This channel is the absolute best when it comes to reviewing and describing pianos. Stu does such an incredible job explaining and playing the pianos (that I will more than likely never play) that I watch every single one. It would be great to visit Merriam Music one day.

@Radiatoron88

2 жыл бұрын

It's sad that great pianos are beyond the reach of music lovers who aren't wealthy. Like you, I will more than likely never get to play pianos like these, or at least not for more than a rental hour or so at some studio (if I'm lucky enough to find such a piano at an affordable studio, that is).

C. Bechstein L167 - Incredible beauty of tone and the loveliest playing to match! Thank you!

00:00 Intro 00:48 Playing Steinway M 01:23 Playing Bechstein L 167 02:00 Overview 06:00 Playing Steinway M 08:28 Playing Bechstein L 167 10:12 Differences 23:35 Steinway Bass 24:43 Bechstein Bass 26:31 Bechstein Mid 28:37 Steinway Mid 29:45 Bechstein Treble 30:54 Steinway Treble 32:25 Summary 33:56 Like, Subscribe & Share This kind of comparison side by side teaches me to listen to the music more "consciously", it's a kind of remote academy. ... Microphones clearly explained, lovely sound impressions and positive vibe that makes me already waiting for the next episode :-) ... 14:31 proper shot in a good place, this stuff will be watched by many generations, so smile to the future ;-) ... Bob Ross was here...

Wow. the Bechstein midrange is just amazing.

The Bechstein's tone is knocking me out.

Good Lord, the Bechstein is just GORGEOUS…No contest…I know what I'd buy, as I did before this great video…And I state that in the context of having the privilege (through my work) of playing amazing grand pianos in legendary studios.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

The Concert Bechstein models are exceptional and virtually unparalleled in terms of the expressivity they offer (at least in my opinion of course). Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! :)

I find some problems in this type of comparisons. For example, Problem #1: we are comparing an old rebuilt piano with a brand new piano. Merriam Music does not carry Steinway or Yamaha as a brand new dealer. That is the reason we always see old Yamahas and Steinways here. Problem #2: even if the Steinway Model M had been a brand new piano, there is a significant price difference between the two. The website Piano Price Point lists the Steinway Model M at $78,900 while the Bechstein L 167 is listed at $125,900. That is $47,000 price difference. For that difference, you could buy two Steinway pianos. So, I would expect the Bechstein L 167 to be somehow better than a corresponding brand new Steinway Model M, otherwise it would be foolish to pay $47,000 more for the exact same performance. I am pretty sure Steinway can come up with a premium Model M if they could sell it for $47,000 more. Problem #3: The most important of all, the one that applies to the other videos in this channel: the effect of a video, which is far more powerful than the video itself. It is the general conclusion that people will make and carry with them. Strictly speaking, this is not a problem with the video itself, but the audience. Let me give you an example of this: Bose vs regular size good speakers. Many years ago, I visited a Bose store in a mall, where they had a show: we sat in a small movie theater, they showed us big speakers on each side. At some point, the presenter approached the "big speaker" and removed it, leaving a tiny Bose cube behind. The big speaker was fake, like a grill or something. The point was to say, "We fooled you into believing these were very large speakers". The sound that came out of the tiny cubes was impressive. Now, the presenter NEVER said that "small speakers are better than big speakers", nor he said "big speakers are pointless, you should buy small speakers". He never said anything, actually. But people made their own conclusions. Now, are tiny cubes better than large speakers? In general, no. But the effect of the presentation could very well have a lifetime effect on people. Bose has the reputation among audiophiles of "No highs, no lows, must be Bose", meaning a mediocre sound. So, it is up to people how well they interpret a video, a presentation, an article, etc.

A visual analogy of the tonal qualities of the two pianos. To me, the Bechstein sounds like a shimmering sparkling high-mountain stream starting its journey towards the sea. The Steinway sounds like a deep slow-moving silt-laden river -- like the Mississippi as it nears the Gulf of Mexico. Both have commendable qualities. It comes down to what sound you prefer. For me, it's the Bechstein.

Sooo interesting! Thanks Stu! I love the piano and the different tones of each brand. This kind of video comparison is right up my alley, I prefer the golden age Steinway but the new Bechstein is a remarkably colorful and beautifully balanced instrument. For me the warmth of the Steinway tips the balance though!

This is very informative. Thanks mate

I'm a layman who loves these videos, and play the most basic tunes... but I do love playing though (thanks COVID for the intro to piano playing). IMHO it sounds like the Bechstein has 'leading' notes and 'supporting' notes... Like a team of great players and (just) average ones just there to support them. Whereas the Steinway has consistent, balanced decent (not great) players across the board. The result being that a team of balanced (decent) players beats a team of stars and supporting players. Put another way it's the Steinway for me. Thanks for the videos Stu, I hope you enjoy making them, I've watched so many over the last 18 months and enjoy doing so... Look forward to more in the future. All the best, Dave.

