Thanks so much! We try to cover all realms of pianos. With that said, it is always an enjoyable opportunity to take a deep dive into such a wonderful grand piano like the A190! :)
Hey! Thanks for reviewing another Acoustic piano! Im a proud modern C. Bechstein Owner and have found them to consistently be mesmerizing and refined in character; solidly well-built and worth every penny, not too overpriced for the musical experience they offer
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! You're welcome! Thank you for tuning in and supporting our channel. The C. Bechstein pianos are both incredibly consistent, due to Bechstein's manufacturing precision, and immensely musical. I agree that they offer wonderful value considering how refined and expressive these instruments. :)
I wish I could have such a wonderful instrument, but I feel my paino skill could not bring out the piano's full potential. Such a beautiful sounding instrument. I'm still waiting for the Seiler ED-126 Reveiw ;). Thanks for keeping these excellent piano reveiws coming!
Often times, when making an investment into an instrument like this, players have the ability to grow into the piano. An investment into a piano of this calibre is also an investment into one's inspiration and, in turn, one's development. We are working on more acoustic piano reviews/comparisons and have the ED126 and ED132 models in our sights. ;)
I love your reviews for many reasons - you actually display the dynamics, record in stereo -- very important, and great commentary. The dynamics is often a big omission in reviews (not this one) when a big ticket piano is showed off without showing its radiance in the lower notes, it's a crime! Your description of "brassiness" is a good one - I think that particular colour in the bass is a necessity for me. Trying to decide whether to buy one of these mid-range models or save, save, save for a concert grand.
Thank you kindly for your support! We sincerely appreciate it. We're happy to hear that you've enjoyed Stu's reviews and comparisons and have found them helpful. We always do our best to showcase as much of the nuance that these beautiful pianos offer as possible. Also, that is definitely a difficult decision to make! Some dealers have excellent trade-up programs, which may help you make gradual steps to a top level concert grand. :)
You're very welcome! Bechstein pianos, particularly the grands, have a very distinct tone and musicality them. They are truly wonderful instruments. :)
Another really interesting review. For me this piano is outstanding up through about middle C, and then a bit hard/thin sounding in the treble. Among other pianos you have reviewed in this size range my favorite is the Shigeru Kawai SK-3 for its warmer and more colorful treble. But this is an excellent instrument. The bass break is really good, far less obtrusive than on my1986 NY Steinway B. Thanks for continuing to do these reviews of fine acoustic pianos.
You're very welcome! We're really happy to hear that you've been enjoying our reviews for these wonderful instruments. The A190 and SK3 are both stunning instruments that offer something a bit different musically. :)
That's one bright sounding piano, but it is a beautiful instrument. These videos make me want to leave math and econ industry to go work at a piano shop just to play all these pianos.
This particular A190 has been voiced a bit brighter, but it is a stunning instrument with a gorgeous voice. I can say from experience that working at a piano shop is a lot of fun! ;)
Sad thing is, Bechstein depreciate exponentially nowadays, especially large grand. Two mint condition D282, 2018 and 2022, both ended up cheaper than a new A190.
I think it is a more of a matter of 9' concert grands being a tough thing to resell. Most consumers want 6' to max 7' pianos for their homes. Even if a home can accommodate a 9' piano space-wise, that is a lot to handle musically of course.
Hi Stu thanks for yet again another great review, you couldn't make them often enough. You mentioned that other than the concert series competing with this, the only other European instrument would possibly be the Fazioli F183. So I was just wondering how you feel a Blüthner or Steinway model of similar sizes compares to this and possibly the concert series of this size ?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in and writing in with your question! Needless to say, Steinway and Bluthner both make exceptional instruments. At the end of the day, the decision comes down to the personal preferences of the player. All of these premium grand pianos are exceptionally well made. They simply offer different musical flavours to the player. :)
Hello Stu! Thanks for the very complete review on the Bechstein Academy series. Would you please make a review on Samick grand pianos series SIG and NSG? I'd appreciate it! ✌️
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in and for the suggestion! We do not carry the Samick line at this time, so, unfortunately, it may be difficult for us to tackle those reviews/comparisons. We will do our best though! :)
@MerriamPianos hey, Brent. Thanks for taking my suggestion. I do have a Samick SIG 59D myself, and I would love to hear the reviews for SIG and/or NSG series (which is supposed to be the Samick concert series). I hope you can make it eventually, I'll be waiting for that. Peace ✌️
Hello Stu! First of all, thank you very much for this wonderful presentation of the C.BECHSTEIN Academy A190. I would be very interested in a direct three-way comparison with a W.HOFFMANN P188 and the C.BECHSTEIN Concert A192. Maybe you'll be able to do a comparison like that at some point. I would also be thrilled if you could finally introduce and test the W.HOFFMANN P206. With many kind regards André from sunny Germany Lower Saxony Langenhagen near Hanover!
