Bechstein Models
Bechstein has made pianos in Germany since 1853, and over that time the range has changed a great deal. Here is how to make sense of the models you will come across.
The top line, C. Bechstein
The pianos with the full “C. Bechstein” name are the flagship range, hand-built in Germany. The grands run from a small home grand up to the full concert grand, and the tall concert uprights are among the best made anywhere. These are the true rivals to Steinway and Bösendorfer, and priced to match.
The cheaper lines, W. Hoffmann and Bechstein Academy
Bechstein also sells more affordable ranges, notably W. Hoffmann and the Bechstein Academy series. These are designed by Bechstein but built partly outside Germany, in Europe and Asia, to reach a lower price. They are good pianos, but they are not the hand-built German C. Bechstein, and it is worth knowing which you are looking at. If the label reads W. Hoffmann or Academy rather than C. Bechstein, it is one of these.
Older Bechsteins
On the used market you will find Bechsteins going back over a century. The pre-war German grands in particular are prized, and a good restored one can be a lovely instrument. As with any old piano, condition and any rebuild work matter far more than age. See our buying guide.