Bluthner Model 2 vs. Fazioli 228

This is possibly one of the most interesting videos I have ever filmed! I found these pianos at Collora Pianos in Dallas, Texas, and I was really surprised at how they sounded! I expected a big sound difference between the Bluthner and the Fazioli, but as you can hear the Bluthner has a warm, rich tone that is very pleasant to listen to. It was voiced by Knut Bluthner, and he did a really great job.

[@cartmann227]

Für Blüthner sounds dreamlike. Distant, less real. I like it!

[@MrFiddler1959]

The low end on the Fazioli sounds to me like an orchestral bass section. Maybe it’s because I’m a cellist, but I find that rich fullness very satisfying.

[@frederickchao]

Fazioli sounds better by far to my ears. The clarity and sparkle in the high range as well as the rich and powerful bass are outstanding. Both are fine sounding pianos but the Fazioli is magnificent.

[@vickiyoung367]

Frederick chao I totally agree with your comment. Fazioli is spectacular

[@kyfegte827]

I agree. The Bluthners I played on had a strange almost 'neue Sachlichkeit' type of sound. Not bad sounding, but really as if somebidy cut the sound short.

[@radiorexandy]

Love the "growl" on the Fazioli bass!

[@aldito7586]

I heard that too Andrew. Bigger and better sounding bass on the Fazioli....

[@dapro2848]

This is the second time I have heard you play a Fazioli and I am always surprised at the warmth and richness of these pianos. Slowly becoming my favorite piano after Yamaha CFX. Got to play a 20 year old Steinway M at a local music store and wish I could afford it. Have never heard a CFX live only on youtube. Thanks for the work you put into making these videos for us to enjoy.

[@gs032009]

Fazioli! When you played the lower register in the first piece on the Fazioli, we knew we had a winner: Fazioli. The Bluthner is brighter and thiner, in fact, too bright and thin, still good, but not as rich in harmonics, not as rounded, and the lower octave is not as rich and rounded and powerful as the magnificent Fazioli.

[@dennisdeemii]

in piano lore they say the Bluthner's absence of the deeper richer harmonics is why they say it makes a great piano to accompany singers. the voice could get swallowed by the mighty fazioli. two great pianos. i'll take one of both. lol

[@johndavolta3124]

Blüthner is beautiful in its own way, bright and refreshing while Fazioli is warm and cozy.

[@chrisloomis4921]

I like the Bluthner treble - spot on description, James. Like ice, sparkly, crystalline but not harsh. The Fazioli has more warmth overall. I’d like to hear a Fazioli with aliquot stringing in the treble - what a piano that would be!

[@bikemike1118]

The best of both worlds probably is a Bösendorfer VC model !

[@DavidLevinEnt]

Great job! I'm recording presently on a "new" 228 that is used in jazz concerts and LOVE it! Can't wait to get back to that project (my second CD) once the pandemic is behind us!

[@eduardoquirino8131]

I enjoy your show and learn many things. good work

[@krisanapanna]

Love both pianos, they sound so good. The tuner deserves merit as well. Especially because he was able to match the 2 very different pianos. I noticed when you compare the base notes. Should money be no object, I'd buy one of each!

[@sueryan855]

Love the treble and the bass on the Blüthner!

[@remigioruzzini7869]

I have an old Bluthner piano,I love him, he taught me how to play, but Fazioli is my dream. It is the best.

[@benedictdsilva3954]

Try Borgato if you can ... I'm waiting ...I played all the Faizioli upto the 308 cm at the Frankfurt fair 2018...

