Bösendorfer 225

HZPiano

Hello,

This afternoon I happened upon a Bösendorfer 225, built in 1971, restored in every nook and cranny, and for sale for… the price of a really nice SUV.

92 keys.

I played it.

I couldn't believe it.

It followed my every intention. My every emotion. Just caressing the keys gave MUSIC. From soft and intimate to bold and bombastic. Easily. Effortlessly. Problemlessly. Naturally. Spontaneously.

Beautiful tone. Every note standing its own within the whole. No drowning. No muddyness.

It eats any digital whatsoever raw with its hands on its back. No sweat. Not even a burp afterwards.

It was love.

I don't have the money.

And I don't own an SUV to trade for it.

Cheers and happy loves-that-cannot-be,

MacMacMac

HZPiano I played it.

I couldn't believe it.

I know how you feel. For me it was a Shigeru. It "only" cost $60,000. Sigh

johanibraaten

HZPiano

It sounds like the perfect afternoon HZ🎶 It really is a great experience when you encounter these seemingly perfect instruments. My favorite instrument has always been the Steinway B. Among the occasions when I've experienced what you experienced with the Bösendorfer, that majority has been with Steinway B:s. It's just something with that model that feels perfectly balanced to me.

SouthPark

It eats any digital whatsoever raw with its hands on its back. No sweat. Not even a burp afterwards.

That's living the 'dream' heheh. Try eating my P-515 and the 'hunter' will be become the hunted. Two words ….. 'bring it'. It's not to be taken seriously of course.

I reckon that no single piano will (or conveniently) will cover what I need to do, or what somebody else wants/likes to hear. In the 'right hands', or any particular hands, there will many many situations where any instrument will shine, and be very special. Eg. a beginner child learning to play on a supermarket toy organ/piano. The sound that instrument makes will be equally special/meaningful as any other instrument - including any grand piano, hybrid, digital etc.

In the case of my P-515, it can't conveniently pitch bend at my own will for particular notes, or any notes actually. So I make up a little bit for that with best of two worlds, with my erhu string/bow instrument.

It is nice that you encountered a piano you really like a lot. Hopefully you will own that one or one like it later.

kawafanboi

SouthPark

we're at the point in our history where vanity is the primary measuring stick. it's unfortunate that enligtenment stops so early for so many. 😗

Johnstaf

Sometimes an instrument is just perfect. There's nothing like playing a concert grand, yet one of my favourite pianos is one particular Steinway M that I played in London a few times. It's a little bigger than a baby grand, but for sheer playing pleasure it's magical. I must go over again soon and play it.

The Bösendorfer 225 is one of my dream pianos. In that price bracket I also lust after the Yamaha CF6, Bechstein 234, and Steinway Model C-227.

CyberGene

The acoustic grands I felt in love were all baby grands. As much as I’m used to listening to powerful concert grand pianos both live and on records, for my own repertoire and pleasure there’s something about the sound and intimacy of the small grands that is just perfect.

kawafanboi

CyberGene

i've never enjoyed the sound of larger grands or uprights.

thick rich bass of shorter strings have so much personality.

9 foots for me, fall into an uncanny valley, it's cleaner for sure, but still got bits of dirt. it's a situation as if they Tried, but Failed.

CraigNZ

I'm guessing we all have the 'one that got away' HZ! Mine is a Petrof grand I tried in the early '00s. I now live in a country without a Petrof distributor, but I'm hoping that will change one day!

CyberGene

kawafanboi I largely agree although as I said I’m used to listening to commercial records made on big grands and I like that sound. But when I play one I feel intimidated. It’s like trying to drive a Ferrari without being a race driver 😀

HZPiano

Hello,

Yes, the balance between everything in this Bosie was just plain perfect. I reckon this is my ideal size, too, between the meh babies (instead of those, an upright such as the Grotrian Steinweg 132 is much more fulfilling) and the overpowering, much less intimate 9-footers.

Cheers and a happy sweet spot,

PS I noticed something with the pedals too (as I did before with other good pianos). I had to think about heavy sustain pedals marketed as having Authentic Grand Piano Feel, such as the Kawai triple pedal sets/bars. I find those uncomfortable and quickly tiring, and hard to control. I use Kawai's F-10H pedals instead, which I love, but sometimes I have that nagging voice telling me I'm not training for the real thing. But I can happily pedal on, resting assured. On yesterday's real thing, pedaling was feather light, super easy to get nuances, no fatigue. Excellent, excellent playability.

HZPiano

johanibraaten the perfect afternoon

Wonderful indeed.

One to remember (and cling to the inspiration gathered).

😋

Pete14

For me it was a huge D, yet it only cost 200K!

What is the point we’re making here? Is it that a whole lotta money can get you a little closer to heaven?

