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The expensive Jansen leather benches with the dialup feature..
and even the Jansen imitators as well, the Hidrau contemporary
style bench you can see the raise/lower handles visible,and when you jack it up the aluminum rails show that aren't black
like the legs..a cosmetic turnoff...esthetics do matter!

Hi Bob,

Here's a photo of a Jansen Artist Bench. I would call that skirted, as is the Frederick.

When you raise the seat can the audience see the gap when the seat is dialed up?

In most cases, I wouldn't think so. I have never noticed it to be the case in concerto or recital performance. It would all depend on the height required by the pianist. In the USA, chances are that the piano will be Steinway and the bench a Jansen.

Have you noticed a gap when attending a performance?

I don't know if this is a Jansen bench.. it gives it a cheap/cheesy appearance. The gap needs to be covered regardless of the maker of the bench..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXPI64P33y4

Bob,

Here's a bench which would seem to indicate what you are visualizing.



Usually these are not referred to as an "artist" bench.

Yup, I have one of those, and I could say, it can get worse than that. Yes much worse. I finally took the screws from my bench to ACE Hardware, ask them what could I do to keep these things in because every time someone adjust the bench, the screws fall out. The guys looked at it and said, how about glue it in. OK, good idea. I did that, and now they are staying in, but the bench still wobble a little. Here's the worse part, the ACE guys said "the screws are all bent, look like a lot of weight, you need a bigger screw." Wow, that's not happening, since a bigger screw won't fit the mechanism and it's already as long as it could be without going through the side of the bench. Cheap design.

I recent found my $200 bench (from local store) on alibaba.com from Chinese distributor for less than $35, as low as $1 with minimum order of 3000. I also found it at another Internet merchant for about $95. Hopefully the current intervention will last long enough for me to save for something good. I'm so tired of this cheap stuff. I'm ready for over engineered. Just have to get through maybe another year with my current piece of xxxx.

I like that 'non-artist' bench with the gap. It looks like the hovercraft of benches. Almost supernatural.

LOL

Marty, you are one of the funniest and most self-effacing people I know! Even on line.

Thanks Greg!