Hi Andre! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for tuning in! I will be happy to share your kind words with Stu. Also, I really like the idea of the an A190 versus A192 comparison! We do not typically stock the P series W. Hoffmann pianos at this time, but we will do our best to tackle your suggested reviews and comparisons. :)
Despite the name "Academy", the C. Bechstein Academy line are extremely high-end handcrafted instruments. They certainly compete with the New York Steinways in terms of quality.
There are a variety of factors why that is the case in certain situations, but with that said, Bechstein pianos have been used in many iconic concert halls and recording studios.
Let me say the obvious that others may not want to tell you. There are many piano makers in Europe before ww2 that are better than Steinway. But they are impacted and/or destroyed during the war. After the war Steinway is the only maker that is in good economic shape being in the US and was financially subsidized in German factory by the allies occupation government. Steinway was able to use this situation to place concert pianos in all concert halls in Europe and US. And if a pianist do not sign up to only use Steinway pianos, they can not have a concert practically. It’s like market monopoly tactics similar to mafia.
Two of the German/Austrian piano makers survived and recovered, Bechstein and Bosendorfer, each are better than Steinway pre-war and now. Bechstein was sanctioned after the war and was labeled as Nazi company.
The Roland FP60X is a wonderful instrument! With that said, I would also recommend checking out the Kawai ES920. It is a fantastic all-in portable digital as well! :)
@@MerriamPianos Thank you! What makes it better than other contenders? I'm having trouble seeing if there is anything new that came out this year which took everyone by surprise but it seems like the keyboards that are 1-2+ years old are still holding their place as the best.
I am not entirely sure as to which company launched the 190 cm scale design first. Both companies have a longstanding history that begins within two years of each other.
Love your content, but something is wrong with the video quality. Weird glitches here and there. Also not loving this nervous editing style. Back to the previouss calmer style please.
Thank you for tuning in and sharing your feedback! I will be sure to pass it along to the production team. We are always experimenting with new production approaches to keep things fresh for our viewers. :)
I love these acoustic piano reviews. Quite refreshing especially in a world of digitals. Not to say digitals are bad or anything but. You know.🎹🎶
Thanks so much! We try to cover all realms of pianos. With that said, it is always an enjoyable opportunity to take a deep dive into such a wonderful grand piano like the A190! :)
Digitals are electronic pianos simulators
Hey! Thanks for reviewing another Acoustic piano! Im a proud modern C. Bechstein Owner and have found them to consistently be mesmerizing and refined in character; solidly well-built and worth every penny, not too overpriced for the musical experience they offer
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! You're welcome! Thank you for tuning in and supporting our channel. The C. Bechstein pianos are both incredibly consistent, due to Bechstein's manufacturing precision, and immensely musical. I agree that they offer wonderful value considering how refined and expressive these instruments. :)
Would really like to hear Stu play classical music on these acoustic piano reviews🎹🎶
I will be happy to pass on the suggestion to Stu and the production team! He is an immensely versatile player. :)
I wish I could have such a wonderful instrument, but I feel my paino skill could not bring out the piano's full potential. Such a beautiful sounding instrument.
I'm still waiting for the Seiler ED-126 Reveiw ;). Thanks for keeping these excellent piano reveiws coming!
Often times, when making an investment into an instrument like this, players have the ability to grow into the piano. An investment into a piano of this calibre is also an investment into one's inspiration and, in turn, one's development. We are working on more acoustic piano reviews/comparisons and have the ED126 and ED132 models in our sights. ;)
I love your reviews for many reasons - you actually display the dynamics, record in stereo -- very important, and great commentary. The dynamics is often a big omission in reviews (not this one) when a big ticket piano is showed off without showing its radiance in the lower notes, it's a crime! Your description of "brassiness" is a good one - I think that particular colour in the bass is a necessity for me. Trying to decide whether to buy one of these mid-range models or save, save, save for a concert grand.
Thank you kindly for your support! We sincerely appreciate it. We're happy to hear that you've enjoyed Stu's reviews and comparisons and have found them helpful. We always do our best to showcase as much of the nuance that these beautiful pianos offer as possible. Also, that is definitely a difficult decision to make! Some dealers have excellent trade-up programs, which may help you make gradual steps to a top level concert grand. :)
Thank you for the demonstration (yap 😊) The clarity and bell-like tones of C. Bechstein are my favorite characteristics!
You're very welcome! Bechstein pianos, particularly the grands, have a very distinct tone and musicality them. They are truly wonderful instruments. :)
Hi Stu & Crew.
All I'm waiting for now is a "sound demo, all playing, no talking" piece.
Let's hope we're going to get it on Sunday ;-)
Thanks for taking the time to tune in! :)
Another really interesting review. For me this piano is outstanding up through about middle C, and then a bit hard/thin sounding in the treble. Among other pianos you have reviewed in this size range my favorite is the Shigeru Kawai SK-3 for its warmer and more colorful treble. But this is an excellent instrument. The bass break is really good, far less obtrusive than on my1986 NY Steinway B. Thanks for continuing to do these reviews of fine acoustic pianos.
You're very welcome! We're really happy to hear that you've been enjoying our reviews for these wonderful instruments. The A190 and SK3 are both stunning instruments that offer something a bit different musically. :)
Stu, will you do an A 190 and SK-3 comparison?