[@pianoman4309]

fazioli has the purity of sound of crystal beautifull

[@ptfeathers]

I love the base sound of the Fazioli but overall I would give it to the Bluthner for its warm bell singing tone in its mid and treble range. But I would love any of these pianos... Rolls Royce v Bentley

[@jamessenior2314]

Hi James! I too have had a lifelong interest in pianos - having played since four, and spent much time discussing them with musicians and particularly technicians (many, particularly in Germany). I have even restored several grands, although only as a competent amateur! I never pass an opportunity to play new or old pianos, and my general feeling is that they are all increasingly loud and strident. I always inspect hammers and very much feel that manufacturers voice their instruments all sound like concert grands for the concert hall, even if their clients are actually trying to buy instruments for the home. Having just played a Bluthner in Leipzig, I would say it was very fine, but would not choose a new one over an old one (~100 years). They still claim 'golden tone' and the old one really had that. Today I would say they are approaching being signal generators that cause me tinnitus! That may be harsh, but I lament the loss of warm mellow instruments. The same holds for Bechstein, of which I am a great fan of older instruments. Anyway I have a comment on the Aliquot system. The hammer imparts energy to the three strings it strikes. Vibrations are then transmitted to the bridge onto the soundboard as usual, but also to the fourth string which in order to vibrate must absorb energy. Doing so at certain frequencies more effectively than others presumably allows those less absorbed to become more dominant I guess. Either way, the proof is in the pudding - and every technician I have ever spoken to starts by pointing out that Bluthner cheapened the Aliquot implementation (making it the same length as the corresponding string rather than a shorther distance with separate bridge) and they always tell me than if you mute the Aliquot strings with felt, you won't hear any difference, suggesting they don't do much. I haven't tried this myself, but do suggest you always ask your tech/tuner for their opinion. They're at the coal face and can tell you if something is real or a marketing gimmick.

[@andrewpuckett5295]

I LOVE the bass end of the Fazioli.

[@vb5396]

Thanks man!

[@malteraff5237]

Thank you for the very interesting comparison. Let's not forget, that Fazioli is the Rolls-Royce of the piano Brands and probably much more expensive. I am always very pleased by Blüthner and say "wow!" I am still waiting for a video of Borgato and Stuard&sons (even you had a horrible experience with the founder of that brand. Kind regards! Malte

[@Drewster58]

The piano closest to the wall has a simpler more clean and uncomplicated sound, less overtones or something. Nice. I guess I am a Bluthner man!

[@dennisdeemii]

I read somewhere that Bluthner's are especially good for accompanying singers. It is said that the piano allows for the voice's overtones to stand out.

[@MarcusVinicius116]

And I love their look, the much original look of the frame with trapezoid gaps, the blue felts, etc... It's one of the most underrated brand but just because almost nobody knows their existence, especially in the USA. In Europe this brand is much known and estimated.

[@fulcherpj]

I have a Bluthner style 8 from 1900 with the aliquot stringing from middle G I think it is. Important to remember that the aliquot strings are tuned one octave higher than the unison except for the top octave which tuned to the unison. A very effective method not only to add resonance to the whole piano but to add more upper partials to the treble notes!

[@robertstruder4434]

Good God, Paul Fulcher, you must be among the two or three experts in the world who could possibly have written this comment. Your contributions to piano music have to be significant.

[@davidbee8178]

Yes I agree - you hit the "hammer on the note" when you said that the Fazioli seemed to have the "thicker, richer" sound. Without getting into qualitative differences between these two marvellous pianos, I do have to say that the Fazioli is a "clear winner" in my humble opinion. Keep up the good work, James!

[@michaelweymouth4015]

Wood “burl” is a wood characteristic that is highly figured from a virus, injury, stress, or fungus. Highly sought after, used in many high end luxury automobiles. Beautiful in the Blüthner Grand piano.

[@frazzledude]

My piano tech told me that when he tunes a Bluthner grand piano he keeps a guitar pick in his tool kit. If the fourth string on a note in the treble section is badly out of tune it won't resonate when the hammer hits the other three strings. So he uses the guitar pick to pluck the fourth string so he can tune it. Also, you might mention that Fazioli pianos have individually movable aliquots. That is so the secondary part of the strings for each note can be individually tuned. The Bluthner piano sounded very good. They are a high quality instrument.

[@lostinbeauty7129]

I feel like if you could chop the treble off the Fazioli and replace it with the Bluthner, you'd have the perfect piano. The love the warm velvety bass and mid-range on the Fazioli, but the treble sounds a bit dead to me. The treble on the Bluthner, as you said, has a wonderful sparkle, but the uncomplicated bass (to steal a word from a previous writer) doesn't "resonate" with me. Maybe Fazioli should consider the Aliquot system, and a smidge of blue felt 😉.

