by Stephen N. Reed
You’ve been impressed, even inspired by the sound of Steinway pianos at concerts or in friends’ homes over the years. Their golden tone and stylish black glossy finish–it all speaks to you.
So what is a Steinway & Sons factory tour like, you ask?
A Steinway factory tour is a series of pleasant surprises, beginning with your entrance into the factory. Though attractive, the front door to the Astoria, NY facility is unassuming. Upon entering, you’d never know that the building’s small foyer will be leading you into a spacious 500,000 sq. ft. facility, just minutes from downtown Manhattan.
So this is the place they build the famous Steinway pianos.
The next pleasant surprise you experience is the wide range of courteous employees at this Steinway factory. From the janitorial staff running the vacuum cleaners, administrators greeting you warmly as you await your tour, your guide, and all the Steinway craftspeople you meet on your tour–everyone is genuinely welcoming in Steinwayland.
Indeed, any notion that staff working for a world-class brand like Steinway might be aloof is immediately dashed as you go through your tour. The craftspeople are pros and accustomed to visitors looking in on their work. They can remain focused on their work while also engaging visitors on a tour.
“Treat every customer in a courteous and professional manner.” These words, found in Steinway’s Standard of Excellence Customer Code, are truly embodied by Steinway staff.
By the end of this article, you will know more about the inner workings of Steinway’s Astoria, NY factory and some of the key parts of Steinway pianos that have made them the standard of the industry for many decades.
Steinway & Sons staff member Cameron Underhill took our tour up and down the different floors of the Astoria facility, giving us an education one could only get by seeing this complex process up close.
As we went through the hour and a half tour, the fact that a Steinway grand piano takes about a year to be completed increasingly made sense. Each craftsperson, whether they are a woodworker, painter, or keyboard specialist is each part of a well-considered, systematic stream to assemble the next Steinway.
You feel like you’re witnessing the same process used 100 years ago to make Steinways–because you are! Steinway still produces unique handcrafted pieces, finishing 3-5 pianos per day at the Astoria facility.
Except for some high-tech cutting machines, the entire tour is a rare and pleasant throwback to an earlier time in American manufacturing when the decisions made by highly-skilled craftspeople affected the quality of the final product.
Our tour was fortunate in being able to see several Steinway workers bend the rim for a Model D Steinway concert grand piano. They carefully glued several thin, 20 ft. Hard Rock Maple boards together, stacking them on top of each other.
After letting the glue settle, the Steinway workers then hoist the stacked, glued boards in the air, over their heads, looking like dockworkers as they take the rim over to the rim mold.
Seeing how the thin stacked maple boards are flexible enough to be bent around the rim mold, then clasped into place reminds us that this is the only way for Steinway to provide such a bent rim. This couldn’t happen with a single board of wood.
But stacking thin boards of maple together does the trick, even as those boards later look like a single, beautiful, and functional rim. When we see a finished grand piano later, with just such a beautiful rim, it’s hard to believe that those bent rims needed to rest for up to 16 weeks to settle following that wood-bending process we witnessed.
So why all this fuss about Steinway’s patented one-piece rim process? The rim plays a key role in supporting and enhancing the acoustical properties of the piano’s soundboard. Its stability, durability, and strength together create and improve on the distinctive “Steinway sound.”
Today’s Steinway rim allows Steinway’s patented Diaphragmatic Soundboard to vibrate freely and to generate a truly golden tone.
As alluded to earlier, the other critical part of the Steinway grand piano’s acoustic properties is the company’s patented Diaphragmatic Soundboard, made from panels of close-grained Sitka Spruce glued together. The soundboard is thicker in the middle, tapering to its edges.
When passing through the “belly department” of the factory, we saw several light-colored wooden soundboards getting prepped for installation. Each soundboard must be perfected before installation since the soundboard and bridge must be able to manage 20,000 pounds of string pressure while also producing a range of sounds, piano and fortissimo.
Steinway’s soundboard is known for its ability to respond to a pianist’s subtle playing to bring out their emotion. The soundboard is considered the very heart of the Steinway tone, color, and richness.
The “action” of the piano is self-defining: without the action, there would be no sound produced. The action in a Steinway piano responds to the touch instead of being forced into action.
