C. Bechstein Academy | A4

The C. Bechstein Academy A 4 piano

Our talented all-rounder

Music has an endless array of styles. From baroque to hard rock. From Gregorian to jazz. Musicians – in particular those with wide-ranging repertoires who deliberately choose not to settle on a single style – need an instrument that can accommodate and embrace this variety. It is with these musicians in mind that the new C. Bechstein Academy A 4 piano was conceived. Its completely new design allows the player to bring out the true essence of every musical genre.

A virtuoso across the board

Despite our 165 years of experience, we never fail to get excited when our new designs produce their very first sounds. Our Development Department and piano makers have absolutely outdone themselves and we couldn’t be happier with the result! The C. Bechstein Academy A 4 sounds wonderfully distinguished and elegant – and yet fresh and impulsive at the same time. This unique sound profile and the outstanding action of the Academy A 4 mean it can be used for any kind of musical requirements, be it for personal use or as a working instrument for professional use.

The design – A tribute to clarity

This tonal versatility has been purposely housed inside a design that represents a calm counterpoint: clean lines, understated, timeless, modern. This results in an overall package that embodies a truly consummate harmony and balance.

The grand-piano-style music rack with a robust finish

The grand piano-style music stand with sturdy finish is an exquisite and functional addition to grand piano design. Made from high-end materials, it exudes elegance while providing solid support for scores during performances. Adjustable to accommodate a variety of score sizes, this parchment holder offers pianists comfort and flexibility, making it a refined and practical enhancement to the grand piano experience.

Touch

Millennium III Upright Action

The Millennium III Upright's action features components made from ABS-Carbon, a composite material created by infusing carbon fiber into our famous ABS Styran. ABS-Carbon is incredibly strong and rigid, enabling the creation of lighter action parts without compromising strength. The result is a more powerful, faster action offering greater control and stability than conventional all-wood actions. 

Extended Key Length

Longer keys make the game easier to play and offer a more uniform response from the front to the back of the playing surface. The benefits for the player are better control and more power with less effort.

Tone

Solid spruce conical soundboard

The soundboard is the heart of a piano. Its role is to transform the vibrations of the piano strings into a rich, resonant sound. Kawai uses only solid quarter-grain spruce for the K series soundboards. Each soundboard is strategically tapered to maximize its tonal capacity. Only those that meet or exceed our strict quality standards are selected for use in our professional upright pianos.

The hammers

Mahogany wood core and double felt hammers secured with T-shaped staples.

Mahogany hammerblocks are lightweight and extremely responsive. Found only on the finest pianos, mahogany is used for the hammer moldings on the entire range of K-Series professional upright pianos. All K-Series hammers are stapled in a T-shape to preserve their shape, and feature an additional inner layer of felt to support the creation of exceptional sound.

Full Duplex Scale

The "Full Duplex Scale", which encompasses both the upper and lower sections, is a remarkable feature that enhances harmonics in the treble range, adding captivating brilliance and rich sonority to the piano's tone. This innovative technology involves meticulous calculations and precise positioning of the strings to optimize their interaction with the vibrating main part of the strings, allowing specific harmonics to resonate freely and enhancing the instrument's sonic complexity. As a result, the piano's high notes are imbued with a vibrant, sparkling quality, captivating listeners with their expressive, dynamic character. The "Full Duplex Scale" opens up a world of sonic possibilities, enabling pianists to explore and create music with an instrument truly incomparable in its beauty and versatility.

Sostenuto pedals

The middle pedal is the sostenuto, as on a grand piano; the celestial/practical rail is operated by a lever under the low end of the keyboard. When depressed, it holds only the notes played at that moment, allowing subsequent notes to be played without sustain. This feature proves useful in complex musical passages where certain notes need to be held while others are played with different dynamics. By selectively sustaining certain notes, the sostenuto pedal enables pianists to create a nuanced, controlled sound, offering a wide range of expression and articulation in their performances. Its presence is an invaluable tool for pianists seeking to elevate their musical interpretations and enrich their playing experience.

The agraffes

Staples play an essential role in ensuring precision in the alignment, spacing and angles of the strings in a piano, leading to greater uniformity, improved tone, smoother tuning and a consistent "speaking length" for each note. These small but important metal pieces are strategically placed along the piano's soundboard to hold the strings in position and ensure their correct alignment. By holding the strings firmly in place, the clips prevent any unwanted vibration or sympathetic resonance that might disrupt the piano's overall clarity and tonal balance. What's more, staples contribute to smoother, more precise tuning, as they help stabilize string tension and maintain their proper spacing. As a result, pianists can enjoy a more balanced, harmonious sound across the entire keyboard, enabling greater precision and expression in their musical interpretations.

Weight & dimensions

Touch

Exceptional touch, high reliability

Tone

FIRST-STATE SOLID SOUNDBOARD

A European style and design

MODERNE STYLE, CHEAP PRICE

Weight & dimensions