Bechstein Model V

Colour: Figured walnut

The Bechstein Model V is one of the five upright designs C. Bechstein built in Berlin during the firm's greatest period. They were known as Models I to V until 1902 and renumbered 6 to 10 thereafter, when the Model V became the Model 10. It stands 128cm tall, is straight-strung rather than overstrung, and carries 85 notes rather than the 88 that became standard later.

Straight-stringing is a large part of why these instruments sound as they do. With the strings running in a single plane the bass is cleaner and more transparent than the thicker sound of a modern overstrung upright, and the middle of the keyboard has the clarity that made Bechstein a favourite of Liszt and Debussy. Priced at £5,995, this example is presented in a figured walnut cabinet with two pedals and has been assessed and prepared by our team at The Piano Gallery.

Available to purchase online or to try in person at our Oxfordshire showroom. Contact us to arrange a viewing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 85 notes mean in practice, and will I miss the top three?

The keyboard runs to a top A rather than the top C of a modern piano, so three notes are absent from the extreme treble. Almost no repertoire written before the twentieth century goes above that A, and very little written since uses those notes for anything but effect. In several years of playing most pianists would not touch them. It is worth knowing about, but it is not a musical limitation in the way a shortened keyboard would be.

What is the difference between straight-strung and overstrung?

On a straight-strung piano the strings run in one plane, roughly parallel. On an overstrung piano the bass strings cross diagonally over the others, which allows longer bass strings in the same cabinet and produces a bigger, thicker bass. Overstringing became standard because it gives more power. Straight-strung instruments are not simply the older and lesser option: they give a clearer, more separated sound, and for chamber music and earlier repertoire many players prefer them.

How old is this piano, and can you date it exactly?

The Model V designation puts it in the era before Bechstein renumbered the range, and the 85-note compass and straight-strung frame are consistent with that. For a precise year we would read the serial number stamped on the frame and check it against Bechstein's records, which we are glad to do for you before you commit to buying.

Is an older Bechstein a practical piano to own today?

Yes, given a sound frame and tight tuning pins, which is what we check first. Bechstein built these to a standard that has outlasted almost everything made alongside them, and a properly maintained example is a fully functional instrument rather than a curiosity. It wants the same two tunings a year as any other piano, and it dislikes central heating and direct sunlight rather more.

Does an instrument of this age need restoration?

Not necessarily, and a great deal depends on how it has been kept. Some need nothing beyond preparation and regulation; others would benefit from new hammers or a restring in due course. This piano has been assessed and prepared by our technicians, and we will tell you plainly what was done, what we would leave alone, and what a future owner might want to consider. We would much rather you bought it knowing that than found out later.