Blüthner USA LLC
5660 W. Grand River
Lansing, Michigan 48906
517-886-6000
info@bluthnerpiano.com
www.bluthnerpiano.com
www.roenisch-pianos.de/en/

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In Canada, contact Bluethner Piano Canada Inc.
604-264-1138
rrgarvin@telus.net
www.bluethner.ca

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Pianos made by: Julius Blüthner Pianofortefabrik GmbH, Leipzig, Germany

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Blüthner has been making pianos of the highest quality in Leipzig, in the eastern part of Germany, since 1853, and though nationalized in 1972, always remained under the management of the Blüthner family. Until 1900, Blüthner was Europe’s largest piano factory. During World War II, the factory was bombed, but after the war the East German government allowed the Blüthner family and workers to rebuild it because the Blüthner piano was considered a national treasure (and because the Soviet Union needed quality pianos). With the liberation of Eastern Europe, Blüthner is again privately owned by the Blüthner family.

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Blüthner pianos have beech rims (grands), solid spruce soundboards, Delignit pinblocks, Renner actions, Abel hammers, and polyester finishes. Pianos for export have three pedals, including sostenuto on the grands, and celeste (practice) on the verticals. Blüthner builds about 100 verticals a year in four sizes, and 500 grands a year in six sizes.

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In addition to numerous specialized furniture styles and finishes, Blüthner has two recently issued special editions. In honor of the company’s 150th anniversary, Blüthner introduced a Jubilee model with a commemorative cast-iron plate in the style of the special-edition pianos of a century ago. It is available in several sizes, in any style or finish. A Julius Blüthner edition honoring the founder of the company, now operated by the fifth generation of his family, is available in most grand sizes, and features, among other embellishments, brass inlays in the lid, round Victorian legs, and a very fancy, elaborately carved music desk in the styling designed by the founder.

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Blüthner pianos incorporate several unique technical features. With aliquot stringing, the notes in the highest treble section (about the top two octaves) have four strings each instead of three. The extra string is raised slightly above the others and vibrates only sympathetically. The effect, heard mainly in medium to forte playing, is similar to that of a duplex scale, adding tonal color to the treble and aiding the singing tone. Another feature concerns the angled hammers, which may at first look odd, though the reason may not be readily apparent. It turns out that the angled hammers are actually cut at an angle to match the string line and mounted straight on the shanks instead of being cut straight and mounted at an angle like other brands. The company says that the effect is to more evenly distribute the force of the blow across both the strings and the hammers, and to make a firmer connection with the backchecks, which are also positioned in a straight line. Visually, the effect is an even, rather than a staggered, hammer line.

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In what is perhaps a world’s first, Blüthner has designed and built a piano for left-handed pianists. This is a completely backward piano, with the treble keys, hammers, and strings on the left and the bass on the right. When it was introduced, a pianist gave a concert on it after only a couple of hours of practice! It is currently available in the 6′ 10″ and 9′ 2″ sizes by special order (price not available).

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With voicing, Blüthner pianos have a very full sound that is warm, romantic, and lyrical, generally deeper and darker than some of their German counterparts. Sustain is good, but at a low level of volume, giving the tone a refined, delicate character. The action is a little light, but responsive. The pianos are built of superb materials and are favorably priced compared to some of their competitors.

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In the 1990s a Haessler line of pianos was added to the Blüthner line. (Haessler is a Blüthner family name.) Created to better compete in the American market, Haessler pianos have more conventional technical and cosmetic features than Blüthner pianos and cost about 25 percent less. For example, the grands are loop-strung instead of single-strung, there is no aliquot stringing, and the hammers are cut and mounted in the conventional way. Case and plate cosmetics are simpler. The pianos are made in the Blüthner factory in Germany to similarly high-quality standards.

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In 2016, Blüthner added to its line a hybrid-piano option, known as “e-volution,” (see our article, Hybrid Pianos for more information). This option, which comes with an optical MIDI strip, a digital sound source, and a piano-silencing system, can be added to any Blüthner upright or grand piano model. A piano outfitted with the e-volution system can be played as an acoustic piano, as a digital piano (with the sound of a Blüthner concert grand), or as both at the same time. It can also stream music via Bluetooth from another source through its built-in Bose sound system. The system adds about $8,000 to the price of a piano.

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Blüthner also owns the Irmler brand (see under Irmler), and the Rönisch and Hupfeld brands (see under Rönisch and Hupfeld).

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Warranty: Blüthner and Haessler — 10 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.

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See the Introduction to Brand Profiles, Models, and Prices for an explanation of pricing.