[@bernardofitzpatrick5403]

Agree about the Bluther ... bright treble. Big diff. Like the Fazioli tho -Italian style. Nice one dude!

[@FM-dk1vp]

I like the Fazioli as it has a nice overall tone no matter what piece is being played. I’ll take one of each.

[@fishchrome1332]

I prefer the Fazioli sound, but they are both wonderful instruments.

[@sandrotorres1298]

The Fazioli basses have clearly much less inharmonicities! Incomparable! Perhaps the result of a much more recent design.

[@shopbruce]

Wow! Almost impossible to pick one over the other. - thanks for sharing!

[@ThePianoforever]

I was really impressed by how close the Blüthner came to the Fazioli. Both were amazing pianos and a joy to play.

[@dennisdeemii]

@@ThePianoforever I read that Bluthner is really good for accompanying singers as it allows the voice's overtones to showcase whereas the harmonics might be covered by the Fazioli. The Fazioli's sound though! I l love it. Chiaroscuro that we go for in singing is met in the fazioli.

[@fulcherpj]

The Bluthner sounds slightly distant compared to the Fazioli. Though I think this is to do with the fact that the Bluthner is physically further away from the microphone? Two beautiful pianos for sure and a good side by side comparison. For me I think I would take the Fazioli because of the fuller tone. Love that bass!!

[@ThePianoforever]

Microphone placement is exactly the same for each piano.

[@fulcherpj]

Oh ok good to know! Definitely prefer the Fazioli then! 😎

[@carolbommarito9606]

The booked burled walnut sample that you showed at the end of the clip reminds me of a modern scan of someone’s scull a 3D slice of human anatomy. Or an alien being!

[@Deeznutsmynamejeff21]

I prefer the more warm tone of the bluthner to be honest but they are both fine pianos which I would love to own any day.

[@bryduhbikeguy]

I think the Bluthner would be great in mid size room,for playing jazz,and brighter,quick music.The Fazioli seems more suited for larger rooms,and slower concertos,and full renditions of classics./When I hear you test a piano with your tune,it's like "Ascension".The music flows up and away..I hope you continue finish the song,and publish too.If the name's not used,you may have it.It always 'feels',and I'm glad to hear it.

[@chiapheng]

Fazioli !! I am no musician but it simply sounds better to my ears....

[@hatchegg80]

fazioli is an incredible piano for control and sound quality, do very well in competitions. for a home piano, i have a shigeru kawai. costs aside, the fazioli gets a little intense after listening for a while, for a home/parlour piano, i really love my shigeru for its warm round tones. even a kawai, i think makes a lovely warm home piano

[@bikemike1118]

Good point. That’s what also came immediately to my mind but didn’t put it in word’s for starters. Yes, I also feel like it can get a bit more stressful (maybe?) or „heavy“ to listen to a Fazioli for let’s say an hour non stop…

[@myuncle2]

Don't know in the past decades, but all the recently made Fazioli and Bosendorfer sound better than any other piano I tried, they always have this bell like sound that you can clearly hear when you compare them side by side in the same room with any other brand. Sometimes you just need one single note, then just stand up and lean your ear towards the strings.

[@juanperezpianistaflamenco]

really nice video, congrats. The Fazzioli has a nice sound, more on the darker and richer in sustain kind of sound... the Bluthner is better pronounced to my ears, and the hights are to me very special, particular sound, so me this is a plus, personality. I have the classical degree but I am speciallized on playing flamenco at piano, to the music I do I would prefer the Bluthner, more pronounce and less reverberance since flamenco is a very rythmical style... Anyways thanks for the video!

[@danielmkubacki]

Great video. Could you possibly play Scarlatti’s Sonata in D major K491?

[@moldenburg909]

Nice. I lean over to the Fazioli. The sound is somewhat deeper, richer. But just a bit. What kind of piano was there in the background? Thank you for sharing. Like it.

[@paulallenMacca]

James The Beatles played a Bluthner Model One in the Let It Be Film.

[@gbantock]

Some pianists of renown insisted on touring with a Blüthner, not satisfied with the usual Steinpuppy or Baldwig grands found on site. I remember, especially, Hans Richter-Hauser, a great pianist, albeit not so known nowadays as back in the 1950s when I heard him live.