A piano’s action refers to the slender, wooden hammers, covered in special wool felt. These hammers are what strike the strings when keys are played. Each piece of this mechanical part of the piano has to be tested by several different people to guarantee rapid, sensitive movement in the coming years.
These little hammers are the reason why grand pianos must have sturdy, huge rims and soundboards. Just as an automobile engine has a heavy case around little pistons firing hard, so must a Steinway grand piano rim and soundboard absorb and contain the sound the hammers create.
Tone regulation. Here then was another fascinating stop on our tour–and one so different from any other facet of the operations. The sensitivity involved in getting each key’s tone pitch perfect reminds one of the fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.”
Tone regulators note minute differences in weight with great skill, adding small weights to any key that needs it to have the right tone. Tone regulators can spend up to 60 hours per piano, helping it to become a beautiful musical instrument.
If you can recall doing a delicate titration exercise in your high school chemistry lab, measuring tiny amounts precisely, that is similar to the tone regulators’ work.
Some tone regulators have such keen hearing that, attending a concert, they can recognize the tone of a Steinway piano that they adjusted years before.
I asked our tour guide, Cameron Underhill, about the training involved with all of these specialty craftspeople.
“While a background in furniture making can be a good background for us, most of the skills are taught here in-house,” says Cameron. He notes that some of the work at their factory is very specialized.
Many of the craftspeople spend their whole career with Steinway. Some are multi-generational craftspeople, who had a parent and grandparent working at the Astoria facility. Pride in their product and the Steinway brand is an obvious aspect of their long tenures in Astoria.
While Steinway has suspended public tours of the Astoria, NY factory during the pandemic, M. Steinert & Sons customers can accompany our piano consultant to New York to see how Steinways are made.
Moreover, our individual or institutional customers can engage in the Steinway Selection process, whereby M. Steinert customers select their actual grand piano. You try out six different newly-built Steinway pianos of the model you have chosen, then decide on the one you want to have at home or in your school’s concert hall.
Choosing one’s own, individual Steinway is an empowering moment for any M. Steinert customer, and we are happy to set up the tour and the Steinway Selection process for you.
Come to one of our showrooms to start the process of deciding which Steinway model is best for you. In the meantime, read these articles to learn more about Steinway & Sons and their world-famous pianos:
by Stephen N. Reed
You’re ready to start shopping seriously for a Steinway piano, but you want to take your time, do it right. After all, who wants to make this size of an investment, only to find that it doesn’t quite suit your needs in your home?
The piano consultants at M. Steinert are very experienced at helping customers with a wide variety of considerations, both in terms of their level of playing and the size of the space where the piano will be placed.
Since 1860, M. Steinert & Sons has gone the extra mile to ensure that each customer will have long-term satisfaction with their new Steinway piano. We enjoy seeing people bringing the Steinway sound to their home or performing venue.
Towards that end, for your consideration, we offer you a look at the most popular Steinway models at M. Steinert. You may find others’ preferences mirror some of your own.
By reviewing the Steinway models that have proven so popular with our customers over the years, you can start to narrow down your options as you move towards a final selection that is best for you.
In a close race, the famed 7’ Steinway Model B edges out the 5’7” Model M as the most popular Steinway grand among M. Steinert & Sons’ customers.
The Model B is the choice of 28.46% of M. Steinert’s customers. M. Steinert piano consultant Patrick Elisha notes that a major reason for the popularity of both the B and the M is that they are the models used for Steinway’s Spirio player pianos.
The 7’ Model B is Steinway’s best-selling model and has been acclaimed for having the top Steinway sound and touch outside of the concert grand models. The Model B is well-known for its constantly refined tone, touch sensitivity, broader dynamic range, longer sustain, and nuanced color.
Most Steinway Artists own Model Bs or Model Ds–or both. The Model B is not too large for many living rooms yet is also large enough to be appropriate for a smaller concert hall or a church sanctuary.
It is the most versatile of the Steinway grands. It is often the choice of serious amateurs or professional pianists who do not have the budget or the room for a 9’ concert grand Model D.
To learn more, read our Review of the Model B.
Introduced in 1911, the Steinway Model M occupies a cherished place for many in the Steinway spectrum of grand pianos. At 5’7”, the Model M is situated between the smaller (5’1”) Model S and the larger (5’10”) Model O.
Steinway has called the M their “Studio Grand.” It is the choice of 27.07% of M. Steinert customers.
