Then there’s this Audi Bosie …

ShiroKuro

Have we had a thread about this piano before?

Front view

Back view

Link: https://www.boesendorfer.com/en/pianos/ultimate-design/grand-audi

I try to find something to love about all the unusual pianos I find, but this one is just…. Ugly.

Sorry! 😅

TheBoringPianist

ShiroKuro this one is just…. Ugly.

I mean... it is an Audi.

Animisha

It reminds me of a new car. Also the name by the way. 😅

navindra

I like it actually! But I can be a bit of a rebel in these things. 😃

Although, not having casters gives me pause. A non-adjustable bench is also quite impractical. I think I just talked myself out of getting one... 🤣

If I'm not mistaken, Costco had a pretty good deal on one of these some time back, relatively speaking.

ShiroKuro

navindra Although, not having casters gives me pause. A non-adjustable bench is also quite impractical. I think I just talked myself out of getting one... 🤣

Well darn! 🤣🤣

navindra Costco had a pretty good deal on one of these some time back, relatively speaking.

On a BösendorferAudi model? At Costco????

Gombessa

navindra A non-adjustable bench is also quite impractical.

The bench IS adjustable. It has literally the smoothest, most substantial adjustment mechanism I've ever felt in a manmade object. But it IS impractical. The first time I tried to move it, I thought it was bolted to the floor. I believe it weighs at least 80lb, and wouldn't be surprised if it was 100+lb.

Gombessa

Ohh....here's a secret: before I owned a piano....that was my primary piano! 🤫

twocats

Gombessa Ohh....here's a secret: before I owned a piano....that was my primary piano! 🤫

What?!?! Tell us more about how this came to be!

ShiroKuro

Gombessa Wow! Was that at a music school?

Re the bench, I am convinced that all the best benches way a ton. I think that must be a criteria for bench quality.

So, looks aside, how did it sound???

navindra

Gombessa Wow, that is just too cool!

It's also laudable that they kept it maintained.

I wish more such pianos (not just this model) were sprinkled around and available for local playing.

Gombessa

twocats What?!?! Tell us more about how this came to be!

I'll just say this article was posted on the wall next to the piano (I've looked but can't find the source publication):

I've had the extremely good fortune of playing both of these, as well as a smaller Porsche model in the same neighborhood. I had about an hour, once or twice a week with the pictured Audi for several years. Treasured every moment I had with it.

ShiroKuro So, looks aside, how did it sound???

Despite the odd shape and materials (if you look at it, half of the rim is missing because it's part of the lid), it sounded like a classical (non-VC) Bosendorfer, and it was really otherworldly. It's been well-played and honestly not in the greatest shape, but it was regularly tuned and voiced, has that characteristic soft, velvet tone I love from Bosendorfer, and the action was of course amazing. I'll admit it totally shaped my ear and defined what I liked and wanted in a piano. And that is totally why, many years later, I ended up selecting the piano I have now. I think I just couldn't forget or escape that kind thing!

twocats

Gombessa I'll admit it totally shaped my ear and defined what I liked and wanted in a piano. And that is totally why, many years later, I ended up selecting the piano I have now. I think I just couldn't forget or escape that kind thing!

It is staying with you forever in the form of the piano you own!! ❤️

Speaking of which, I miss hearing you play, if you're up for sharing more recordings in the future 🙂

ShiroKuro

Gombessa I had about an hour, once or twice a week with the pictured Audi for several years. Treasured every moment I had with it.

Oh wow, that's great!!

Gombessa Despite the odd shape and materials (if you look at it, half of the rim is missing because it's part of the lid), it sounded like a classical (non-VC) Bosendorfer, and it was really otherworldly. It's been well-played and honestly not in the greatest shape, but it was regularly tuned and voiced, has that characteristic soft, velvet tone I love from Bosendorfer, and the action was of course amazing. I'll admit it totally shaped my ear and defined what I liked and wanted in a piano. And that is totally why, many years later, I ended up selecting the piano I have now.

Makes sense!! Just because the look is not to my taste doesn't mean the sound wouldn't be, I have no doubt it ws still a Bosie and that would be awesome to play!

Huh.... So my first ever piano was a digital, Yamaha. Then I owned a Yamaha upright for 9 years. That piano was wonderful and I loved it dearly (I only sold it because we moved internationally). During that time, I did have the opportunity to play other pianos, but none that were special. I went through a few other pianos (acoustic and digitals what with moving around) and now of course have a Yamaha C2.... Partly my choices have always been limited by the budget. But when I bought this grand, I could have gotten some other makes or models. But this was the one I like the best.... Probably my ear and fingers were shaped by having my first acoustic be a Yamaha.... For example, while piano shopping, I never found a piano (that was remotely in my budget) with an action I liked the feel of that wasn't a Yamaha.

I never thought of it that way, but maybe if my first acoustic instrument was a Kawai upright, maybe now I'd be the owner of a Kawai grand....

/thread drift I guess. 😃

Gombessa

twocats Speaking of which, I miss hearing you play, if you're up for sharing more recordings in the future 🙂

Oh that's so incredibly kind of you to say, thank you so much! That really made my day. The last few months have been a bit of a rut with repeated headbanging over piece that's a really just out of my skill level. But I think I'm getting to a better place (which includes acceptance of limits) and that's letting me focus more.

ShiroKuro I never thought of it that way, but maybe if my first acoustic instrument was a Kawai upright, maybe now I'd be the owner of a Kawai grand....

I think there's definitely something to that. I heard something about the music that stays with you for the rest of your life being the songs during your teens and 20s; I could see with pianos and a number of other things a similar "first experience shapes your worldview" kind of impact.

But also I think you must have a pretty good ear; if you can hear the tonal characteristics and subtle detail in a particular make, there must be something there that really speaks to you!

ShiroKuro

TheBoringPianist it is an Audi.

🤣

twocats

Gombessa Oh that's so incredibly kind of you to say, thank you so much! That really made my day. The last few months have been a bit of a rut with repeated headbanging over piece that's a really just out of my skill level. But I think I'm getting to a better place (which includes acceptance of limits) and that's letting me focus more.

Awwwww I'm sure I'm not the only one! Whenever you're ready with this current piece or something else 🙂