W. Hoffmann Pianos

Affordable Excellence by C. Bechstein

W. Hoffmann may be the headline, but it's the subtitle you'll care about. In a world where top brands routinely get stamped on products they have nothing to do with, W. Hoffmann is a surprising approach to piano building that stands out. How do we know? It's musicians, often stretching budgets after months of research, who buy them.

Why? Because under the skin of a W. Hoffmann lies the muscle and DNA of a C. Bechstein, built just 90 minutes from their German headquarters. With such a close connection between the two factories, virtually every aspect of the piano building process shared, except of course the price. If it sounds too good to be true, wait until you hear the pianos themselves.

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W. Hoffmann WH P 206 Black
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EUROPE

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BECHSTEIN

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W. Hoffmann Vision V8

trade up guarantee 

Upgrade to Bechstein Concert-Class: Trade-Up Guarantee

Lusting after the legendary C. Bechstein piano, but today's budget says Hoffmann? Merriam's guaranteed upgrade program mades the decision an easy one.

Upgrade to a C. Bechstein Concert-class piano within 10 years of your W. Hoffmann purchase and receive 100% credit towards your purchase (conditions apply, ask for details).

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W. Hoffmann V8 Vision Upright Piano Right Angle
All New Pianos

W. Hoffmann V8 Vision Upright Piano

W. Hoffmann V8 Vision Upright Piano Right Angle

W. Hoffmann V8 Vision Upright Piano

The W. Hoffmann V8 Vision is a premier European upright piano, standing at 132 cm (51.9”) and known for its superior tonal clarity, expressiveness, sustain, and projection. It features solid

All New Pianos
W. Hoffmann V2 Vision Upright Piano Right Angle
All New Pianos

W. Hoffmann V2 Vision Upright Piano

W. Hoffmann V2 Vision Upright Piano Right Angle

W. Hoffmann V2 Vision Upright Piano

The W. Hoffmann V2 Vision is perfect for creative musicians, offering a powerful sound and smooth tonal quality. Crafted in Hradec Králové, it combines a sleek design with a Bechstein-crafted

All New Pianos
W. Hoffmann T128 Upright Piano
All New Pianos

W. Hoffmann T128 Upright Piano

$ 28,855.00
W. Hoffmann T128 Upright Piano

W. Hoffmann T128 Upright Piano

The W. Hoffmann T128 Upright Piano is one of the most affordable fully-European ‘Concert-Sized' upright pianos on the market. It's designed and built by C. Bechstein Europe, and use the

All New Pianos
$ 28,855.00
W. Hoffmann P120 Upright Piano
All New Pianos

W. Hoffmann P120 Upright Piano

$ 27,995.00
W. Hoffmann P120 Upright Piano

W. Hoffmann P120 Upright Piano

The 47” W. Hoffmann P120 Professional Upright Piano is a fully European-made and designed piano, built with the requirements of professional pianists in mind. The P120 offers a unique blend

All New Pianos
$ 27,995.00
W. Hoffmann P114 Upright Piano
All New Pianos

W. Hoffmann P114 Upright Piano

$ 25,995.00
W. Hoffmann P114 Upright Piano

W. Hoffmann P114 Upright Piano

Considering the W. Hoffmann P114 is the smallest offering in their Professional line of pianos and is the second smallest offering under the entire W. Hoffmann brand produces a remarkable

All New Pianos
$ 25,995.00
W. Hoffmann P126 Upright Piano
All New Pianos

W. Hoffmann P126 Upright Piano

$ 34,655.00
W. Hoffmann P126 Upright Piano

W. Hoffmann P126 Upright Piano

The W. Hoffmann P126 Professional Upright Piano is an incredibly robust instrument of unparalleled quality, made specifically to satisfy the demands of professional pianists. The P126 was designed by C.

