There are many different brands of pianos out there with different histories and features. What exactly makes a Bosendorfer piano so special? I’ll explain that in this post. I do want to note that this post is in no way sponsored by Bosendorfer, Yamaha, or any company for that matter.
What is a Bosendorfer Piano?
History
It all started in Vienna, Austria in Europe when a father/son duo by the surname of Bosendorfer made it a mission to build a piano in the 1800s. They wanted this piano to not only be approved sound-wise, but also in its handiwork by notable musical figures in their time.
More recently in the 2000s, the Bosendorfer company was acquired by Yamaha. However, to this day, Bosendorfer remains mostly independent in their traditions.
How one is made
It takes well over a year to finish building one Bosendorfer piano. This doesn’t even include the amount of time it takes to treat the wood beforehand.
The facilities where these instruments are manufactured are located in Austria.
A large majority of a Bosendorfer is made out of spruce wood and brass metal. Additionally, many of its parts are added hand-by-hand and/or individually.
This is one of the reasons for its hefty price tags ranging from a quarter-million to a half-million U.S. dollars. Check out this post to find more reasons why this and other instruments can be so expensive.
What types do they have?
There are the basic types of Upright, Grand, and Concert Grand pianos available. For more special types, I’ve separated them by special functionalities and special appearances.
Special Bosendorfer Piano Types by Function
Silent Edition
The Silent Edition is a combination of Bosendorfer and Yamaha technologies. There’s an option to use private headphones to play the instrument, making no sound outside of your ears. This is in addition to the ‘public’ acoustic sound option that already comes standard with a Bosendorfer piano.
Disklavier Edition
The Disklavier Edition also includes Yamaha features. With this instrument, you can play pieces through a specialized app on your device on the Bosendorfer. Basically, the piano can play music without you touching the keys.
Special Bosendorfer Piano Types by Appearance
The Collector’s Items
I’ve actually had a dream of having a Bosendorfer for a long time. Why? Because of these Collector’s Items. There are particular Bosendorfer pianos that have designs on the undersides of their covers, with special stories, events, objects, and/or milestones explaining the cover and overall design.
There are 8 types of Bosendorfer Collector’s Item kinds listed on the official website, and they are much rarer than the regularly produced pianos.
The Ultimate Designs
These pianos have special designs and characteristics based on categories including time periods, famous historical figures, cultures, and even companies known for automotive manufacturing. There are customizable features for these designs, which are also listed on the Bosendorfer official website.
How many keys are there on a Bosendorfer?
For models with the Extended Keyboard, there are 92 keys to 97 keys total. Compare this to the 88 keys on a regular keyboard or piano in general.
The models with the Extended Keyboard hold the extra keys on the bass. These include the Model 290 Imperial and Model 225. The 290 Imperial is a Concert Grand piano, and the 225 is a Grand Piano.
How do the keys feel?
In my opinion, I think the touch feels so creamy. I enjoy the weight of the keys, and how the texture based on sensory touch as well.
What does a Bosendorfer Piano sound like?
The sound is incredibly full. I do think the tone is like butter: it’s smooth, and it melts in your ears. This is based on personal experience, as well as other opinions online.
How many of these Bosendorfer pianos are there?
There are less than 50,000 that have ever been produced. Moreover, there are less than 300 Bosendorfer pianos annually that make it into the U.S. This is because it takes so much time and detail to build each one.
Here’s a document from Piano Experts sharing more details about Bosendorfer pianos.
Conclusion
There are many different types of pianos out there. But there are quite a few reasons why Bosendorfer pianos actually stand out. One of my dreams is to own one of the Collector’s Items. At this point, it’s only a dream, but who knows?
If you want to learn more information about Bosendorfer pianos, check out the official website here.
Do you have a specific piano or instrument you dream to have? What is it?
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