Though smaller than other models like the O and the A, the Model M still retains a sound that richly fills a home or small venue without being overwhelming. This is due to its Steinway soundboard. Its responsive action produces a touch that can engage any style of music.
Because of its more compact size as Steinway’s “Studio Grand,” the Model M has proven itself as a consistent favorite for those needing a somewhat smaller grand piano for the home or small venue.
To learn more, read our Review of the Steinway Model M.
While Steinway’s Model L comes in next as the choice of 16.76% of M. Steinert’s customers, the L has been replaced in recent years with the Model O, which has been the selection of 7.91% for a total of 24.67% for both of these 6’ grands.
The Steinway Model O, referred to as the “Living Room Grand,” is the largest of the smaller Steinway grand pianos with a length of nearly 5’11”.
Patrick Elisha notes that the Model O’s size begins to usher in the full, rich sound of the larger Steinway grand piano experience.
The Model O offers a full, resonant sound of exceptional warmth and depth. Often used for homes and teaching, the Model O has a rich bass register that is bolstered by the ample string length and the patented Diaphragmatic Soundboard.
The Astoria, New York Steinway factory had historically produced the Model L, while Steinway’s Hamburg, Germany plant made the Model O. Over time, a consensus emerged between these two Steinway divisions that the scale design of the O was preferred.
As a result, the decision was made to select just one nearly 6 foot piano to bear the Steinway name. The O had won on its merits.
To learn more, read our Review of the Steinway Model O
For many, Steinway’s Model A, known as the “Parlor Grand,” is the perfect piano. It is a close cousin to the better-known Model B, known as the “Living Room Grand.” 7.91% of M. Steinert customers chose the Model A.
The two pianos have a similar scale and the same width at 4’10”, though today’s Model A, with a length of 6’ 2”, is 9 inches shorter than the Model B with a length of 6’ 11”.
This difference in length makes the Model A an easier fit in many homes than the Model B. However, the Model A is still long enough to accommodate those looking for a full Steinway grand that provides a concert-quality Steinway sound despite the smaller size.
The early Model A featured some of C.F. Theodore Steinway’s innovations, secured by several patents. As a result, the Model A is seen as Steinway’s game changer.
For example, the Model A featured the new, continuous bent rim case, which gave both a stronger cabinet and excellent soundboard vibrations. Theodore Steinway’s bent rim innovation is still used on Steinway grands today.
To learn more, read our Review of the Steinway Model A
The Steinway Model S is a well-conceived piano that conveys the famous Steinway sound despite its small scale design. At 5’1” (155 cm), the Model S is the smallest of the Steinway grands. The first ones were made in mahogany.
6.96% of M. Steinert’s customers chose the Steinway Model S, the company’s famous baby grand.
According to M. Steinert & Sons President Emeritus Paul Murphy, to compete with smaller and less expensive pianos built by Steinway’s competition, the S was introduced in 1936 at $885.
Steinway’s Model S is not for everyone. A professional concert pianist will want to have a Model B or D, which will allow them a wider dynamic range due to their larger size.
However, if you want the Steinway sound but have real space considerations, the Model S can be the perfect fit for their home or small venue. The S is a special order piano from Steinway, only a little smaller than the Model M.
For more information, read our Review of Steinway’s Model S
Usually used only by professional pianists or concert venues, Steinway’s Model D is one of the most recognized grand pianos in the world. 5.82% of M. Steinert’s customers selected the D, with many of them going to performance facilities or institutions of higher education.
Over the years, the nearly 9’ Model D and other Steinway grands have possessed a strong bass to go along with their broad tone and a timbre some have called “spine-tingling.” The sheer power in a Model D allows it to project to the back of any concert hall.
This sophisticated action is the reason so many professional pianists prefer the Model D: they feel at one with the instrument and believe that its range of tone and color brings out their musical best.
A quite popular model for institutions of higher education and symphonies, the Model D is the official piano of hundreds of musical venues, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Juilliard, and the New England Conservatory.
Over 200 colleges and universities are officially designated as All-Steinway Schools, with the Model D taking center stage on their campus’s performing arts centers and music departments.
Finally, if you’ve listened to a classical or jazz piano recording lately, chances are that you were listening to a Steinway Model D.
To learn more, read our Review of Steinway’s Model D.