All New Pianos
$ 34,655.00
W. Hoffmann T122 Upright Piano
All New Pianos

W. Hoffmann T122 Upright Piano

$ 27,405.00
W. Hoffmann T122 Upright Piano

W. Hoffmann T122 Upright Piano

The W. Hoffmann T122 Upright Piano are designed and manufactured by C. Bechstein Europe and use the highest quality CNC machinery, top-grade woods, the latest design trends, and hand-craftsmanship in

All New Pianos
$ 27,405.00
W. Hoffmann T177 Grand Piano
All New Pianos

W. Hoffmann T177 Grand Piano

$ 73,835.00
W. Hoffmann T177 Grand Piano

W. Hoffmann T177 Grand Piano

The W. Hoffmann T177 Grand piano is the mid-size offering in the Tradition line of Hoffmann pianos from C. Bechstein Europe. An evolved line of grands from the famed Bohemia

All New Pianos
$ 73,835.00
W. Hoffmann T186 Grand Piano
All New Pianos

W. Hoffmann T186 Grand Piano

$ 80,685.00
W. Hoffmann T186 Grand Piano

W. Hoffmann T186 Grand Piano

The W. Hoffmann T186 Grand piano is the largest offering in the Tradition line of Hoffmann pianos from C. Bechstein Europe. An evolved version of the famed Bohemia piano company,

All New Pianos
$ 80,685.00
W Hoffmann T161
All New Pianos

W. Hoffmann T161 Baby Grand Piano

$ 63,995.00
W Hoffmann T161

W. Hoffmann T161 Baby Grand Piano

The W. Hoffmann T161 by C. Bechstein is a top-value fully-European made baby grand piano with an impressive sound and pleasant touch for a piano of its size; European quality

All New Pianos
$ 63,995.00
W. Hoffmann V131 Upright Piano
Upright Pianos

W. Hoffmann V131 Upright Piano

$ 23,995.00
W. Hoffmann V131 Upright Piano

W. Hoffmann V131 Upright Piano

*DISCONTINUED* The W. Hoffmann V131 upright piano is among the largest European pianos available, and is said by Bechsein to be ‘rooted in the tradition on German concert pianos’. This

Upright Pianos
$ 23,995.00
W. Hoffmann V126 Upright Piano
Upright Pianos

W. Hoffmann V126 Upright Piano

$ 21,995.00
W. Hoffmann V126 Upright Piano

W. Hoffmann V126 Upright Piano

*DISCONTINUED* A brand new design in 2015, straight from C. Bechstein's R&D division in Berlin.  The colour, depth, and sustain that this upright achieves is genuinely startling for it's price.

Upright Pianos
$ 21,995.00
W. Hoffmann V120 Upright Piano
Upright Pianos

W. Hoffmann V120 Upright Piano

$ 19,995.00
W. Hoffmann V120 Upright Piano

W. Hoffmann V120 Upright Piano

*DISCONTINUED* A classic 48" upright piano, in a similar price and performance range as the popular K300 and U1's, but with a distinctively colourful tone and light, fast touch.  A

Upright Pianos
$ 19,995.00
W. Hoffmann V112 Upright Piano
Upright Pianos

W. Hoffmann V112 Upright Piano

$ 20,425.00
W. Hoffmann V112 Upright Piano

W. Hoffmann V112 Upright Piano

*DISCONTINUED* At 112 cm, the v112 W. Hoffmann fits in nearly any space, no matter how small.  Designed for today's apartment and condo living, the v112 offers buyers the chance

Upright Pianos
$ 20,425.00
W. Hoffmann V183 Grand Piano
Grand Pianos

W. Hoffmann V183 Grand Piano

$ 52,995.00
W. Hoffmann V183 Grand Piano

W. Hoffmann V183 Grand Piano

The v183 is the largest of the Hoffmann Vision series grands.  For advanced students, or serious hobbyist players, the piano offers a huge range of tone and subtlety.  The accurate

Grand Pianos
$ 52,995.00
W. Hoffmann V175 Grand Piano
Grand Pianos

W. Hoffmann V175 Grand Piano

$ 48,995.00
W. Hoffmann V175 Grand Piano

W. Hoffmann V175 Grand Piano

The W. Hoffmann V175 is an impressive, affordable institutional piano from Europe.  A hybrid product of both Bechstein's German and Czech factories, this instrument delivers a full tone, accurate action,

