The IBACH Tradition
of Quality and Sound

Whether upright or grand piano, IBACH uses the same constructive principles to support the enormous stress, and guarantees a long life of the instrument. IBACH makes certain the braced back is built to counteract of the natural tendencies of wood and trings to alter their position due to the tremendous tension, the changes of climate and temperature, and the mechanical wear and tear of playing. The IBACH back ensures the sound of Ibach pianos will retain its resonance over a long period of time. The details of construction demand a scientific expertise and the practical experience of pinao making that can only come from 200 years of pioneering the art of piano building. It requires a philosophy: When it comes to quality, IBACH takes no short cuts.

The bass and treble bridges transmit the vibrations of the strings to the sound board and are made from laminated wood segments shaped by seical high-precision tools.This lamination process preserves the stability of the bridges and assures an extremely clear and accurate sound transmission to the sound board -the essential prerequisite for tonal brilliance. In turn, the sound board amplifies the vibrations and radiates the sound throughout the various frequency ranges. The material used for the sound baord, its preparation and above all, the special IBACH method that braces the sound board to produce its concave shape, are fundamental to its sound and tone quality.The IBACH sound board is a prime example of what six generations of piano building means at the House of IBACH: a technology unique to both upright and grand pianos.

The string design complements the sound board construction. The strings are attached to the pinblock and kept in place by the special iron cast frame. The pin block is constructed of intricately layered beechwood to guarantee that an exemplary tuning will retain its pitch for a long period of time. The height of the bridge, the distance between hammers and strings, the length, diameter and coil of the strings, are all scientifically calculated and adjusted until each piano has the characteristic IBACHsound quality. Building pianos is a science in itself. At the House of IBACH it is even more - it is the art combining experience and technical know how.

The relationship between the keys and the action makes up the touch of the instrument. One fully realizes the potential of the IBACH touch when playing anIBACH, characterized by the firm control over each note permitting the sound to be full of subtlety and expression. The correlation correlation between the"down-weight" (the pressure one needs to press a key down) and the "up-weight" (the energy that returns the key to its original position) is a critical relationship. The down-weight determines the subjective feeling of touch and the possible dynamic level of the piano, the up-weight determines the potential speed a key can repeat.

What Makes a Good Sound in a Piano? In the words of an expert, its shape and length of the sound wave, the intensity of the sound, and the quality of the inharmonicpartials and various noises, that are significant to the scientist and the technician. For IBACH piano building is an obligation in the chain of generations of piano builders. Only a product of the highest quality can sustain the reputation of a piano dynasty through the circumstance of history. IBACH pianos continue a tradition in thesyntheses of sound and design.

Every aspect of construction creates an incrdible amount of tension, and the piano body, with a tension of 20 tons, is no exception. IBACH allows its pianos to adjust and settle into its final shape. In the meantime, the strung back is being tuned serval timesuntil it stabilizes. Only then will we finish the instrument and assemble the body. After assembly, the pianos are fine-tuned and "voiced", where the felt on the hammerheads is pricked so it is hard on the outside and sofert at the tip. The filing and the coiving of the hammer determines the noble brilliance of each note.

The "special" IBACH sound becomes clear when you play the instrument the character of its tone, the dynamics and the sound modulation from the bass to themiddle and the upper registers:
- The bass of an IBACH is firm and transparent, even in the lowest ranges.
- The middle section of an IBACH radiates a rich warmth; the tones are lively, and retain this quality, even played loud.
- The IBACH treble is marked by a pearl-like singing-tone, never loosing it brilliance or becoming shrill.
If you analyze these sounds on different instruments, shifting from the softest pianissimo to the grandest fortissimo, you will easily notice the difference. Hear and feel the exceptional dynamic ranges and experience the wonderful colors of an IBACH piano.

Superior design is a longstanding IBACH tradition. Determine for yourself which instrument is the most beautiful. IBACH offers a wide variety of pianos to choosefrom. The style of your home furnishings can determine which model best suits your personal taste - IBACH also offers a number of different cabinet desings, along with a choice of veneers and polishes. Let your dealer explain the surprising range of possibilities to you with the help of our product catalog and color charts.