[@aselkularatne3287]

Thanks for the lovely video as usual. However, in terms of bass Fazioli is an easy winner. It was so fat and rich. In terms of the treble, I still prefer the Fazioli as it has a pearl, rounded sound. Kudos to Bluthner for the innovation in the sympathetic resonance, however still sounds too direct or glassy as you say.

[@ThePianoforever]

I love the sound of a Fazioli bass! Wonderful instruments.

[@greggost6493]

Fazioli for me...but I have a Bösendorfer 195 cm at home. Would like to hear the comparison of Fazioli to Bösendorfer of the same size. I tried a Blüthner once, but found it entirely too brilliant for me..( and impossible to play softly..)

[@DavidArdittiComposer]

I prefer the Fazioli, the sound is grander and deeper. I’ve a lot more experience of Blütners; as they are far more common, having been around far longer. The sound of them puts a musty smell into the nostrils in my imagination, as this is the smell of auction rooms where you usually encounter old examples. I feel the aliquot stringing has always been a bit of a marketing gimmick; some tuners disable the aliquot strings as they don’t feel the gain is worth the effort of tuning them. Having said that, I wouldn’t object to being given one.

[@ThePianoforever]

I think I would get a new tuner if I didn't tune my own already. Why should a tuner decide that an extra string isn't worth tuning?

[@DavidArdittiComposer]

ThePianoforever I suppose the owners don’t exactly know what the tuners are doing, or just take their advice, and some tuners think’ ‘Why should I tune more strings for the same fee when I don’t think they can hear the difference?’ Well-done with tuning your own pianos.

[@stephenreid7043]

Burr walnut is the wood. It has been used for many decades on door top trim and dashboards on many British car marques like RR, Bentley, Jaguar, Bristol, Vanden Plas, MG et cetera, also as a veneer on drawer fronts of English furniture. IMO the Fazioli sounds a much richer and fuller resonating sound. It's bass is noticeably more powerful than the Bluthner. However, I suspect the Faz is ridiculously more expensive!

[@michelesavarese1497]

Fazioli You'll get the vow of hearing it to a soul when you listen to very pulpy bass and a sound melody for me the best!

[@yoms9608]

Fazioli too here :-)

[@johncabaniss1628]

Burl wood ,like the inside of ur fazioli comes only from the roots of the tree, thats why the little circles all over.

[@The_Smith]

I think that's Burl, not Burr. Burl refers to grain of the wood, occurs in many different species. These side by side comparisons are nice.

[@jeanpierreguaron9222]

"Burr" refers to burr walnut. In the language of timber junkies.

[@vogelvogeltje]

Hurr durr burr

[@joernschneider5039]

Ver nice comparison. Fazioli sounds better in my opinion. I love your piano tests. I like also a lot your test piece. Is there some place where to download the notes of your test piece?

[@thepocketboy]

The wife and I like the warmth of the fazioli over the bluthner. But would love to have either.

[@ThePianoforever]

Honestly, they are both world class instruments.

[@paulallenMacca]

Is there a big difference between the Bluthner Model 2 and Model One,Paul McCartney played a Bluthner Model One on The Let It Be Film.

[@robgrune3284]

Both are superb. The Fazzioli has a slight twang to the mid range. I prefer the Bluthner sound. What James has not mentioned is the age of the pianos and when they were last serviced. I surmise the Bluthner is older. What people here say is a weaker bass register could be from a combination of aspects: age of strings, age of felt heads, technique. Without the chance to perform the comparison myself, this is speculation.

[@ThePianoforever]

Both were new.

[@victorinoxavier9396]

Two grand piano has different volume of their body size, sure they make the different sound. for example the load speaker box, I prefer the bigger one even they have the same speaker inside. Sorry, I don't know is that right ? I like this program very much ! thanks ! I'm your fans.

[@MV-ot8kr]

Does the sympathetic resonance from a piano in such close proximity factor into matters when playing in videos ? Seems like it could , but that's why I ask because I don't know .