These new Steinway grand pianos range between $75,000 and over $300,000, depending upon style and finish. M. Steinert & Sons piano consultants can keep you updated on the current price for each model.
Whatever your final choice of a Steinway grand, the good news is: it’s a Steinway. The legendary quality, craftsmanship, tone, and longevity that has made Steinway famous is in each of their grand piano models.
Come visit one of our two showrooms in Boston and Newton to begin the pleasant process of trying out these Steinway models yourself.
Our experienced piano consultants enjoy learning about your needs and aspirations when it comes to having a piano in your home. They can serve as your guide through the interesting process of choosing a Steinway.
Meantime, continue reading about Steinway’s uniquely handcrafted pianos below:
by Stephen N. Reed
Pursuing the purchase of a Steinway & Sons piano can be both exciting and perplexing. After all, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime investment, so you want to get it right.
You’ve heard about Steinway’s different-sized grand piano models and how size correlates to the prices across the spectrum of Steinway grands. Is a bigger model worth the added cost?
At M. Steinert & Sons, helping people make the right Steinway choice is our bread and butter. We have been selling the different Steinway models for over 160 years and pride ourselves on customer service and satisfaction.
In this article, we will take a brief look at the main Steinway grand piano models, with links to a further description of each model. That way, if you see one you want to investigate further before coming into one of our showrooms, you can access that information directly through this article.
Over the years, the nearly 9’ Model D and other Steinway grands have possessed a strong bass to go along with their broad tone and a timbre some have called “spine-tingling.” The sheer power in a Model D allows it to project to the back of any concert hall.
This sophisticated action is the reason so many professional pianists prefer the Model D: they feel at one with the instrument and believe that its range of tone and color brings out their musical best.
A quite popular model for institutions of higher education and symphonies, the Model D is the official piano of hundreds of musical venues, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Juilliard, and the New England Conservatory.
Over 200 colleges and universities are officially designated as All-Steinway Schools, with the Model D taking center stage on their campus’s performing arts centers and music departments.
Moreover, if you’ve listened to a classical or jazz piano recording lately, chances are that you were listening to a Steinway Model D.
To learn more, read our Steinway’s Model D: The iconic concert grand piano of choice.
The 7’ Model B is Steinway’s best-selling model and has been acclaimed for having the top Steinway sound and touch outside of the concert grand models. The Model B is well-known for its constantly refined tone, touch sensitivity, broader dynamic range, longer sustain, and nuanced color.
Most Steinway Artists own Model Bs or Model Ds–or both. The Model B is not too large for many living rooms yet is also large enough to be appropriate for a smaller concert hall or a church sanctuary.
It is the most versatile of the 5 smaller grands by Steinway. It is often the choice of serious amateurs or professional pianists who do not have the budget or the room for a 9’ concert grand Model D.
To learn more, read our Steinway Model B: Is the B the perfect piano?
For many, Steinway’s Model A, known as the “Parlor Grand,” is the perfect piano. It is a close cousin to the better-known Model B, known as the “Living Room Grand.”
The two pianos have a similar scale and the same width at 4’10”, though today’s Model A, with a length of 6’ 2”, is 9 inches shorter than the Model B with a length of 6’ 11”.
This difference in length makes the Model A an easier fit in many homes than the Model B. However, the Model A is still long enough to accommodate those looking for a full Steinway grand that provides a concert-quality Steinway sound despite the smaller size.
The early Model A featured some of C.F. Theodore Steinway’s innovations, secured by several patents. As a result, the Model A is seen as Steinway’s game changer.
For example, the Model A featured the new, continuous bent rim case, which gave both a stronger cabinet and excellent soundboard vibrations. Theodore Steinway’s bent rim innovation is still used on Steinway grands today.
To learn more, read our A review of the Steinway Model A: The game changer
Close to six feet in length, the Steinway Model O, referred to as the “Living Room Grand,” is the largest of the smaller Steinway grand pianos with a length of nearly 5’11”.
Patrick Elisha of M. Steinert & Sons’ educational division notes that the Model O’s size begins to usher in the full, rich sound of the larger Steinway grand piano experience.
The Model O offers a full, resonant sound of exceptional warmth and depth. Often used for homes and teaching, the Model O has a rich bass register that is bolstered by the ample string length and the patented Diaphragmatic Soundboard.
