“I shall build an Arpicembalo!” stated Cristofori excitedly. The year was 1698 and his new invention literally translated means “harp-harpsichord”. It would be a new instrument that would sound like a harp and have keys like a harpsichord. Harpsichords have plucked strings but this new invention would have mallets that strike the strings. It was… Read More
Schimmel K175 Grand Piano Piano Name: Schimmel Website: Schimmel Model: K175 Made in: Germany Parent Company: Pearl River majority shareholder in Schimmel alliance Company Location: China Length: 5′ 8″ History: In 1882, Wilhelm Schimmel learned piano making at the Vogel & Sohn factory in Leipzig, Germany. Now 4th generation Hannes Schimmel-Vogel directs the family business… Read More
When doing research on pianos, what role does the soundboard play? After a key is struck on the piano, the hammer is activated to strike against the strings. The vibration of the strings, in turn transfers the vibration through the bridge to the soundboard. It’s the job of the soundboard to act as a transducer,… Read More
They say that French cuisine and baked goods are inseparable from the ingredients grown there, that the quality of the food is due in part to the local culture from farm to table. In music, there is something similar in Austria known as the Viennese sound. It is a unique sound that is also considered… Read More
A piano bridge is a thin section made of wood that runs perpendicular to the strings. Pianos generally have 2 bridges; the short bridge for the lower bass section and the long bridge for the tenor and treble sections. The sizes vary from maker to maker but they run the width of the piano and average about 1½” wide and are about 1” tall in the treble and 2” tall in the bass.… Read More
The decisions made regarding string gauge is part of the blueprint for a piano called the piano scale (not to be confused with the 7 notes on the keyboard also called the piano scale). The blueprint mathematically is calculated as a starting point to determine what gauge of wire will best suit the piano. Before we discuss wire, however, we need to understand the concept of standing waves and how they relate to making music. … Read More
Piano Name: Bösendorfer Website: Bösendorfer Model: 225 Made in: Austria Parent Company: Yamaha Corporation Company Location: Japan Length: 7′ 4″ History: Ignaz Bösendorfer established his company in 1828 when he registered his business in Vienna as a piano maker. By 1859, upon his passing, Ludwig Bösendorfer furthered the company moving into larger facilities. A century… Read More
…The soundboard actually acts as a transducer changing vibration into audible signal. Ideally, to hear the piano you would want to have full exposure to the soundboard to hear all of the tones and overtones. When people ask what the difference is between a grand and an upright, that’s a major difference…… Read More
Piano Name: Albert Weber Website: Weber Model: AW121 Made in: Korea Parent Company: Young Chang Music Company Location: Korea Length: 48″ Description:The Albert Weber AW121 upright piano is part of Young Chang manufacturing based in Korea. The Albert Weber line is built in Korea with higher grade parts than the W121, made in China. The… Read More
Wilh. Steinberg S188 Grand Piano Piano Name: Wilh. Steinberg Website: Wilh.Steinberg Model: S188 Made in: China & Germany Parent Company: Parsons Music Corporation Company Location: China Height: 6’2″ History: Not to be confused with G. Steinberg (Perzina), the Wilhelm Steinberg factory has roots in piano making from 1877. After the reunification of Germany, several piano… Read More
