The Touching Sound

Bösendorfer, one of the oldest piano manufacturers, was established in 1828 by Ignaz Bösendorfer. From the outset, it has had a history of producing highly respected instruments; in 1830, it was granted the status of official piano maker to the Emperor.
The Bösendorfer sound is usually described as darker or richer than the more pure but less full-bodied sound of other pianos like the Steinway or Yamaha.

Frequently referred to as “the Rolls Royce of Pianos”, Bosendorfer has produced heirloom pianos since 1828. Bosendorfer pianos combine musical perfection with a secure capital investment.

With the introduction of the Bosendorfer conservatory series, owning a Bosendorfer can now be a reality rather than a dream. Bosendorfer is committed to the highest of musical standards and realizes it has a responsibility to help aspiring young musicians. The conservatory piano was created to offer Bosendorfer quality at a price never before thought possible.

Chicago and its neighboring suburban customers can see these fabulous pianos exclusively at Kurt Saphir Pianos, Wilmette.

Private showings are available. Please call for an appointment.
The Bosendorfer Model 170, although the smallest of the grand pianos made by Bosendorfer at just 170 cms long (5′ 8″), has an unsurpassed volume of sound and dynamic range. Due to its particular construction, the sound quality of the bass and the variety and range of colors that can be achieved overall, combine to produce an exciting performance experience.

The Model 200 (6′ 7″), is the ideal salon grand. It is essential when playing the piano in smaller rooms for the clarity of sound to be perfect, even at lower volumes, and the piano action and keyboard to be completely controllable to allow precise playing. The Model 200 meets these needs, and has a well balanced singing sustaining tone, beautifully matched across its complete range.

With its Model 214 (7′), Bosendorfer has developed a piano that nearly equals the sound performance and dynamic features of a concert grand. The Model 214 produces a sound volume for medium-sized concert halls and for professional teaching at music conservatories and schools.

The Bosendorfer half concert grand Model 225 (7′4″), has a very wide dynamic range considering its size, which results from its unique design and construction. The Model 225 has four additional sub-bass keys, not only extending the bass range of the piano to bottom F, but also providing a larger soundboard to produce more volume when required to do so. With this conception, the Model 225 is ideally suited for chamber music concerts.

The Bosendorfer Model 275 (9′), with its 7 and a half octave compass or 92 keys, is Bosendorfer’s classical Concert Grand. The four additional keys in the bass not only help to increase the volume of the piano, but the resonance of these extra strings produce additional harmonics. Because of these special characteristics, the Bosendorfer Concert Grand is able to be used for many different types of performance. The powerful singing, sustaining tone makes it ideal for Concerto or Recital performances.

Pyramid Mahogany Bosendorfer

Pyramid Mahogany Bosendorfer Keys

Pyramid Mahogany Bosendorfer

Gives a voice to great musicians

C. Bechstein piano factory was founded on 1 October 1853 by Carl Bechstein in Berlin, Germany.

Carl Bechstein set out to manufacture a piano able to withstand the great demands imposed on the instrument by the virtuosi of the time, such as Franz Liszt. In 1857, Hans von Bülow (Liszt’s son-in-law) gave the first public performance on a Bechstein grand piano by performing Liszt’s Piano Sonata in B minor in Berlin.

Famous players of Bechstein Pianos:
- For his studio recording of the music of Chopin and Beethoven, Dinu Lipatti used a Bechstein piano.
- Edwin Fischer chose a Bechstein piano for his pioneering recording of Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier, as did Artur Schnabel for his cycle of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas. Both artists were very fond of Bechstein’s pianos, as were many of last century’s leading pianists, such as Wilhelm Kempff and Wilhelm Backhaus.
- Freddie Mercury of the British pop band Queen played a Bechstein piano on the best-selling album A Night at the Opera.
- The Beatles used a Bechstein concert grand piano for recording Hey Jude and the White Album tracks Dear Prudence, Honey Pie, Savoy Truffle and Martha My Dear, I Want You (She’s So Heavy) for the album Abbey Road, all at the Trident Studios.
- Elton John recorded “Your Song” and many other tracks on a handmade Bechstein concert-sized instrument that was over one hundred years old at the Trident Studios in London. Its classic sound was much sought after.

World's Finest Pianos

Durability
Mason & Hamlin is built to last, with solid posts and rim laminations that are 18-ply, over 4″ thick. As a result of the strongest and most costly construction in the industry, the grand piano outweighs other makes by an average of at least 20%. The larger plate(for stability), larger sound board (for improved tone), extra layers of seasoned hardwoods in the rims (for strength) and heavier legs all combined to make a superb instrument.

Tension Resonator
This exclusive device assures Mason & Hamlin owners original pure tone for the life of their piano. The patented Tension Resonator safeguards the crown of the soundboard for proper resonance. Radial arms of inflexible steel joined underneath the soundboard are bolted to the piano’s inner rim (frame in the case of the Model 50). These metal rods are drawn to precise tension and locked into position by factory craftsmen, never again to be touched. By holding the rim in rigid position, thc Tension Resonator maintains the soundboard crown in its original shape-regardless of age or climatic conditions.

