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 Heads
Schimmel 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, Schimmel 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).
- Model series: C 116
- Model: Tradition
- Height (cm | inch): 116 | 46″
- Width (cm): 149
- Depth (cm): 59
- Weight (kg | lbs): 248 | 547
- Number of keys: 88
- Finish: Ebony high gloss
- Standard hardware: Brass
- Country of origin: Braunschweig | Germany
- Action: Schimmel action made by Renner | Germany
- Keyboard: Finishing manufactured in Braunschweig
- Keyboard coating: Mineral | Bakelite
- Pedals: Piano Pedal (left) | Moderator/twintone (middle) | Tone control (right)
Tonewood from the Region
All the resonance woods that produce the sound is called tone wood. For this, Schimmel use mountain grown spruce from the Bavarian and Bohemian forests, the origin of tone wood of the German instrument makers.
Schimmel 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.
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.
Pre-Stressed Keybed
The keybed is firmly connected to the strungback by a three-point support, thus ensuring a resonance-link. In addition, the extremely stable, multi-layer glued keybed is pre-tensioned with an adjustment function in a process patented by Schimmel.
This also ensures increased climate stability of the action regulation. As with our grand pianos, sound resonances are also specifically amplified, resulting in richer tone colours. The vibrations also create an improved possibility of interaction with the instrument when playing the piano.
Duratec Piano Strings
Traditionally, piano strings are drawn from very high-quality spring steel. These have ideal properties, for instance in terms of elasticity, vibration, and tone color. The disadvantage of conventional piano strings is a possible rapid oxidation on the surface in an environment with increased humidity.
This leads to a negative impact on the sound and can even contribute to string breakage. Unfortunately, conventional coating processes to protect strings from oxidation have a negative impact on the sound. Because of this, the use of coated piano strings is always compromise.
Using new manufacturing methods, Schimmel were able to develop a process with which we can refine the strings in such a way that they are better protected from corrosion and at the same time produce even richer and perfect tone colors than conventional string material. This unique process is patented by Schimmel Pianos. The piano strings are called “Duratec Piano Strings”.
CAPE - Designed by Schimmel
As early as the 1980s, Schimmel used computers to improve the design of their instruments and was a pioneer in the piano industry. Since then, the use of computers for research and development has been constantly further developed and today, referred to as CAPE, 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. The use of CNC machines for the production of precision parts has been promoted since the 1990s. These are then added to Schimmel instruments exclusively by hand and are a prerequisite for achieving the highest quality.