I think Gill likes them ( thx Gill
)...but further opinions would be very much appreciated...Blackie...
Zimmermann Z1 / Z3
Moderators: Feg, Gill the Piano, Melodytune
Zimmermann Z1 / Z3
Hi.....Has anyone got any views regarding Zimmermann uprights ?....
I think Gill likes them ( thx Gill )...but further opinions would be very much appreciated...
Blackie...
I think Gill likes them ( thx Gill
)...but further opinions would be very much appreciated...Blackie...
-
Gill the Piano
- Moderator
- Posts: 4032
- Joined: 25 Oct 2003, 19:39
- Location: Thames Valley
The current Zimmermann range is built by Bechstein in their main factory in Germany. There is very little difference in build quality to the Bechstein upright (main difference being pressure-bar rather than agraffe scale) and they're about half the price. A pianist would be hard pushed to tell the difference in actual playing quality.
In my opinion:
Bechstein = good quality high priced and poor value = don't bother
Zimmermann = 85% as good as Bechstein at 50% of the price = a bit of a bargain
Other notable Bechstein built pianos include:
W.Hoffmann which are probably built in a former Eastern European location. Bechstein are coy about this and state "European factory" for which I cynically read as "Former brown-coal works in downtown Erfurt" or similar. I've never seen a current Hoffmann, but I would not expect them to be the high quality instruments that up until recently came from the Braunschweig factory, rather a cheap Irmler-style mediocre effort.
Euterpe. The product of Samick's stake in Bechstein, so probably made in Korea or Indonesia.
Bechstein also market a cheap Chinese effort built in the Samick-Bechstein Shanghai factory called Wilh.Steinmann which is about as good as a standard Pearl River or Dongbei at a much higher price. Leave well alone - not because they're poor, but you can buy cheaper. (Wendl & Lung etc)
In my opinion:
Bechstein = good quality high priced and poor value = don't bother
Zimmermann = 85% as good as Bechstein at 50% of the price = a bit of a bargain
Other notable Bechstein built pianos include:
W.Hoffmann which are probably built in a former Eastern European location. Bechstein are coy about this and state "European factory" for which I cynically read as "Former brown-coal works in downtown Erfurt" or similar. I've never seen a current Hoffmann, but I would not expect them to be the high quality instruments that up until recently came from the Braunschweig factory, rather a cheap Irmler-style mediocre effort.
Euterpe. The product of Samick's stake in Bechstein, so probably made in Korea or Indonesia.
Bechstein also market a cheap Chinese effort built in the Samick-Bechstein Shanghai factory called Wilh.Steinmann which is about as good as a standard Pearl River or Dongbei at a much higher price. Leave well alone - not because they're poor, but you can buy cheaper. (Wendl & Lung etc)
Zimmermann Z1 / Z3
Thanks for that information....
Do you know the names of suppliers in the uk ?
Do you know the names of suppliers in the uk ?
Zimmermann Z1 / Z3
i'm in Bedfordshire...
Jaques Samuel of London are Bechstein agents and therefore will stock Zimmermann, as do Pianofortein Oxfordshire, both of which are about an hour or so from Bedfordshire.
I have a feeling that Bechstein, once imported by Samuel's are now part of the Inter-Music empire, so a web inquiry via their site may be fruitful.
Good luck in tracking one down!
I have a feeling that Bechstein, once imported by Samuel's are now part of the Inter-Music empire, so a web inquiry via their site may be fruitful.
Good luck in tracking one down!
The Zimmermann Z1 struck me as a bit mellower than a Bechstein 124 and with a slightly lighter action when I tried one but not sure if this is representative. It was certainly a very nice piano and as PG says much more reasonably priced than the equivalent Bech model. I have also come across a Bechstein Academy 124 which was (comparatively) reasonable - not sure what the build quality is like on this?
