So, you get what you pay for.... when I first got my grand, I bought an adjustable piano bench on Amazon for maybe $90. (the Yamaha bench that matches my piano is, alas, not adjustable). The $90 bench would probably be fine if I didn't need to raise it up so high, but bc I have it almost at its max height, it's rickety. And the cushion has compressed and it's not comfortable. And because I sit on the edge of it (as one does), it tends to sort of lean in that direction. To counter that, I rotate it periodically so that I'm not always sitting on the same edge of it, and whenever I do that, the mechanism creaks like crazy and I can feel it dip.

So, yeah, I need a new bench. But a Jansen's artist bench is just too steep for me and my 20 y/o Yamaha...

I am considering a CPS bench, which is like a budget Jansen's. The drawback to this bench is that you can see the mechanism when it's fully raised.
https://cpsimports.com/pillow_...le_artist_bench.html

Or maybe a hydraulic one, these are the two options:

Hidrau single pole style:
https://shop.pianoworks.com/hm...ool-black-vinyl.html

Hidrau double style:
https://shop.pianoworks.com/hi...ulic-adjustable.html


The drawback to the single pole Hidrau is that it's ugly (sorry!) and the drawback to the double style is that it's not a traditional bench (but less ugly). And it's more $$, I'm trying to find out how much I could get it for. But this double style one might fit my piano decor, rug??

Does anyone either own or have direct knowledge of these models? Any others you could suggest?

I could probably go up to $500, but under $300 is preferable... (I might be able to get a discount on the single pole style hydraulic model, trying to find out how low I could get the double style one for....

P.S. does anyone have any opinions about "furniture grade" vinyl? I'm seeing some Jansen benches for under $400 (well, they're sold by Jansen but imported and so not made in the WI factory)

Anyway, leather is preferable but could I get away with vinyl?

I have a Jansen bench with a vinyl top and the vinyl started splitting after about 15 years. But leather can dry out and split too; maybe not if you use leather treatments.

Mechanically, and for seating comfort, it’s the best.

I got it through a piano restorer for a good deal less money than list price. Maybe have a talk with technicians you know.

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the vinyl started splitting after about 15 years

I could probably live with that...

I put in a text to my piano tech, so he may have some leads.... I think I probably need to raise my budget though. -_-

I'm a fan of Jansen petite artist benches.... Same mechanism, but lighter weight.

Does it have to be adjustable? Or would you be happy with a good sturdy bench that was the correct height?

Jansen anecdote from a performing musician: if you want to know how desirable Jansens are, come to a rehearsal and find the Jansen bench not at the piano but under a harpist or cellist or just about any other musician. The pianist has to go begging to get the bench back.

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I'm a fan of Jansen petite artist benches

Shoot. I just checked and the petite benches are shorter, as are the artist benches, both only rise to 21". So I would have to get the extra long legs, which adds $50, and the high gloss adds another $50, so that would be $700... At that point, I think I might as well get a regular artist bench, which would be $883.50 with the high gloss and longer legs... Although maybe I would want the lighter weight petite bench... Hmmmm

PJ,

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Does it have to be adjustable? Or would you be happy with a good sturdy bench that was the correct height?

It does not have to be adjustable, but I would want the bench to match the piano (mostly). Actually, if I could get replacement legs for the Yamaha bench that brought the height up to, that might work, but again I would want them to look like piano bench legs, high gloss... Having said that, the bench top of the Yamaha bench might not be that great actually, because it has the little cushion and then there's a wooden lip/edge all around the bench.

Anyway, to your question, if I could find a good looking bench that was the right height but not adjustable, that might be ok...

And RP, to your comment, I can imagine! I have used the real Jansen artist benches before, they are sooooo nice!!!

But even though I play almost every day (for 1-2 hours), $800+ seems like overkill....

Although again, you get what you pay for! And the $90 I spent two years ago would have been better used by saving towards a better bench....

Sigh.

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Jansen petite artist benches

BTW Ron, when you raise the seat on the petite benches, does the mechanism show?

That's one of the things I like about the Jansen artist benches, is that the mechanism does not show.

I have actually just exchanged some emails with someone at Jansens, I might get their imported bench, which is like $365... It raises to 22.5" and comes in high gloss.... And is less than half the price of the Jansen artist bench...

https://jansenpianobenches.com...riant=39376387178558

You know, I did just fine with a plain wooden bench for years. Just get the height you need. I do wish they would incorporate triangles into the support structure to mitigate the twisting forces.

And they’re big enough to play duets!

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Just get the height you need.

I can't find the height I need in anything but the adjustable benches.

It's interesting that Jansen's offers options for longer legs on their own benches, but their standard (non-adjustable) bench does not give you the option. The standard bench is 19" (which is standard dining room chair height) and that's the height of my Yamaha bench as well.

I have also looked at cushions, but since I would need to add 2.5" I don't think there's a good cushion option that will not slowly compress over time.

Can you find one that's slightly too tall? And a saw?

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Can you find one that's slightly too tall? And a saw?

I am not seeing any non-adjustable benches that are taller than 19".

Also, I would prefer spade legs to match the piano, so definitely wouldn't want to saw off part of the detail there!

Always an option: consult thy local carpenter.

Or piano stores to see what they have lying around.

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consult thy local carpenter

Yeah, I'm googling around, something may come up.

Or I'll probably spend $365? Maybe...