[@joesmith5919]

Steinway uses black walnut burl wood cabinet as well.

[@temptress123]

Rosewood on the Blüthner? Walnut on the Fazioli?

[@pernordin2641]

As a piano tuner I prefer the Blütner as it is easier to tune because of the brilliance of the tone. As a musician I prefer the Fazioli, because of the richness of the sound.

[@silviocorrea5271]

Bluthner, no questions, but without much Bass! Fazioli is good too, the Bass are fantastic!

[@benedictdsilva3954]

The comparison is between these two pianos... Every piano is different between brands ( even the same brand and model).. The Bluthner is a little more musical but the Faizioli has a powerful bass....

[@danielhughes441]

Fazioli also finishes the underside of the chassis, unlike other piano makers.

[@azguitar]

Fazioli ftw!

[@gbantock]

I am a Blüthner guy though-and-through

[@sissy1234hhh]

I was told that the factory used by Baldwin pianos, still has all the equipment inside to make pianos. Why don't you go there and see if you can get in and see the old factory, Do stories about that?

[@stevec.1802]

Nice presentation and demo. 🎹 from my experience having played both of those models, the Fazioli sounds a bit more thick with overtones & a rounder sound, somewhat similar to a Steinway from my recollection. On the Bluthner they have more of a fundamental sound when the hammer strikes the string even though its closest to the wall in your video, and that’s not a criticism, it’s just an inherent design of Bluthner but still a very nice sounding piano. Play on...

[@colinmurphy2214]

Prefer the Blüthner. It’s sound seems more relatable to me, is how I’d put it.

[@victorkhong7654]

To my ear, the treble on the Bluthner has a more pleasing musical -- yes musical quality to it compared to the Fazioli. The Bluthner sounds more muddy (pillowy) in the bass than the Fazioli. The thing about shrill trebles is the ear will tire of those harmonics sooner than a less shrill or thin treble. It surprises me how well the Bluthner compares to a Fazioli. Once more thing, the balance between treble and bass tones seems more balanced on the Bluthner whereas the Fazioli seems to have more polar separation between them making the transition between the treble-tenor-bass more distinct with more marked separation. The balance and moderation of the Bluthner shines. The Bluthner overall sounds more cohesive musically. Its difficult to express this perception in words.

[@RModillo]

Chalk and cheese. Fazioli translates as being more direct, and wants to be played in a big hall. Bluthner has a more complex suite of overtones, at least when notes are interacting.

[@finaljr]

Bluthner 2 is 238 cms. It can't be shorter than the 228 Faz

[@TheCynedd]

You are (to use a phrase) comparing "Apples & Apples" here, JPS. Which has the better sound? Who the h*ll can say? In this comparison video, in my uneducated opinion, Fazioli pianos beat every piano I have ever heard in the bass register. The Blüther you played in this video does excel in the resonance of the treble. Which instrument did I personally like better than the other overall: I answer the Fazioli. The Fazioli, I think, has a full, powerful and commanding sound that would not only fill a room but a cathedral or concert auditorium. That said, the Blüthner has a treble that would pierce the 3rd balcony. Excellent comparison video! I guess the only answer to the question of which instrument is better is reflexive to the future owner of either: "which sound do you personally like best?" 👍🎶🎹

[@ThePianoforever]

TheCynedd, I think what really makes these pianos most interesting is that they are not even full concert grands, but semi concert grands and still have that level of performance.

[@mannygee005]

one is up against the wall while the other is not, I would think this would make a difference in the sound. What I mean is there should not be a wall.

[@ThePianoforever]

That would be true if the piano was facing the wall, but you will notice the lid is facing the open room. I have seen some dealers face the lid to the wall to give the piano the appearance of a more powerful piano, but that is not the case here.

[@adrianreyes2318]

Mid and low tones are better on fazioli. But high tones are cleaner and crisper on bluthner

[@dwaynehawkins]

what is the bach hymn precisely ?

[@alleskloa3152]

Dwayne Hawkins He played two hymns. At 9:42, “Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist”, translated into English as, “We now implore God the Holy Ghost.” hymnary.org/text/we_now_implore_god_the_holy_ghost#tune At 11:32, “Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele” translated into English as, “Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness” or “Soul, adorn thyself with gladness.” hymnary.org/tune/schmucke_dich_crueger

[@frankcasatelli4078]

It’s a tie!