Stu, have you thought about mic'ing from the player's POV for comparison? From mics pov: M - more well blended across, initimate cocktail bar jazz cauldron of warmth :) L137 - more range separation, chords counterintuitively makes piano feel even closer to listener & more immediate, scales make instrument sound more distant! Wider delineated projection

Thanks for another fascinating video Stu. I’m assuming that the restored Steinway is about half the price of the Bechstein? The new Bechstein has a life of over 100 years before it needs to be restored but what’s the life of a restored Steinway? 50 years? That information would put into perspective the price differential. Could you reveal that? Thanks again for another superb experience.

Happy new year and good health. Listening to you in Europe, nice playing yet again, my question is if the choice to have the bass/tenor directed microphone in the left channel and the upper octaves right? It presents the pianos mirrored from the player's position. There's no right or wrong here, understand me well, but what was the reasoning?

That Bechstein is stunning, the bass sounds so much thicker to me. Would love to hear both of these in real life and not through my cheap ass phone... One day

@PS-vm3we

Жыл бұрын

One day :)

Great review as always Stu! My impression was the C Bechstein would excel at certain types of music, but the Steinway would sound great for a wider range of music.

@Xingqiwu387

Жыл бұрын

Agreed.

Both would be lovely to own. I don't think there is a true best. You are talking about connoisseur instruments. Choosing would be more like choosing an expensive oil painting, a matter of personal taste, beliefs, and pocketbook. I like the richness and depth of the Bechstein's tone. As for your idea of "mid-range", so much has to do with the hammer voicing, the hammers themselves, and the strings. What type and brand of wire, and finally the scaling of the piano which has to do with the size of wire used on any given string as it relates to every other string on the piano. Generally it is the interaction of the instrument as a whole. Is there clarity or is it muddy. I still love the sound of my Yamaha DGX / Pianoteq Pro mix, therefore I have lost interest in these extremely expensive acoustic grands. It just depends on what you want, and what you value. If you have the house and the money for one, you will have a prized possession.

Thank you nice job of presentation! On my TV I preferred Bechstein it had a more present like your there sound.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! The Bechstein pianos have incredible expressive and tonal potential, so they are certainly difficult pianos to compete with. :)

What is the pricing differial? Both sound good....

I had a Steinway M. Four to five seconds into the first Bechstein demo something inside me shouted YES.

@MerriamPianos

11 ай бұрын

The C. Bechstein L167 is a remarkable instrument and, arguably, one of the best sub 6' piano models in the world. :)

Fascinating.....so much warmth from the Steinway in the mid tones but the Bechstein is like a sparking stream. It would be super helpful if you could give an approximate price comparison at the same time - presumably the Bechstein would be more expensive being a new model? If only I could afford the dilemma of choice lol

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

They are both incredible instruments to say the least. The preference between these two beautiful piano voices will vary from player to player. With that said, there is something quite magical about the C. Bechstein grands to me. I think the company's self-described "orchestral" voicing is quite just and represents the tonal quality it presents. The way that the tonal profile of the instrument transforms through its different dynamic registers really does make it sound like a living and breathing thing; like the sum of every instrument of an orchestra coming together through your piano. It is quite a beautiful thing! The L167 has an MSRP of $135,000 USD while the Steinway Model M has an MSRP of $86,200 USD. Naturally, there will be some differences in the backend retail price from dealer to dealer and market to market depending on a number of factors. Thanks and hope this helps! :)

@Zoe.TheBody360

Жыл бұрын

@@MerriamPianos that is fabulous thank you so much for the clarity.

So nice. Hard to pick a favorite. I guess I would pick the Steinway for versatility.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

They are both wonderful instruments! Any pianist would be over the moon to have either of these instruments in their living or music room! :)

Interesting to hear Stu's thoughts. On listening myself, of course only via a recording, my view is that the Steinway bass is far clearer, bassy and stronger. The Bechstein treble to me is the better, far more sustain up top, much clearer, say purer. Mids were less different to me, but agree a warmer, fuller sound to the Bechstein. Thanks once again for such fascinating comparison videos.

@MerriamPianos

Ай бұрын

You're welcome! Thank you for watching! As always, it is very much appreciated. While our production team does an excellent job at capturing these beautiful instruments' voices as transparently as possible, the sonic experience in person is almost impossible to fully capture (especially when you're listening from the player's perspective). :)

I think your tuner isn't afraid of a good helping of stretch. Where the 5ths kinda fuse or sound more monolithic and the 3rds shimmer a bit more. It seems this serves modern harmony and accommodates more dissonance well.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

We are very fortunate to work with some of the very best tuners and technicians around! They do a fantastic job at bringing the most out of each and every piano. :)

Cinematic airiness on one side. More precise like a parallel strung piano or fortepiano on the other side - less airy. So, if you play music genres touching on the past, say, 300 years, you need both.