The Astoria, New York Steinway factory had historically produced the Model L, while Steinway’s Hamburg, Germany plant made the Model O. Over time, a consensus emerged between these two Steinway divisions that the scale design of the O was preferred.
As a result, the decision was made to select just one nearly 6 foot piano to bear the Steinway name. The O had won on its merits.
To learn more, read our Review of the Steinway Model O: Is it the right piano for me?
Introduced in 1911, the Steinway Model M occupies a cherished place for many in the Steinway spectrum of grand pianos. At 5’7”, the Model M is situated between the smaller (5’1”) Model S and the larger (5’10”) Model O.
Steinway has called the M their “Studio Grand.”
Though smaller than other models like the O and the A, the Model M still retains a sound that richly fills a home or small venue without being overwhelming. This is due to its Steinway soundboard. Its responsive action produces a touch that can engage any style of music.
Because of its more compact size as Steinway’s “Studio Grand,” the Model M has proven itself as a consistent favorite for those needing a somewhat smaller grand piano for the home or small venue.
To learn more, read our A review of the Steinway Model M: Is the M the right piano for me?
The Steinway Model S is a well-conceived piano that conveys the famous Steinway sound despite its small scale design. At 5’1” (155 cm), the Model S is the smallest of the Steinway grands. The first ones were made in mahogany.
According to M. Steinert & Sons President Emeritus Paul Murphy, to compete with smaller and less expensive pianos built by Steinway’s competition, the S was introduced in 1936 at $885.
Steinway’s Model S is not for everyone. A professional concert pianist will want to have a Model B or D, which will allow them a wider dynamic range due to their larger size.
However, if you want the Steinway sound but have real space considerations, the Model S can be the perfect fit for their home or small venue. The S is a special order piano from Steinway, only a little smaller than the Model M.
For more information, read our A review of Steinway’s Model S: the baby grand.
These new Steinway grand pianos range between $80,100 and over $300,000, depending upon style and finish. M. Steinert & Sons piano consultants can keep you updated on the current price for each model.
As mentioned earlier, a purchase as important as a grand piano can feel daunting. The differences between two or three Steinway models can be either subtle or significant.
The good news is: it’s a Steinway. The legendary quality, craftsmanship, tone, and longevity that has made Steinway famous is in each of their grand piano models.
Come visit one of our two showrooms in Boston and Newton to begin the pleasant process of trying out these Steinway models yourself.
Our experienced piano consultants enjoy learning about your needs and aspirations when it comes to having a piano in your home. They can serve as your guide through the interesting process of choosing a Steinway.
Meantime, continue reading about Steinway’s uniquely handcrafted pianos below:
By Stephen N. Reed
So you’d like to experience the “Steinway sound” but don’t think you have an adequate space for a grand piano in your home. What to do? You could compromise and get a nice upright instead, but what if you feel unfulfilled–and after spending thousands of dollars?
Baby grands may not have the full power of a full grand piano. However, they are beloved for their unique capacity to bring the essential experience of a grand piano into much smaller spaces in a home or small venue.
The Steinway Model S is a well-conceived piano that conveys the famous Steinway sound despite its small scale design. At 5’1” (155 cm), the Model S is the smallest of the Steinway grands. The first ones were made in mahogany.
According to M. Steinert & Sons President Emeritus Paul Murphy, to compete with smaller and less expensive pianos built by Steinway’s competition, the S was introduced in 1936 at $885.
Murphy notes that this amount was lower than Steinway’s Model M at the time, which was priced at about $1,250.
During the difficult days of the Great Depression, some believe the less expensive Model S was key to keeping Steinway & Sons afloat.
To accommodate a significant section of the piano market requiring either a smaller piano in terms of size, price, or both, piano engineers at Steinway & Sons had to tackle the issue of small scale design.
Strings in the low bass register are among the longest in a piano. In light of the lost length due to the smaller piano size, bass strings are wrapped in copper and made thicker.
This additional density makes the bass strings stiffer, which can lead to “inharmonicity.” That is when a string’s harmonics deviate from their natural frequencies. The challenge for piano engineers is to avoid having the ear hear an indistinct pitch.
In addition, bass register strings must have soundboard flexibility. Otherwise, the bass tone in baby grand pianos can sound dull with limited sustain.
According to Paul Murphy, Steinway took about six years to develop what is now the Model S scale. In the late 1930s, most scale designs had to be built into pianos to prove themselves.
