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#Steinway #Bosendorfer #Pianos

One of the most dramatic amongst highend pianos would be a Bosendorfer vs New York Steinway matchup. In this edition of the ‘Tasting Notes’ series on the Merriam Pianos YouTube channel, Stu Harrison is going to take us through this exact comparison.

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Battle of Opposites

In a lot of ways, comparing these two is essentially a battle of opposites. Where the Steinway’s rim is built for rigidity and maximum projection, a Bosendorfer rim is softer, thinner and creates far greater warmth in the immediate vicinity of the piano.

Where a Steinway D can easily fill a large concert hall without amplification, rarely will you find a Bosendorfer in the same situation without microphones and amplification of some kind.

A Steinway offers a very wide range of tones from bass to treble and soft to loud, a Bosendorfer is much more consistent with regards to timbre both in terms of range and dynamic output.

Bosendorfer Playing Experience

From the perspective of the player, playing a Bosendorfer is like using a stereo enhancer with headphones, creating the feeling of a wide expanse of sound. The lack of harder, denser hardwoods in the structure and rim leaves a bit of a missing gap in the harmonics in the lower mid range of the instrument which can lead the listener to perceive a less full sounding tone.

This general tonal profile has led Bosendorfer to be regarded as an instrument best suited for jazz or early classic music given the super clear treble range. Bosendorfer’s are also common in high end studios where mic placement and postproduction can help fill in the gaps in the harmonic structure, while still offering trademark clarity in the treble.

Bosendorfer has retained a reputation as being one of the top pianos in the entire industry for close to 200 years, with some of the highest quality workmanship among any manufacturer.

New York Steinway Playing Experience

Steinway’s blend of harmonics would normally be considered a more lively and dynamic piano than that of a Bosendorfer, with a wider range of nuance and tones available. The trade off is a lack of clarity, and as a result, both supporters and detractors of the brand both agree that the Steinway is the most forgiving of the high end concert grands available.

For people unhitched from the brands romance, this is a downside, especially when compared to a Bosendorfer, or other high end pianos such as a C. Bechstein or Fazioli. The Steinway essentially gives the player training wheels by masking and glossing over some detail and clarity.

Conclusions:

Despite the differences, both instruments are essentially living museums of the ingenuity of the 19th Century industrial boom. While neither would be considered a super modern piano from a design or technology perspective, both serve as a testament to how the highest levels of craftsmanship can still produce amazing results.

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