Grand Pianos
$ 48,995.00
W Hoffmann V158
Grand Pianos

W Hoffmann V158 Baby Grand Piano

$ 50,605.00
W Hoffmann V158

W Hoffmann V158 Baby Grand Piano

The W. Hoffmann V158 is a baby grand for all. With pricing very much in the same range as a similarly sized Japanese grand piano, it’s affordable, performs extremely well,

Grand Pianos
$ 50,605.00
W. Hoffmann P206 Professional Grand Piano
Grand Pianos

W. Hoffmann P206 Grand Piano

$ 89,995.00
W. Hoffmann P206 Professional Grand Piano

W. Hoffmann P206 Grand Piano

The W. Hoffmann P206 Professional is a 6'9" to suit all needs.  Designed for recording and performance situations, this piano utilizes the very best design and material offering from C.

Grand Pianos
$ 89,995.00
W. Hoffmann P188 Grand Piano
Grand Pianos

W. Hoffmann P188 Grand Piano

$ 79,995.00
W. Hoffmann P188 Grand Piano

W. Hoffmann P188 Grand Piano

For those seeking the A190 for a price closer to a Japanese option, the P188 is the perfect solution. Built entirely by C. Bechstein Europe, the P188 is a virtual

Grand Pianos
$ 79,995.00
W. Hoffmann P162 Baby Grand
Grand Pianos

W. Hoffmann P162 Baby Grand Piano

$ 74,995.00
W. Hoffmann P162 Baby Grand

W. Hoffmann P162 Baby Grand Piano

The W. Hoffmann P162 Baby Grand brings modern German engineering and European construction into the homes of discerning players - for a price that's sure to turn heads.  Entirely hand-made,

Grand Pianos
$ 74,995.00

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

C. Bechstein has been producing pianos of legendary quality for over 150 years. Bechstein’s story begins In 1853 when German native Carl Bechstein began bespoke production of what would ultimately prove to be some of the world’s finest pianos in an effort to satiate the most demanding pianists of the day. To satisfy demand, what began as low volume bespoke production eventually expanded into a large-scale operation, with Bechstein producing several thousand pianos annually by the turn of the century. At the height of Bechstein’s popularity, and as the preferred choice of European aristocracy, the onset and aftermath of two world wars came precariously close to critically wounding the company, but like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Bechstein was successfully rejuvenated.

With stable and competent ownership since the late 1980s, Bechstein is once again among the leaders in high-end piano manufacturing. More recently, in the late 2000s, Bechstein purchased the pre-existing Bohemia piano factory in the Czech Republic where they began producing pianos under the resurrected W. Hoffmann brand as a high-value European alternative to professional Japanese pianos.

The manufacturing time for the Academy series is roughly half the time spent on the Concert series.

Certain specific design differences include non-tapered soundboards in the Academy series vs tapered soundboards in the Concert series (industry-accepted best practice), a thicker full hardwood rim with more laminations in the Concert series, and solid beech bridges in the Academy series, versus laminated bridges (industry-accepted best practice) in the Concert series.

While it’s clear that both the Academy series and Concert series pianos are premium instruments, it’s undoubtedly that the musical potential is superior in the Concert series. These instruments should be carefully considered by anyone seeking the best in European piano craftsmanship.

*Please note that while C. Bechstein has declined an application for The Bundesverband Klavier (BVK) made in Germany distinction, some clarity regarding the BVK is needed.

Using the finest quality European components, Bechstein produces upright and grand pianos in two levels of quality; the lower-priced Academy series line (on par quality-wise with the best hand-made Japanese pianos, and select German brands) and the higher-priced Concert series line (among the highest quality pianos produced in the world today.) With extensive recent re-designs throughout the entire C. Bechstein Academy and Concert series line-ups, the current C. Bechstein pianos are noticeably superior to what the company was producing even 10 years ago. Today, each line produces 4 sizes of uprights, and 5 sizes of grand pianos, available in a variety of finishes and cabinet designs.