Thank you for providing us with your wonderlful insight :)
You're very welcome! Thank you for taking the time to tune in and watch the video! :)
That's one bright sounding piano, but it is a beautiful instrument. These videos make me want to leave math and econ industry to go work at a piano shop just to play all these pianos.
This particular A190 has been voiced a bit brighter, but it is a stunning instrument with a gorgeous voice. I can say from experience that working at a piano shop is a lot of fun! ;)
Sad thing is, Bechstein depreciate exponentially nowadays, especially large grand. Two mint condition D282, 2018 and 2022, both ended up cheaper than a new A190.
I think it is a more of a matter of 9' concert grands being a tough thing to resell. Most consumers want 6' to max 7' pianos for their homes. Even if a home can accommodate a 9' piano space-wise, that is a lot to handle musically of course.
Hi Stu thanks for yet again another great review, you couldn't make them often enough. You mentioned that other than the concert series competing with this, the only other European instrument would possibly be the Fazioli F183. So I was just wondering how you feel a Blüthner or Steinway model of similar sizes compares to this and possibly the concert series of this size ?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in and writing in with your question! Needless to say, Steinway and Bluthner both make exceptional instruments. At the end of the day, the decision comes down to the personal preferences of the player. All of these premium grand pianos are exceptionally well made. They simply offer different musical flavours to the player. :)
Hello Stu! Thanks for the very complete review on the Bechstein Academy series. Would you please make a review on Samick grand pianos series SIG and NSG? I'd appreciate it! ✌️
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in and for the suggestion! We do not carry the Samick line at this time, so, unfortunately, it may be difficult for us to tackle those reviews/comparisons. We will do our best though! :)
@MerriamPianos hey, Brent. Thanks for taking my suggestion. I do have a Samick SIG 59D myself, and I would love to hear the reviews for SIG and/or NSG series (which is supposed to be the Samick concert series). I hope you can make it eventually, I'll be waiting for that. Peace ✌️
Hello Stu! First of all, thank you very much for this wonderful presentation of the C.BECHSTEIN Academy A190. I would be very interested in a direct three-way comparison with a W.HOFFMANN P188 and the C.BECHSTEIN Concert A192. Maybe you'll be able to do a comparison like that at some point. I would also be thrilled if you could finally introduce and test the W.HOFFMANN P206. With many kind regards André from sunny Germany Lower Saxony Langenhagen near Hanover!
Hi Andre! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for tuning in! I will be happy to share your kind words with Stu. Also, I really like the idea of the an A190 versus A192 comparison! We do not typically stock the P series W. Hoffmann pianos at this time, but we will do our best to tackle your suggested reviews and comparisons. :)
Background music until 1:57 and then a piano sample countdown?! What's going on here?
We're always trying to keep things fresh around here! :)
It sounds sorry for Steinway but in my opinion this academy model could be a great competition for Steinway A model~~
Despite the name "Academy", the C. Bechstein Academy line are extremely high-end handcrafted instruments. They certainly compete with the New York Steinways in terms of quality.
Never saw a German's piano in no one concert halls, only the Steinway is ruling everywhere....
There are a variety of factors why that is the case in certain situations, but with that said, Bechstein pianos have been used in many iconic concert halls and recording studios.
Let me say the obvious that others may not want to tell you. There are many piano makers in Europe before ww2 that are better than Steinway. But they are impacted and/or destroyed during the war. After the war Steinway is the only maker that is in good economic shape being in the US and was financially subsidized in German factory by the allies occupation government. Steinway was able to use this situation to place concert pianos in all concert halls in Europe and US. And if a pianist do not sign up to only use Steinway pianos, they can not have a concert practically. It’s like market monopoly tactics similar to mafia.
Two of the German/Austrian piano makers survived and recovered, Bechstein and Bosendorfer, each are better than Steinway pre-war and now. Bechstein was sanctioned after the war and was labeled as Nazi company.
Thank you for your videos! I'm trying to figure out whats the best digital keyboard to buy for
The Roland FP60X is a wonderful instrument! With that said, I would also recommend checking out the Kawai ES920. It is a fantastic all-in portable digital as well! :)
@@MerriamPianos Thank you! What makes it better than other contenders? I'm having trouble seeing if there is anything new that came out this year which took everyone by surprise but it seems like the keyboards that are 1-2+ years old are still holding their place as the best.
@@naburaktymy best guess is to go to some stores, and try some models out so you can see what fits your needs. Newer doesn't always mean beter🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 thats probably my best bet! thank you!
@@naburakty you're welcome🎹🎶
Appears to me that the design owes much to the 190 Feurich grands from Langlau
I am not entirely sure as to which company launched the 190 cm scale design first. Both companies have a longstanding history that begins within two years of each other.
Love your content, but something is wrong with the video quality. Weird glitches here and there. Also not loving this nervous editing style. Back to the previouss calmer style please.
Thank you for tuning in and sharing your feedback! I will be sure to pass it along to the production team. We are always experimenting with new production approaches to keep things fresh for our viewers. :)