Product information
Design Concept
Slim Line Concept (Classic 121 & 116): This design was basically developed by Arno Wilhelm Schimmel in the 1930th. The idea was to manufacture a new type of piano with an enormous tone volume, but more gracile appearance compared with the common heavy designs at this time. As this idea was revolutionary at this time when he received patents for. The success of these designs lead Schimmel to become the biggest German manufacturer over decades. The designs were refined over the years and perfected by the help of a self developed computer software CAPE in the 1980th. A true timeless design in tone and touch.
High performance hammer head
Our hammer heads are made from highly elastic merino felt with high flexibility and low damping properties. The felt is made from the highest quality merino wool in a traditional fulling process in Germany. For the hammer cores, we use hardwoods in combination with tension-regulating under felts. The result is a great richness of tone colours in the different dynamic levels, as well as long-lasting tones due to low damping effect on the strings (short contact period due to highly elastic felt).
Mineral key top
“Mineral key tops” are used for flat keys on all Schimmel instruments. These were developed by Schimmel and offer a more sensitive touch for pianists. In addition to this secure and sensitive touch, they are “glare-free” thanks to the matt surface, which s particularly advantageous for the pianist, especially on stages with spotlights.
Tone wood from the region
All the resonance woods that produce the sound we call tone wood. For this we use mountain grown spruce from the Bavarian and Bohemian forests, the origin of tone wood of the German instrument makers. For this we only use perfect wood, grown slowly at high altitudes, so that soundboards can be joined that have optimal resonance characteristics. The trees are pre-selected in the forests and then specially cut and dried over long periods of time. Even with this intensive pre-selection, only about 2% of the timber obtained in this way is suitable for our soundboard production.
Mass reduced bridge
The bridge transfers and distributes the vibration of the strings into the soundboard. Schimmel invented the so called mass-reduced bridge so that the bridge can withstand the string tension, transmit the energy optimally and at the same time prevent the soundboard from vibrating freely as little as possible. This involves milling a dynamic contour into the flanks of the bridge, which ensures that the richness of the sound is increased, and the sustain gets longer. An innovative idea that still received a patent even after more than 300 years of traditional piano making.
Dynamic Soundbar
The “Dynamic Sound Bar” is clamped to the soundboard during the production of the soundboard. This regulates the flow of energy in the soundboard when playing at different volumes, thus ensuring a wider range of sound characteristics depending on the attack and volume. This is what we call high tonal dynamics. Depending on the size and shape of the soundboard, we use either one or two dynamic sound bars to achieve the best possible result. (see table)
Multilayered pin block
We use pin blocks made of thin hardwood layers so that the instrument keeps its pitch optimally and is easy to tune. These pin blocks were developed by Schimmel in the 1950s as so-called “tropical climate resistant” pin blocks and have proven themselves over the decades.
Glider
Traditionally, pianos are equipped with small metal castors. From our experience, these are rarely used. The risk of damaging the floor is quite high. For this reason, we equip our pianos with high-quality gliders that are coated with Delrin from below. This allows for easier gliding on smooth hard floors and reduces the likelihood of damage to floors. In addition, the front gliders can be adjusted in height to compensate for uneven floors. This prevents the instrument from twisting and improves the tuning and the regulation stability.
Extended manufacturer warranty
Schimmel offers an extended manufacturer’s warranty through its network of appointed dealers. Because we trust and stand by the quality of our instruments.
CAPE – Designed by Schimmel
As early as the 1980s, Schimmel worked with computers to improve the design of its instruments, making the company a pioneer in the piano industry. Since then, the use of computers for research and development has been constantly further developed and today, under the name CAPE (Computer Assisted Piano Engineering), it represents a unique and all-encompassing software solution into which decades of development work and research results have contributed. On this basis, new ideas and designs are constantly being created that set standards in the industry.
On this basis, the use of CNC machines for the production of precision parts has been promoted since the 1990s. These are then added to our instruments exclusively by hand and are a prerequisite for achieving the highest quality.
Environment standards
Environmental protection and sustainability have been part of the company philosophy at Schimmel since the company was founded in 1885. This starts with the quality of our instruments. With a Schimmel instrument, you are purchasing a durable product that will be used for many years, often for generations. Which industry can say that it repeatedly receives requests for spare parts for its products that are more than 100 years old? Durability conserves resources. In addition, we manufacture our instruments from predominantly renewable raw materials – domestic wood from certified forestry and wool – and our cast iron plates are made in an elaborate process from recycled scrap metal. Wood leftovers and shavings from production are used to heat production in winter, and we generate solar power on the roof of the factory. Biofilters and a modern heating system complete our production. And of course, we produce according to high German environmental standards. This is true not only in our manufactory in Braunschweig | Germany, but also in Kalisz | Poland. In China, the production of our Fridolin instruments is environmentally certified according to ISO 14001 to ensure our high standards of environmental protection and sustainability here as well.