[@c3piano]

What is the approximate cost of these instruments?

[@ThePianoforever]

Best to contact a dealer.

[@Claude_van]

The Fazioli has a more overall satisfying piano sound. The Blüthner has a more singing and nasal sound, human voice like. For harmonies I would prefer the Fazioli, for melodies the Blüthner.

[@josefriga8253]

Combine the Bluthner aliquod system with the warm rich sound of a Bechstein. That would be a marriage! You may have created then the ideal grand piano sound.

[@johncabaniss1628]

I like both of the pianos , but i would have to hear them in person. My favorites used to be an original baldwin, or bosendorfer

[@mr.rinzler6476]

I like Fazioli better because it has a more full sound that i think is caused by the powerfull bass of the Fazioli, but i like the Blüthner treble better than the Fazioli, it sounds more magical i think. I wonder what causes the Fazioli bass to be more powefull than the Blüthner. If you know, plese tell me. Would be perfect for me a piano that has those two characteristics together. But for this comparison, Fazioli takes the cake.

[@ThePianoforever]

Fazioli takes great care when making their pianos, and they pay special attention to even the smallest details. They meticulously hand-craft their own bass strings, which is why their bass has such a rich, complex, uniquely powerful sound.

[@victorinoxavier9396]

You need a twin for helping.

[@ericpmoss]

At around 4:00 you mention "burr wood". I think it is "burl", the most interesting part of a tree. The wood itself looks like Birdseye maple, but I'm no expert.

[@stevepailet8258]

Burr is diseased wood. it has very interesting working properties. it is a veneer as that is the only way to get it.. when you see it on a tree it is like a growth around the trunk of the tree.

[@gbantock]

Interesting comparison! I own a Blüthner baby grand from 1935 (totally refurbished with materials from Blüthner in Leipzig in the mid-1990s),. Even without the Aliquot overstringing, the tone of this small grand is very imposing and resonant, so it is not just the overstringing on larger Blüthner pianos that provides that angelic tone. (It is ONLY baby grand Blüthner pianos that lack the overstringing.) I also own a Knabe upright, retained for four-hand playing, since Knabe and Blüthner have such compatible sound. Anyway, that 7+ fotter Blüthner piano is a beauty!

[@gbantock]

The finish of my Blüthner is rosewood.

[@gbantock]

I meant "footer", not "fotter". Sorry about that!

[@ThePianoforever]

I played a Blüthner from the early 1900s a while back, and compared it to it's new counterpart in a video. The antique, restored piano had a very pleasing tone. Blüthners seem to age well!

[@johncabaniss1628]

If i had to pick one i would prolly give it to fazioli

[@c3piano]

I prefer the Bluthner for the Bach.

[@sibprof5684]

Fazioli.

[@mad-milesasdestination4441]

The Fazioli is made out of fir trees wood

[@TheGoldsholl]

I think the fabiola is a giant sound. it's huge vs. the Bluthner. I dare to compare the Fazioli to a steinway.. The Fazioli clearly the winner

[@seongtaek84]

Two of the very best piano brands along with Steinway and Bösendorfer. Can't pick one which one I like. It's like two top opera singers next to each other, both are brilliant but obviously different voices.

[@alsy933]

Fazioli inside looks like cats paw oak but will be willingly be corrected

[@michaelwisse9284]

The Blüthner has more character

[@seunggunchoi1690]

Thank you. I prefer Bruthner because Fazioli sounds like YAMAHA grand.

[@gregarioussolitudinist5695]

Probably 'burled' wood, is my guess.

[@StSmore]

I like Blüthner better because it's haunting. Fazioli sounds gorgeous, but has less soul.

[@mauriziom9422]

Fazioli has a better sound in my opinion. I cannot find a better piano brand in the marker

[@lasaraungbakri7386]

Mercedes vs Ferrari

[@bryanpersaud9947]

'Burl' is root wood.

[@fishchrome1332]

I prefer the Fazioli sound, but they are both wonderful instruments.