Pyramid Mahogany Mason & Hamlin Grand Piano

Action
The Mason & Hamlin action is constructed of the finest hand-selected hardwood, assuring uniformity in over 7,000 working parts, including graduated hammer shanks and hand-shaped hammers for clarity of tone. Unique features include costly ebony sharps and repetition springs that can be easily and accurately adjusted. Designed specifically for use with the duplex scale, it provides the ultimate in repetition, speed, sensitivity, and response.

Our Mason & Hamlin Row of Pianos

Tuning Pins & Pinblock
Nickel-plate pins prevent rust or corrosion on coils; blued steel cores grip the pinblock tightly. The hardwood maple pinblock is made of 7 layers of quarter-sawn maple, at a 90-degree grain angle on each layer. The wood has been treated to correct moisture content, whereby longlasting tuning stability is attained.

Soundboard
The soundboard is constructed of the finest grade, air-cured, kiln-conditioned white spruce. It is precisely installed by hand, with a tapered crown for optimum tonal resonance. The Tension Resonator helps maintain that crown for the life of the piano.

Dimensions and Weight: Length: 6′4″ Height: 38 1/2″ Weight: 760 lbs.

Rim Construction: A full 2 3/4″ thickness of selected hard maple layers, laminated, cross banded and held with moisture-resistant glue, then held at a constant temperature and humidity for at least four weeks to ensure proper moisture content.

Pinblock: The finest quality Delignit pinblock is used to guarantee an extraordinary life expectancy.

Special order with nickel hardware in satin ebony

Sound Board: The sound board is made of clear, close-grained, quarter-sawn, solid spruce. It is varied in thickness by reason of acoustical design. The ribs are of select, quarter-sawn spruce graduated in width and thickness, and feathered for flexibility and frequency of response. Each rib receives a special individual crown for its location in the sound board structure. The ribs of the Charles R. Walter Grand are also unique in their method of being mortised into the inner rim. This process is individualized for each rib of the piano, producing the perfect balance of stiffness and flexibility required in every square inch of sound board. The exclusive sound board design gives a very even tone from low bass to high treble.

Strings: The treble strings and the core wires of the wrapped strings are of the highest grade music wire. The wrappings of the strings are solid copper wire. String length and diameter of inner and outer wraps are all carefully computed to achieve the very smooth inharmonicity scale so characteristic of all Walter pianos. The longest speaking length of the W190 Grand is 57 1/2″.

Action: The Walter Grand contains the finest grand action, custom made by Renner for the W190 piano.

Keys: Specially designed Kluge keys go into every Charles R. Walter grand. Each is individually lead-weighted (balanced) for a smooth, even touch.

Hardware: All external trim, including the heavy casters, are of solid brass.

Case Parts: All case parts are of lumber-core and solid hardwood construction.

Finish: All parts of the piano are carefully sanded, given multiple coats of specially formulated lacquer, hand-rubbed and polished.

Warranty: The Charles R. Walter W190 Grand has a TEN (10) YEAR FULL WARRANTY against defects in parts, materials and workmanship.

Your keys to happiness

Visit our showroom to view our other Schimmel pianos. Schimmel was named after Wilhelm Schimmel. He was known as a folk sculptor or wood carver. Wilhelm Schimmel started his company on May 2, 1885 in Leipzig, Germany. In 1961 the Schimmel company

Classic Schimmel Grand

• 1996 to 2001 - Schimmel pianos was honored by top French magazine Choc de la Monde de la Musique for the following models: Model 120 I (1996), SP 182 T (1997), S 125 DN (1999), CC 213 T (2000) and GP 169 T (2001).
• 1998 - Honored by another top French magazine, Diapason, for their Schimmel Model 116 S.
• Grands: Concert Orchestra CO 256, Concert Chamber CC 213, Salon Professional SP 189 and Global Professional GP 169.
• Concert Uprights: Orchestra O 132, Symphony S 125 and Fortissimo F 122.
• Schimmel Uprights: 130 Series, 124 Series, 122 / 120 Series and 116 Series.

Time honored design & a legacy of superior craftsmanship.

In 1839 Knabe formed a partnership with Henry Gaehle for the purpose of manufacturing pianos. In 1847 they were selling pianos priced between $180 and $400. By 1852 they had expanded operations.

Knabe & Gaehle won first premiums for square pianos from the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of Mechanic Arts in 1848, 1849 and 1850, as well as for grand pianos in 1849.

WM Knabe Grand Piano

The Knabe Grand Piano combines all the advantages of a production piano for cost efficiency, with the luxury of an American sound.

In addition Knabe pianos are owned by Piano Disc, and have been specially engineered to enhance the subtle nuances of the player piano system.

If you think new pianos with complete player piano systems are out of your price range, we urge you to visit the Kurt Saphir Pianos showroom nearest you. You are in for a most pleasant experience.