The Model S’s scale had to wait six years because Steinway & Sons insisted that it have the “Steinway sound” like the other, larger Steinway grands.
Today, piano scales can be designed with computers, which is how the Boston and Essex scales have been designed. This modern technology allowed Steinway to design a full line of pianos before they built the first one.
Steinway’s enormous amount of work in building the Diaphragmatic Soundboard–seen as the best soundboard ever made–helps to avoid such bass register problems. This patented soundboard was one of the distinctive features of the Model S.
This new soundboard was tapered around the edges where it meets the rim by about the thickness of a kitchen match.
This allowed the board to vibrate more freely and project sound longer than the uniform thickness board which was the prior design. In fact, the Model S, with the new soundboard, projected tone better than the Model M (5’7”).
The Diaphragmatic Soundboard was so successful that it was ultimately used in all Steinway models as it is today.
True, in shorter grand pianos, there is a discernible difference in touch weight when playing at the front of the key, as well as the place immediately next to the fallboard. As a result, the keyboard may not respond as well to sensitive touch as with longer pianos.
However, Steinway managed to install the same key length in its grands all the way up to the Model A at 6’2” feet in length. This gives the Model S a distinct advantage over many of its competitors.
The Model S shares the same exact materials and handcrafted workmanship as the Steinway flagship concert grand, the Model D. The only difference is size.
Model S’s action’s touch response is excellent, with a skilled pianist having no problem with techniques like legato and staccato. For a smaller piano, the Model S’s range of volume is impressive, as well.
Steinway’s Model S is not for everyone. A professional concert pianist will want to have a Model B or D, which will allow them a wider dynamic range due to their larger size.
However, if you want the Steinway sound but have real space considerations, the Model S can be the perfect fit for their home or small venue. The S is a special order piano from Steinway, only a little smaller than the Model M.
The least expensive of the Steinway grand pianos, the Model S’s 2023 price is $86,600 with an ebony finish.
Despite the Model S’s small size, from its beginnings the S has had its backers. When the Model S pianos were rolled out in 1936, no less a performer than Steinway Immortal Josef Hoffman went public with his appreciation for this new baby grand.
Hoffman was so impressed by the Model S that he bought 50 of them for the Curtis Institute.
Today, you’ll hear Model S owners coo over their “little Steinway.” The reason is clear: the Model S has allowed them to enjoy the Steinway sound despite their more modest home size or lower budget. Without the S, they simply would not have that daily experience in their home.
Come in and learn more about the Model S from one of M. Steinert & Son’s professional piano consultants. Meantime, read more about Steinway grands from these articles:
Review of the Steinway Model O: Is it the right piano for me?By Stephen N. Reed
You’re ready to buy your first Steinway, and you want the full grand piano experience. However, you wonder if that’s possible, as your home has no room large enough for the larger grands, like the Model A (6’2”) or Model B (6’10.5”)
Considering the outlay of funds required, you want a Steinway grand that will fit in your home while giving you that full Steinway grand piano experience. What to do?
Steinway has your answer. Close to six feet in length, the Steinway Model O, referred to as the “Living Room Grand,” is the largest of the smaller Steinway grand pianos with a length of nearly 5’11”.
Patrick Elisha of M. Steinert & Sons’ educational division notes that the Model O’s size begins to usher in the full, rich sound of the larger Steinway grand piano experience.
The Model O offers a full, resonant sound of exceptional warmth and depth. Often used for homes and teaching, the Model O has a rich bass register that is bolstered by the ample string length and the patented Diaphragmatic Soundboard.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of the Model O, its place among Steinway’s “Miniature” grands, and its triumphant return as Steinway’s only grand piano of nearly 6 feet in length.
The Model O was first produced in 1900, then was replaced in the New York factory by the slightly shorter Model L in 1924. The Model O looked like a permanently retired model. Then, more than 80 years later, Steinway & Sons brought it back in 2006, ironically replacing the Model L, which had first replaced it. But why this second switch?
The Astoria, New York Steinway factory had historically produced the Model L, while Steinway’s Hamburg, Germany plant made the Model O. Over time, a consensus emerged between these two Steinway divisions that the scale design of the O was preferred.
As a result, the decision was made to select just one nearly 6 foot piano to bear the Steinway name. The O had won on its merits.
