Bechstein grand pianos Advice to help you choose, buy or restore a Bechstein piano. If you’re thinking of buying a professionally reconditioned Bechstein grand piano then you’re getting a piano with a fine touch, rich tone and aesthetically pleasing cabinet. The most common colours are black and rosewood, and some walnut, with post 1920s ones more often mahogany. Modern and new Bechstein pianos are some of the finest pianos made today. Used ones are mostly bright black.
Recommended secondhand Bechstein grand pianos in the UK: By far the most common are model A, B and V grands, with the most common colours black and rosewood. They vary enormously in quality and in how much they’ve been used. reconditioning can also vary widely. On models A and B the frame is often cracked near the tuning pins. This is a mild manufacturing fault and never causes a problem, though restringing should be done with caution. It is also possible to stitch-weld the frame, though from our experience this only has cosmetic advantage. We carry out this work when restringing.
Description of most common models:
| Model | Size | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| A | 5ft 11″ (180cm) | 1902 – 1930 They are usually found in rosewood or black, earlier ones with turned legs and later with square tapered. The best have a rich, natural and powerful tone |
| B | 6ft 8″ (203cm) | 1902 – 1930 Are commonly found in rosewood or black, earlier ones with turned legs and later with square tapered. The best have a rich, natural and powerful tone |
| V | 6ft 7″ (200cm) | 1890 – 1902 Commonly found in rosewood or black, all with turned legs. The best have a rich, natural and powerful tone. |
| M | 5ft 10″ (177cm) | 1920 – 1938 Commonly found in mahogany or black occasionally in walnut. Excellent grand piano with rich warm tone and powerful bass. |
| L | 5ft 6″ (167cm) | 1920 – 1938 Also known as ‘Lilliput’ model. This shorter Bechstein is one of the best baby grands available with a rich tone and good bass for its size. Commonly found in ebony and mahogany. |
Other models sometimes found from, 1890 to 1902 are Model IV. These have a deep and powerful tone, turned legs and fretted desk, usually with good figured rosewood cases. Other models are less common. Up to about 1902 Bechstein had built 5 sizes of grands; these were known as models I to V (‘Latin’ 1-5) See table below.
| Model | Size | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| I | 9ft (275cm) | |
| II | 8ft 4″ (254cm) | |
| III | 7ft 8″ (234cm) | |
| IV | 7ft 2″ (218cm) | |
| V | 6ft 7″ (200cm) |
From 1902, Bechstein changed the styles and lengths of all grands made, and 5 new models were introduced as listed below E to A.
| Model | Size | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| E | Replaced the ‘I’ above – same length but revised style | |
| D | 8ft 2″ (250cm) | |
| C | 7ft 4″ (225cm) | |
| B | 6ft 8″ (203cm) | |
| A | 5ft 11″ (182cm) | This piano had 85 keys which is not the full 88 keys. |
Foot note: The models ‘V’ & ‘B’ are often confused as they are the same length, the ‘V’, like all earlier grands always had a ‘fish-tail’ style cabinet, whereas the ‘B’ – built after 1902 – did not. During the 1920s demand increased for smaller grands, and in common with most other manufacturers, Bechstein introduced 4 more (smaller) sizes, the K, L, M & S. The models B-E continued to be built.
| Model | Size | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| M | 5ft 10″ (178cm) | Replaced the model A, but instead of having 85 notes it had 88 notes |
| L | 5ft 6″ (168cm) | |
| K | 5ft 1″ (155cm) | |
| S | 4ft 7″ (140cm) | The majority are built in Ebonised (black) or Rosewood cabinets, though Burr Walnut is occasionally found. Mahogany is the more standard wood grain found on post-1920s built instruments, though (non-burr) Walnut and Ebonised cabinets are sometimes found. |
| London Bechstein | 4ft 9″ | Made from about 1920 to 1930 and designed by Max Poser, was thought to have been made by Welmar and has several similarities in construction (information supplied by Alastair Laurence). |
Bechstein upright pianos: If you’re thinking of buying a professionally reconditioned Bechstein upright piano then you’re getting a piano with a fine touch, rich tone and aesthetically pleasing cabinet. The most common colours are rosewood and black, and some walnut. Post 1920s ones are also mahogany.
The most common Bechstein uprights in the UK are:
- Models V and 10 (over 60%)
- Models IV and 9 (25%)
- Models III and 8 (10%)
- Other Models (5%)
| Model | height | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| I | 57 ½” (145cm) | With 88 notes, normally found in Rosewood or Ebonised (black).- Model II 54½in (138cm) tall with 88 notes usually available in Rosewood or Ebonised. |
| II | 54 ½” (138cm) | 88 notes commonly available in Rosewood or Ebonised |
| III | 50″ (127cm) | 88 notes and is available in Rosewood, Ebonised, Walnut and Maple |
| IV | 48″ (122cm) | 85 notes and is Bechstein’s smaller overstrung model, and available in various woods. |
| V | 50″ (127cm) | 85 notes and is Bechstein’s straight-strung model, usually available in Ebonised or Rosewood, often with inlaid marquetry. Post 1902 |
| 6 | 57 ½” (145cm) | 88 notes, usually found in Rosewood or Ebonised (black). |
| 7 | 54 ½” (138cm) | 88 notes usually available in Rosewood or Ebony. |
| 8 | 50″ (127cm) | 88 notes and is available in Rosewood, Ebonised, Walnut and Maple. |
| 9 | 48″ (122cm) | 85 notes and is Bechstein’s smaller overstrung model, and available in various woods. Small piano with Good all round tone. We usually have two or three in stock |
| 10 | 50″ (127cm) | 85 notes and is Bechstein’s straight-strung model, usually available in Ebonised or Rosewood. Pleasing warm mellow tone. We usually have two or three in . |
Important Models I to V (pre 1902) generally need a new wrest-plank as the tuning pins go loose with central heating. With restringing this work costs £3000+VAT. Reconditioned Models 6 to 10 generally don’t need this doing, though it would be an improvement.