Well, guess what? I don’t need a golden stairwell to heaven, nor do I have a golden parachute to land back on earth, yet still I get to savor some of God’s nectar whilst only spending $1,500. Perspective, People, perspective!

The question is not whether the digital is there (heaven) but whether the acoustic can come down from heaven and meet us average folk down here, by the dirt & gravel, and/or down by the river!

I’ll say it again, $1,500, that’s all it cost me, yet you’re talking about selling a house for that there acoustic; and I wonder, where will you “house” that acoustic if you ain’t got no house no more? Could it be in a van down by the river?

Perspective, People, perspective!

HZPiano

Pete14 yet you’re talking about selling a house for that there acoustic; and I wonder, where will you “house” that acoustic if you ain’t got no house no more? Could it be in a van down by the river?

In my SUV! Euh, which I traded to be able to buy the Bosie. Euh, I didn't own an SUV to begin with.

Hold on, something isn't right here. I'm a little confused now 🤯.

But still, what a lovely, memorable, inspiration-nurturing experience it was this Friday afternoon.

Cheers and enjoy the calm river ripples,

MacMacMac

Pete14 I don’t need a golden stairwell to heaven, nor do I have a golden parachute to land back on earth, yet still I get to savor some of God’s nectar whilst only spending $1,500.

So ... I guess you like P515-ville?

SouthPark

Pete14 For me it was a huge D, yet it only cost 200K!

haha. Know what you mean Pete. That's when they don't realise some of us are equally (and fortunately) as well-off as they are, and could certainly and easily afford one of those, or a few of those. They also don't realise that our ears/hearing and music experience are equally as good as theirs. This isn't 'disrespecting' people. It's a statement to let certain people know that they're not the only ones that know how to listen well (with good hearing) and play the piano well, and have good musical abilities. As in - we don't need what they reckon they 'need' to make very nice musical statements. No problem with somebody wanting something they're dreaming of, or looking for. The issue is when somebody is stating what they are looking for or dreaming of is better/superior than what we other experienced users use, and purposely making something of it, which suggests looking for a … you know what … a tussle/conflict etc. And that's fine. There will be statements in return. But putting a limit on it. As long as they know that we know what they're up to, then that's ok. Also taking into account that we should make points without conflict here.

Johnstaf

Everyone has their own needs and wants. CyberGene (for whom I have great respect) and I have different priorities regarding digital piano actions, but I don't think either of us has ever suggested the other was wrong. His digital is superior to mine though. 😁

HZPiano

Johnstaf His digital is superior to mine though. 😁

+1 😁

Johnstaf I don't think either of us has ever suggested the other was wrong

Neither have I. I did know my little bit of illustration of a feeling (eating raw) would probably invoke long posts; I also anticipated who from.

But that little line does picture the situation at hand and my experience in the moment: after trying and testing a selection of the better digitals for a couple of hours, playing that $€SUV,- Bosie 225 was an absolute delight and for me, in that moment, it ate everything I had just before experienced -- and at other times experienced -- raw.

The store consultant/sales person and I joked a little afterwards that playing the Bösendorfer and having such a delightful experience didn't exactly help being clear in selecting a digital piano. Nope, for sure, not at all, diddly, that certainly didn't help a single bit. But I had a delightful afternoon to remember and grab inspiration from for a long time to come.

So today, back home, I played my FP-10 plus Modern U on an old-yet-good Windows 7 PC plus thriftstore amplifiers (home-restored), and stock clearance obtained beautiful hifi speakers. All of which I have been utterly grateful for for 2.5 years now, years that were rather horrible for me otherwise -- after seven or so more years that were horrible even beyond any description.

And I'll stay grateful for it and in the meantime find out what solution best gives me a better piano action, to use with the same rest of the setup.

Context.

Cheers and happy 'enlightenment',

CyberGene

Johnstaf His digital is superior to mine though. 😁

While that’s still arguable, what’s without doubt is you’re the better pianist 👏🏻

Johnstaf

HZPiano So today, back home, I played my FP-10 plus Modern U on an old-yet-good Windows 7 PC plus thriftstore amplifiers (home-restored), and stock clearance obtained beautiful hifi speakers.

My piano computer is a 2012 Samsung laptop, but my favourite piano library is from 2009, so it works perfectly well.

kawafanboi

Johnstaf

this is not enough john,

you need up grade to the new AMD 7950x3d, 16 glorious cores, 32 threads, 3d-vcache, ultra low power consumption. 😙

HZPiano

Johnstaf

Funnily enough, my PC is also from 2012 (home built).

And it works beautifully.

Cheers,

Johnstaf

kawafanboi Johnstaf

this is not enough john,

you need up grade to the new AMD 7950x3d, 16 glorious cores, 32 threads, 3d-vcache, ultra low power consumption. 😙

Haha! My little laptop is like a friend. It's very cute. 🤣