The O was the first of the “Miniature” grands designed in the first half of the 20th Century by Henry Ziegler, who was the son of Doretta Steinway Ziegler, the daughter of Steinway & Sons’ founder, Henry Steinway.
Ziegler proved to be a design genius, creating smaller grand pianos with great power and a rich tone. In addition to the O, Ziegler designed the M (5’7”) and the L (5’10.5”).
By the time of the 2006 re-release, many technical improvements had been added to the Model O, including the Hexagrip Wrestplank, Steinway’s patented Diaphragmatic Soundboard, and Accelerated Action.
The Model O is also a pacesetter for style: its leg bottoms are squared. The O was the first with this feature, which has now become standard on all Steinway grands.
The reintroduction of the round tail Model O in 2006 has delighted pianists with its balanced tone, rich bass and an ultra-responsive action. The effect is to give the owner of the Model O as close to the experience of playing Model D concert grand as possible, packaged in the size of a Steinway miniature grand.
As compared to the Model M or Model S, the Model O has a fuller Steinway sound. The Model O’s rich tone features a balance between a powerful bass register and clear treble keys.
Steinway wanted to maintain the Steinway sound and action in Model O pianos, while designing them with smaller spaces in mind. Hence its nickname, “the Living Room Piano.”
Due to a well-engineered scale design, these pianos feature a rich sound and nuanced touch that surprises for a piano that is under six feet.
Those who have enough space in their living room or another accommodating room can’t go wrong with the Model O. Imagine a Model D, scaled down from nine feet to nearly six, with a full Steinway sound that still doesn’t overpower you.
That’s the beauty and balance of a Steinway Model O. Because of its design and the innovations that go into all of today’s Steinway grands, the O delivers the full Steinway grand experience to its amateur or professional player.
This is the piano for the person who wants a smaller grand that gives the impression of a larger Steinway in terms of projection and power.
Click here for the complete dimensions and specs list of the Steinway Model O.
Today’s Steinway Model O has a 2023 cost of $103,500 in an Ebony Satin finish.
Choosing a Steinway grand piano is a significant investment. You’ll want to try several Steinways, including the Model O, in order to understand the different Steinway models.
Make an appointment with one of M. Steinert’s piano consultants today. On a daily basis, they help people find the Steinway piano that is the perfect fit for their needs.
If you want a rich Steinway sound in an instrument that can fit in most homes or small venues, then the Model O may be the perfect Steinway grand for you.
Please continue to read more about some other Steinway models, also available at M. Steinert’s, serving Greater Boston since 1860.
A review of the Steinway Model M: Is the M the right piano for me? (updated for 2023)You’re ready to buy a great grand piano, but you wonder about the issue of size and cost. You’ve been thinking about checking out Steinways, but which model is the right one for you? After all, the alternative to choosing the best piano for you is long-term dissatisfaction with a costly purchase–and who wants that?
Introduced in 1911, the Steinway Model M occupies a cherished place for many in the Steinway spectrum of grand pianos. At 5’7″, the Model M is situated between the smaller (5’1″) Model S and the larger (5’10”) Model O.
Steinway has called the M their “Studio Grand.”
Though smaller than other models like the O and the A, the Model M retains a sound that richly fills a home or small venue without being overwhelming. This is due to its Steinway soundboard. Its responsive action produces a touch that can engage any style of music.
Because of its more compact size as Steinway’s “Studio Grand,” the Model M has proven itself as a consistent favorite for those needing a somewhat smaller grand piano for the home or small venue.
Choosing the right piano size is critical for long-term satisfaction with an investment of this significance. M. Steinert & Sons has been helping satisfied customers in New England for over 160 years decide upon the very best choice of a piano for their needs.
The trademark Steinway tone and touch found in the Model M starts with critical aspects of their design.
The Model M has a continuous bent rim made of 10 laminations of Hard Rock Maple resulting in a 2 1/4″ wide rim. The rim delivers the piano’s stability and quality and allows the Model M to endure for many decades.
Only select Sitka spruce with a regular grain is used to meet the highest quality standards. Steinway’s patented Diaphragmatic soundboard achieves optimum performance in a dynamic range and maximum sustain.
The Model M’s soundboard is gradually tapered from the center to the edges, creating a sound of exceptional richness, sonority, and sustain.