While the Academy and Concert series lines share many similarities, the differences can be summed up quite simply; The concert series line instruments use slightly better materials, undergo a lengthier manufacturing process, and utilize almost every best piano building practice known today.

Some of the specific material differences include AAA Austrian white spruce in the Academy series vs much more expensive Val di Fiemme spruce, i.e. Stradivarius, in the Concert series, Mahogany hammer mouldings in the Academy line versus stronger and lighter Walnut hammer mouldings in the Concert line, and Bechstein’s “Silver Line” action in the Academy series versus the “Gold Line” action featured in the Concert series (built to stricter tolerances.) 

The Bundesverband Klavier (BVK) certificate is a private organization in Germany made up of the smallest producers (in total less than 25% of the premium market) which is not certified by any laws, and to become a member, only requires the following:

  • gluing the soundboard to the back frame or rim
  • fitting and installing the cast-iron plate
  • stringing the instrument
  • gluing the cabinet around the instrument
  • installing and regulating the keyboard and action
  • tuning, and voicing

It does not require that ANY parts actually come from Germany to meet this certification. Not only is this fact, but even pianobuyer.com has published these details without protest or dispute from Bundesverband Klavier (BKV).

There are all sorts of inconsistencies as well; the world’s most respected concert grand piano, the Hamburg Steinway D, also is not on this list. Fazioli is a member…even though they are Italian. Petrof is a member, even though they are Czech, and Steinway & Bechstein both publicly declared why they were not joining – they already meet and exceed a much stricter government-issued regulation which actually requires Germany parts AND labor to get certified, which is the EUR-1 standard. 

View more piano brands here.

C. BECHSTEIN PIANO SERIAL NUMBERS

DATE OF MANUFACTURESERIAL NUMBER
1859-18600-300
1861-1870301-4196
1871-18804197-11676
1881-189011677-24958
1891-190024959-54181
1901-191054182-94753
1911-192094754-115783
1921-1930115784-137446
1931-1940137447-143890
1941-1950143891-147000
1951-1960147001-151950
1961-1970151951-162300
1971-1980162301-173785
1981-1990173786-180821
1991-2000181526-187537
2001-2010188393-200688
2011-Present202173-

C. Bechstein vs Bosendorfer vs Fazioli vs Steinway

Tier 1C. BechsteinBosendorferFazioliHamburg Steinway
CountryGermanyAustriaItalyGermany
Upright Models <120cmMillennium 116K, Classic/Contour 118N/AN/AN/A
Upright Models > 120cmClassic/Elegance 124, Concert 8Model 130N/AN/A
Grand Models < 180cmL167Model 155, Model 170VCF156S-155, M-170, O-180
Grand Models > 180cmA192, B212, C234, D282Model 185VC, Model 200, Model 200CS, Model 214VC, Model 214VC CS, Model 225, Model 280VC, Model 290,F183, F212, F228, F278, F308A-188, B-211, C-227, D-274
Rim ConstructionMahogany and Red BeechSpruce and Red BeechMaple and MahoganyMaple and Beech
Soundboard MaterialItalian Red Spruce from the Val Di’ FiemmeAustrian White SpruceItalian Red Spruce from the Val Di’ FiemmeSolid White Spruce
Soundboard ElevationMinimum 1,000 MetersHigh-Altitude (Specific Height Undisclosed)Minimum 1,000 Meters?
Tonal CharacteristicsExtremely Dynamic, Colourful and ClearDelicate yet Highly RichPowerful, ColourfulPowerful, Clean and Crisp
ActionBechstein ‘Gold Line’ ActionAction Made by BosendorferRennerRenner
HammersDark Walnut – Made by BechsteinRenner Underfelted ‘Orange’ HammersRennerRenner High-Compression Weikert Felt
Warranty5 Years Parts & Labour10 Year Parts & Labour10 Year Parts & Labour10 Year Parts & Labour
Backpost / Beam ConstructionReinforced Spruce Radial Frame with Dove-tailed JointsNot AvailableRadial Spruce Beam Frame with Triple Joinery?
Rim Construction (Grands Only)Mahogany and Red BeechSpruce and Red BeechMaple and MahoganyMaple and Beech
Duplex Scaling (Grands Only)Front & Rear Duplex?Double Duplex ScaleDuplex Scale
Average Hrs Production (Grands)420-550 Hours~500 Hrs500+ HrsNot Available
Average Hrs Production (Uprights)180 HoursNot AvailableN/ANot Available

