German piano maker guide

A guide to Blüthner upright and grand pianos, their musical character, the periods worth understanding and the restoration questions to ask before buying.

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Overview

A refined domestic piano tradition

Blüthner became one of the leading makers of domestic pianos in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Well-restored examples can suit the home particularly well, often combining a warm, lyrical tone with a light-to-medium, smooth touch.

That description assumes the instrument is in sound technical condition. Age, storage, wear and the quality of previous repairs can make two apparently similar pianos perform very differently.

A note on post-war instrumentsBlüthner pianos made during the East German period, broadly from the 1950s until German reunification and the company’s subsequent rebuilding, can vary in specification and condition. We recommend an independent technical inspection before purchase rather than judging the piano by age or badge alone.

Choose a piano type

Upright and grand piano guides

Start with the relevant guide, then compare the model, size, serial number and actual technical condition of the instrument in front of you.

Domestic instruments

Blüthner upright pianos

Explore common upright periods, sizes and construction details, together with the points that deserve inspection on an older instrument.

Read the upright piano guide →

Salon and concert instruments

Blüthner grand pianos

Compare grand piano sizes and periods, and learn why action condition, tuning stability and restoration history are central to value.

Read the grand piano guide →

Before buying

What a technical inspection should establish

Tuning stability

Tuning-pin security, pin-block condition, pitch and any evidence of structural movement.

Action and keyboard

Wear in hammers, centres, keys and regulation, plus the likely scope of repair or rebuilding.

Soundboard and bridges

Cracks, bridge condition, stringing, dampers and whether previous work was carried out to an appropriate standard.

Workshop archive

Blüthner grand piano restoration: before and after

These workshop videos show stages and results from a Blüthner grand restoration. They are examples rather than a fixed specification: every restoration begins with an individual assessment.