Agree on the mid range, an obvious difference. Both sound great though

I like "midrange" partials. Maybe that's why I favor Steinway and Yamaha (even though the latter is claimed to be bright, they have the midrange partials as well). The Bechstein seems enhanced by sugar to get a certain sweetness of tone. But it's a new piano. And a Hamburg might sound quite different to this NY Steinway. The Steinway is friendly for me. There's no better, well, there's a more expensive in the Bechstein. It's a great instrument but I'd overall prefer to use the Steinway. As always, I'd just adjust to the great instrument and approach them differently.

@Beyondabsence

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Benjamin, I enjoy reading your comments. I happen to love the sound of the Steinway. Have a very special 1945 M. I'm guessing the reason is because all my life I was inspired by the sounds of early Bill Evans recordings as well as Keith Jarrett's entire output. It does look like the clear, pristine, almost aseptic nature of the Bechstein is pleasing to a great number of ears....

I have an all original 1928 M. It's ready for a rebuild, but it's still wonderful to play. (I love playing on Ivory keys) What year is this M?

@garysandiego

2 жыл бұрын

The notes say ‘45? I have a ‘27 Model L and it’s in need of refurbishment too. But Every tech that looks at it wants to do something different. And Steinway’s in house shop wants to replace everything but the case snd harp-and they haven’t even looked at the instrument. For just under $40,000! I don’t know what to do.

That makes sense the centered blended sound because the traditional American philosophy strategy is to use that thick Rock Maple rim to keep the Acoustic energy in the soundboard where it will do the most good. That's how Steinway achieves that renowned explosive propensity above Forte. However things it seems have progressed a bit further. Now Bechstein has the ball.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

It is hard to disagree that Bechstein pianos are amongst (if not at the top of the list) the most expressive pianos on the planet. There is something truly magical about how their pianos are voiced that truly gives the sonic illusion of an entire orchestra coming to life through the soundboard that is difficult to fully articulate in words. The best way for piano enthusiasts to experience this magic is to spend some time behind one. Thanks for tuning in and sharing your insights! :)

Sure would like to know how the Model M was restored. What all was switched out? Soundboard too? Was the new action the new (longer) Steinway action or Renner?

@MerriamPianos

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Gary: It has the original soundboard (still had 3mm of crown when measured), the original action was preserved (with new knuckles, back-checks, center pins, keytops, bushings (obv), dampers), new pins / pinblock, strings. Original bridges.

@garysandiego

Жыл бұрын

@@MerriamPianos I’m having a dickens of a time finding someone knowledgeable to repair my 1927 Steinway Model L. Everyone I’ve consulted has a different prescription. And there’s this tech the local Steinway reps respect, who works on the pianos of the local orchestras, but it took him two months before deigning to look at the piano, snd I’ve been chasing him for a quote for four months afterwards. And Steinway itself just wants to install a new piano inside the old case (I guess they’d keep the harp too). It’s so frustrating!

It's so funny that these pianos happen to sound exactly like they look. Both are fantastic pianos. I personally find the Steinway more interesting, almost as though it's holding some of the story back to see if you're paying attention.

@MerriamPianos

3 ай бұрын

Haha that is a very good way to put it! They are both spectacular of course, but they offer a distinct musical voice and experience. :)

Great review as always. Steinway Model is little vintage characteristic and gives far-field experience. C.Bechstien has more bell like sound from middle C to uppar octave and it’s definitely a more upfront sounding piano and it has more resonance and harmonics, I can say it’s more versatile sounding piano. Steinway is more working on frequency and they achieve best results whether you play solo with orchestra. Steinway is much more ahead in terms of marketing its a strength of the Steinway from more then a 100 years. Other company never think about the future business and that’s the reason why Steinway is so popular in all around the world. Frankly speaking C. Bechstien make amazing pianos but still many musicians are not aware about the C. Bechstien brand. Now days doing marketing is very easy as social media is the main source of the marketing still many companies fails. Only Steinway/Yamaha Kawai is more focusing towards the marketing and promoting their products. Very important is to promote the Brand name. I have work that way and achieve the good results and if the product is good and passionate about the business then way not. Now days it’s so simple to target the customer. Steinway and C. Bechstien has all the options from lower priced to top class products. Thanks 🙏