Tier 2August ForsterBluthnerEstoniaShigeru KawaiYamaha CFNY Steinway
CountryGermanyGermanyEstoniaJapanJapanUnited States
Upright Models <120cm116D, CN/AN/AN/AN/A
Upright Models > 120cm125, 134A, B, SN/AN/AN/AK52
Grand Models < 180cm17011, 10L168N/AN/AS, M, O
Grand Models > 180cm190, 215, 2756, 4, 2, 1L190, L210, L225, L274SK2, SK3, SK5, SK6, SK7, SKEXCF4, CF6, CFXA, B, D
Rim ConstructionBeechBeechLaminated BirchMahogany and Hard Rock MapleMaple & MahoganyHard Rock Maple
Soundboard MaterialSolid Mountain SpruceSolid SpruceGerman Solid SpruceSolid Sitka Spruce, Ezo Spruce (larger models)Solid European SpruceSolid Sitka Spruce
Soundboard Elevation??????
Tonal CharacteristicsDeep, Dark & Clear with a Powerfull BassDark, Warm and LyricalWarm, Sonorous and DynamicVery Dynamic, Colourful, Dark and WarmBright, Clear with SustainResonant, Powerful Bass, Colourful
ActionRennerRennerRennerMillennium III Carbon FiberYamaha Balanced ActionSteinway Accelerated Action
HammersPremium RennerAbel Angled HammersRenner BlueMahogany, Made by KawaiPremium Balanced HammersHard Rock Maple
Warranty5 Years Parts & Labour10 Years Parts & Labour10 Years Parts & Labour10 Years Parts & Labour10 Years Parts & Labour5 Years Parts & Labour
Backpost / Beam ConstructionSpruceSpruceSpruce, Focused Beam ConstructionSpruceDovetailed SpruceSpruce
Rim Construction (Grands Only)BeechBeechLaminated BirchMaple and MahoganyMaple & MahoganyHard Rock Maple
Duplex Scaling (Grands Only)?Aliquot StringingFront & Rear DuplexFull Length DuplexDuplex ScalingFull Dup,ex
Average Hrs Production (Grands)??????
Average Hrs Production (Uprights)???N/A??

Frequently Asked Questions

The serial number on C. Bechstein uprights is located under the lid, stamped onto the metal plate. On C. Bechstein grands, the serial number is located at the front of the piano, also stamped on the metal plate.

C. Bechstein Concert Series grands and uprights are among the most elite pianos made in the world today, and one of only 6 manufacturer’s to be ranked in the highest possible quality category by the Larry Fine Piano Buyer’s Guide.

C. Bechstein branded pianos are made by hand exclusively in Seifhennersdorf, Germany.

C. Bechstein upright piano list pricing ranges from $25,750 USD to $67,457 while C. Bechstein grand piano list pricing ranges from $63,434 USD to $227,702.

C. Bechstein is very selective with their artist program. Contact a registered Bechstein dealer for more information.

Four of the greatest composers of all time are known for owning and composing on a C. Bechstein; Edvard Grieg, Alexander Scriabin, Maurice Ravel and Béla Bartók. Other famous owners include Claude Debussey, and perhaps most famously, The Beatles, Elton John, David Bowie and Queen.

You can determine the age of a C. Bechstein piano by looking up the serial number, and checking further above on this page to determine the age.

Many of the 20th century’s top classical and pop artists frequently played Bechstein’s, including Alexander Scriabin, Claude Debussey, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Elton John, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Supertramp and Oscar Peterson.

C. Bechstein grand piano list pricing ranges from $63,434 USD to $227,702.

A C. Bechstein A192 (formerly named Model M) is a 6’4” (192cm) grand piano.

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