Hello! I am building up a high class studio in Norway based on the console SSL AWS 900+. I need a high class grand piano and are wondering if any of you have something to say about the new C.Bechstein B212 up against S&S B211 and Yamaha S6.

TomJ :

I have never played a C. Bechstein before neither a Yamaha S6. I played a Steinway B and also some Yamaha C series and a Yamaha CFIIIS. I assume S6 has similar or equal touch as the CFIIIS.

If it is for a studio, perhaps you need to consider the Yamaha, as its touch is one of the best in the world and preferred by many people.

Just an extra info, from Larry Fine's latest supplement, C. Bechstein is the most expensive while Yamaha S6B is the least expensive. Steinway B is few k more expensive than the Yamaha.

To choose, I will go for the Yamaha. The touch (of a CFIIIS) is superb and I don't think many can surpass it! S6B should perform nearly as well as the CF in term of touch. (Anyway, I believe I am biased.)

These are three great pianos with quite different personalities that should make very different impressions on you as you play them and get to know them. Have you tried them out yet?

My personal preference is for the S&S B as I find the Bechstein generally too bright and the Yamaha not as colorful. It's really a matter of personal taste at this level of instrument quality, however. All of them have great actions and in proper regulation should be beautifully controllable.

These three pianos are all very fine instruments however they each have a rather distinctive sound. The S6 is one of the best "Asian-scaled" instruments, the C. Bechstein one of the best "European-scaled" instruments, and the Steinway is, well a Steinway. (I assume you are considering a Hamburg Steinway as opposed to the US-made models.)

You and your acoustic engineer should evaluate all three. Remember to evaluate the performance of each piano using varying touch is each register. Also, consider what kind of music you will be recording for the most part and factor that into you evaluation.

IMHO, you will find the C. Bechstein worth every Euro of the difference in price. But then again, I am predjudiced!

Hi again! I have not played the C.Bechstein B212 yet but i've played a brand new S6 and 1980 mod. S&S B211 in a store in Copenhagen. I think the S&S was in a higher division than the S6, but the S6 was also good. I look forward to play the C.B B212 in a couple of weeks because it's new constructed and they say so much good things about it.

The music we mostly shall record with the grand is jazz and classics (chamber music - piano and song - piano and fiddle, etc..).

TomJ

Steve Cohen gave good advice: pianos often sound different when being recorded - another factor to perhaps consider in your case!

And don't forget the all important tuner/ technician...

Norbert

With pianos of a similar class, just play them and listen with an open mind. One piano will always appeal to you more than the others.
Good luck,
Robert.

Thank you all for good advices.

Tom J.

Hi. I recently played a Steinway B (NY) and a C. Bechstein C234 and B212. I have not played the Yamaha. The Steinway was good, but not inspiring. The C. Bechstein was amazing. I could imagine it saying to me "what do you want me to sound like today, sir?" the touch was fantastic, very light and even. the voicing was wonderful. I could voice chords or melody/accompaniment with great ease. I really enjoyed this piano. I have a Schimmel, which I place below the C. Bechstein and above the Steinway, and I also truly enjoy it as well.

Hello Allan T.
Thank you for your nice words about the new C.Bechstein B212. What you say is just the same as my salesman Trond Hellstrøm and the factory says. If I will feel the same as you when I play on it, the B212 will be the grand piano in my new studio. No doubt about that. I will report to the forum in 4-5 weeks. Have a nice day!
Tom J.

Not trolling but in my personal opinion, Yamaha tried to hard so I would stick with a tier 1 name like Bechstein or S&S, I have played the S6 and it wasnt the $80000 piano of my dreams.

Is there anyone besides me that think that colorful and rich pianos record better?
It is as if the tone needs an extra boost of rich overtones to get an attractive imprint on a CD.
I have yet to find either a Bösendorfer or Blüthner recording that match the best Steinway recordings.

My Steingraeber upright, for instance, record at least as good as my Blüthner grands. In real life however, I prefer my Blüthners.

Hello piano friends! I promised you some weeks ago to report back to you about my testing for a new grand to my studio in Norway. Well, here is my report:

We have tested and recorded four grands; Yamaha S6, C.Bechstein B212, Bosendorfer 214 and Shigeru Kawai 212. We have also played on the Yamaha C7, Schimmel K213 and S&SB211 (but we found it unnecessary to record these two grands). We used a Zoom H4 and two Neumann KM 184 microphones in the recordings.

Our conclusions? The new C.Bechstein B212 stands in a class above the others! No doubt about that. It sounds very very warm and beautiful, the voicing is incredible and it has a power and length in the tones that none of the others can reach.

Big words? Yes, to say this may be big words, but I recommend you all to go and try for yourselves. I’ll think this grand must be the best grand in its class in the world. It is very very perfect for acoustic jazz- and classical recordings!

In two weeks this grand will come to our studio!

Regards from Tom in Norway

That is fantastic! We thought very highly of the 192 C Bechstein we recently tried.

Dan

wow! I am so very envious of you man! I believe you made it very easy for many people who might be in an extreme confused state. because you actually tested them and recorded them and heard the result. and I am totally with the idea that always go for the best possible piano you can, coz that might be with you throughout your life, and mostly it is a one time buying thing for most people.
Goodluck in all your musical endeavours!

Congrats, I'm jealous that you even had some Bechstein's to try out (they are rare indeed in my neck of the woods). We found only one that was used and in a bad state of repair, but yet it had a wonderful tone that belied it's appearance. Perhaps when the piano bug bites again we'll put more effort into tracking down some Bechsteins (i.e. we'll be willing to travel further). I think Steve's subliminal tactics are starting to take effect.

Recording the pianos you were trying was an excellent idea. We did the exact same thing when we went shopping (Zoom H4 as well) and it helped a lot to be able to sit and listen to the recordings side by side since we were not able to physically try the pianos side by side.

I'm not in the least surprised!

While the S6 and the B are very fine instruments, IMHO they don't have the tonality of the Bechstein.

It is a more costly construction, but to those who want a very broad "tonal palette", there is nothing like a C. Bechstein.

[Disclaimer: I am a consultant to Bechstein America.]

Tom, in case you check back to this thread, I think I speak for many people when I say that if you still have your test recordings of the four grands, we'd love for you to post them!

Houston Piano has a really incredible Bechstein 7'7". You might want to visit the store sometime and try it out.

I'm still drooling about that Bechstein 7'7".
I hate myself for not being wealthy enough to buy it right away.