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! As always, we appreciate it. :) These are both excellent piano models of course. I personally agree with the notion that the L167 is a more versatile instrument musically and expressively, but both pianos have their strengths. The comment regarding marketing is certainly relevant too. C. Bechstein pianos are incredible and it is quite unfortunate that not every pianist in the world is familiar with the wonderful musical experience they offer. In any case, hopefully, we can make more players aware of their magic via our channel. ;)

Take a look at Schonberg’s 6 little pieces for piano the last piece the last bar 19:33

@MerriamPianos

Ай бұрын

I'll be sure to pass on the note to Stu. :)

The Steinway seems to have a less colored sound which I prefer although the Bechstein sounds beautiful also. If I had to listen to each of these pianos for an extended time I would prefer the Steinway but still I would be happy with the Bechstein.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

They are definitely both incredible pianos! It is always a difficult choice when you have two amazing instruments with so much expressive capability. :)

No Renner actions or parts thereof involved here?

Steinway sounded very nice.. but the Bechstein was beautiful.. to my ears anyway

For some reason I would choose the Steinway to play Disney songs and pick the Bechstein for a play at the theater. No comments regarding the action feel? Unless I missed it...

@EdPin_

2 жыл бұрын

Stu was lost in sound... I'm not surprised ;-)

Good

@MerriamPianos

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! :)

Steinway -best .Sound of Steinway -polyhedral . Sound Bechstein beautiful ,but no have polyhedral level (more uncomplicated )

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

These are both gorgeous sounding instruments to say the least! It all comes down to a matter of personal preference and what you specifically resonate with. :)

What about the action? The Steinway has the accelerated action. The Bechstein has?

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Hi there! The C. Bechstein L167 features Bechstein's "Gold Action", which is their highest-calibre action. The quality of materials and level of refinement of these actions is immensely impressive. This gives the C. Bechstein Concert series grands an incredibly responsive touch that is capable of the highest degrees of expressivity. :)

Easy pick, C. Bechstain bitte!

@MerriamPianos

6 ай бұрын

The L167 is a truly incredible instrument! :)

It might be a better comparison between Steinway M and C.Bechstein A175~~

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

That would certainly make for a compelling comparison as well! :)

The Bechstein sounds so clean that it resembles some digital pianos. Steinway sounds alive, visceral, not as clear.

@garysandiego

2 жыл бұрын

Thinking the same thing. Each note on the C Beckstein so clear and separated that it’s nearly digital. Not saying it’s bad. Could work really well with Bach. Not sue about Beethoven, for instance.

I much prefer the tonal qualities of the Bechstein.

@MerriamPianos

8 ай бұрын

Bechstein pianos have immense expressivity and wide tonal and dynamic ranges! They are very difficult instruments to compete with musically. :)

I dont know why but there is always something i dont like in restored pianos.Its like they never get 100% of a new piano. Even when fully restored.

Having both pianos with the same microphone set up is not fair to the pianos. Each piano has a unique sound envelope and placement of the microphones for that piano should be selected based on where the soundboard is producing its particular sound and be the best mic for that piano. Many times a Steinway does not sound like a live Steinway after being mic'ed, eq'd and then put through a speaker. Listening this way is not a true representation of either piano. Sound techs love miking Yamahas because they are loud and bright and that doesn't get lost in the process. Same is true for the Bechstein. The more fundamental harmonic envelope of the Bechstein translates through to your speakers better than the warmer more rounded full harmonic envelope of the Steinway. The attack of the hammer blow comes through better with a brighter piano so microphone placement has to be different for the Steinway to be truely represented.

B-stein for me.

The Steinway K-132 and Bechstein Concert 8 uprights can go head-to-head against these Parlor Grands.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

There is certainly no denying that those are two absolute powerhouse upright pianos! :)

Overall, Bechstein sounds more luxurious than Steinway~On second thought, try Steinway M vs Bechstein b160 or b175~ That would be more proper I guess~~

The bechstein sounded much better. The Steinway sounded like the piano was in a plastic storage bin.

Steinwei ist wärmer.

Steinway all the way.

@MerriamPianos

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for taking the time to tune in and share your thoughts! :)

Steinway is singing, the Bechstein is very dry. Could it be influenced by the tuning? Yet, considering one buys such a beautifull grand once in a lifetime...pfff what a choice to make...

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

When it comes to pianos, particularly two incredible models like the ones featured in this video, beauty is often in the ears of the beholder. Every player will have their philosophy as to what makes the "perfect" piano. In any case, I think most players would die to have one of these gorgeous pianos sitting in their living/music room. :)

@appercumstock3017

Жыл бұрын

@@MerriamPianos That's the goal: house, music room and of these.

@xiaohuizhan8641

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for another wonderful review. Both are great, Steinway is a bit more warm.

Bro the bass in that bechstein is so clear it sounds like a piano that's 2 feet longer. Not impressed with the Steinway sound.