. . . .:)

I was told that Yamaha bought Bosendorfer and after the 5 year period they will cease making the brand. Is it true at all?

Dear Zoop,

You are terribly misinformed. That would not make any sense.

Interestingly, one of Yamaha Corporate's first moves was to buy a factory that Bosendorfer had been leasing for years. This was an expensive endevour and would only pay off if Yamaha Corporate intended to keep the brand in this facility long-term.

Another move was to bring a number of older stock fancy cabinet pianos back from all over the world to Vienna to make them absolutely perfect again. This was also not cheap and, IMHO, unnecessary if you are buying a brand to close its shop.

Lastly, I spent a full day with Yoshichika Sakai, the present director of Bosendorfer, when I spent time there last summer.

Mr. Sakai shared that Yamaha Corporate sees the strength of the Bosendorfer brand and understands its power. He also shared that Yamaha Corporate understands that making a change that might compromise any quality of the Bosendorfer product could potentially devastate their investment and they will not do that.

Please note that I keep mentioning Yamaha Corporate. This is because the only connection between the Yamaha piano division and Bosendorfer is that they have a common parent company. Mr. Sakai is NOT a piano man. He was chosen from outside of the piano division intentionally. This way he would not have a skewed perception of either the Bosendorfer or Yamaha brand and would not make a decision that was tainted with bias. He has absolutely no piano experience but is a trusted manager on the corporate level.

Yamaha has been good for Bosendorfer and they have truly invested in the company and the brand. They do have definite plans and intentions, but to simply end production after five years is not among them.

I hope that was helpful,

Here is a picture I dug up in the Bosendorfer quad:



Pictured from left: Kurt Weissman, Mr. Sakai, Me, Beth Wymer

Thanks for clearing that up. My local dealer told me flat out Bosendorfer was gone and Yamaha was shutting them down soon.

Thanks for clearing that up. My local dealer told me flat out Bosendorfer was gone and Yamaha was shutting them down soon.

Mike (Yoshichika) Sakai was MD of Yamaha Music UK before his move to Bösendorfer. When he left the UK, he emphasised that Yamaha Corporation see Bösendorfer as an entirely different product from Yamaha pianos, giving them a foothold in a different market (as is obvious from the "hard, modern" Japanese versus "melodic, traditional" European sound debate on this site)as well as an insight into the European piano building traditions and providing an opportunity for both brands to learn from and compliment each other. As such, they have no intention of killing off Bösendorfer in the hope to increase the market share of Yamaha Pianos.

Hey, if Bosendorfer can survive being owned by Kimble for all those years and remain at the top of the quality food chain, certianly Yamaha can preserve their reputation. It makes no more sense to turn Bosendorfer into a Yamadorfer as it would have for Kimble to turn the Bosendorfer into a Kimbldorfer.

It is quite a shame, really. The acquisition really tarnished the Bosendorfer brand.

I was in love with Bosendorfer for the longest time, and when the time comes for me to buy one, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Shaking my head, lol. How has it been tarnished? Nothing has changed. Other brands(Steinway, M&H)have changed hands over the years. Are they tarnished too?

Yamaha doesn't even compete with Bosie. It's a perfect match.

How? I remember the Bosies I played from 20 years ago. The magic is gone.

Several of the top people at Bosendorfer left to focus on the Brodmann pianos.

Jeepers, I fail to understand the Bosendorfer bashing. They build a super nice piano. I fell in love with a CS200 that Rich had this past spring. It was just out of my price range or it would be in my living room now.

And anyone who knows anything about the way Yamaha works understands they don't cheapen anything. They build a great piano. Frankly I liked the idea that Yamaha bought Bosendorfer as I am sure they are going to keep doing it right.

Yes, by all means visit Rich.

What Stevester said!!!!

They had plans and intentions alright. The good folks from Bosie NY can elaborate them in detail.

I do hope someone elaborates on this!

Marcus

Long story Oz.

Distribution changes happen all the time in this business for a variety of reasons. This includes dealers changing lines as well as mfg's changing dealers. Just because something seems obvious doesn't mean that it is.

post deleted - intended as a PM.

Most european dealers, except Germany and other one I think, will be gone for next 2010 year, switching the business to local Yamaha wholesalers. That will be a quite different approach to the market passing from the final customer to the retailer, which will open a door for future much cheaper instruments.

Rich said, "Interestingly, one of Yamaha Corporate's first moves was to buy a factory that Bosendorfer had been leasing for years. This was an expensive endevour and would only pay off if Yamaha Corporate intended to keep the brand in this facility long-term."

It was my understanding that Bösendorfer always owned the factory (and its contents), just that Yamaha capital allowed them to purchase the land it was on (which they had been leasing)...

Jeff said:


Yes, you are correct Jeff. It was a purchase of land that had been leased. Thank you for the clarification.

What a sad thread. The innuedo here has no supporting facts whatsoever and looks like warmed over FUD.

Bosendorfer's, while they may not be for everyone are remarkable pianos and a three hour trip is nothing for someone seriously evaluating one. Rich at Cunningham's is just an added bonus to round out the experience and make it worth the trip.

As an outsider it seems to me that Bosendorfer is in very good hands. If one reads the strategic vision and capabilities of the various companies that were looking to acquire you would see how it all makes sense.

Father,

Aside from the usual fluff, has Yamaha detailed how Bosendorfer fits into its strategic vision? If so, could you provide a link?