Steinway’s soundboard bridges are constructed from vertically laminated hardwood with a horizontal grain, capped with solid maple.
Each bridge is notched by hand for precise, individual string bearing. This design enables optimal sound transmission from the strings to the soundboard, resulting in a sustained, resonant tone that creates the famous Steinway sound.
In 1963, Steinway introduced their Hexagrip Pinblock, designed to allow the Steinway pianos to hold their tuning longer and with great precision.
Up to 20 tons of string tension is exerted on the Model M at all times. The M’s cast iron plate provides strength and stability throughout the piano’s life.
The Model M’s cast iron plate has Steinway’s “bell quality” and is used to support the string tension and reduce vibrations, enhancing the overall sound.
Steinway grand pianos are prized by performing pianists for their exceptional touch, allowing the pianist to bring out their musical best rather than finding the keyboard to be a hindrance to them.
One of the main reasons why 95% of the pianists performing with orchestras today prefer to play Steinways is this reliable action and touch.
The touch of the Model M is neither heavy nor light but well-balanced, with just enough resistance for softer play while quick for those pieces that are faster.
Though the Model M is considerably smaller than a concert grand like the Model D, it retains a significant amount of its Steinway design while in a package more suited for the home or smaller venues.
Like other Steinway models, the Model M strikes a balance again, this time in the instrument’s overall tone.
While the bass is rich, due to the shorter length of the piano, the last few bass notes are not as clear as the rest of the bass register.
Unlike other brands, Steinway models, including the M, do not have a “tinny” sound in the treble register. While the treble keys can sparkle depending on how the pianist plays them, they remain well within Steinway’s trademark’s overall even tone.
This balance of a wide range of tones supported by the Model M’s Hard Rock Maple rim and the cast iron plate is the fruit of generations of innovative Steinway engineers and designers.
This balance allows the pianist to express a wide range of soft and loud notes emotionally. Many have compared this Steinway range of expression to a 64-color Crayola Crayon box rather more basic eight-color crayon box.
This wide range of expressions is what Bartolomeo Cristofori had in mind when creating the first piano, the “gravicembalo col piano e forte,” or “the harpsichord that plays soft and loud.”
Compared to the larger Steinway grands, the Model M is more affordable. The Model M is priced at $93,100 with the standard ebony polish. This pricing has been another key reason for the Model M’s popularity over the years.
A few inches can make a big difference to a Steinway customer, especially one who has a perfect room for a new grand piano but must bow to that room’s existing dimensions.
The Model M gives an individual or small venue a powerful Steinway grand in a smaller 5’7″ instrument. This Studio Grand is perfect for the serious musician or the earnest beginner. The Model M will fill a home with the Steinway sound without the full power of a Model D concert piano.
One of Steinway’s most popular grand pianos, the reasons are easy to understand: the Model M gives its owner all of the essentials expected in a Steinway grand with the practical considerations of size included.
We encourage you to come into one of M. Steinert’s two showrooms to play the Model M or any other Steinway models to determine which Steinway should become part of your home or small venue.
Meantime, read further about Steinway grands in these articles from the “Expert Advice” section of our website:
A review of the Steinway Model A: The game changerLet’s face it: Steinway & Sons has a dizzying array of fine grand pianos to consider. And in an investment as important as a new grand piano, you naturally want to get the perfect piano for you.
For many, Steinway’s Model A, known as the “Parlor Grand,” is that piano.
It is a close cousin to the better-known Model B, known as the “Living Room Grand.”
The two pianos have a similar scale and the same width at 4’ 10”, though today’s Model A, with a length of 6’ 2”, is 9 inches shorter than the Model B with a length of 6’ 11”.
This difference in length makes the Model A an easier fit in many homes than the Model B. However, the Model A is still long enough to accommodate those looking for a full Steinway grand that provides a concert-quality Steinway sound despite the smaller size.
Choosing the right piano is very important for one’s longterm satisfaction after purchasing such a significant investment. M. Steinert & Sons has been helping thousands of satisfied customers to find the right piano for them for over 160 years.
The first Model A, known as the A-1, was introduced to the public by Steinway & Sons in 1876. The A-1, along with the A-2 and A-3 versions that followed, was barely 6’ in length. These three early models, while considered in the same Model A family, had some significant differences.
For example, the first A-1 had just 85 keys, three shy of the 88 that Steinway would make standard in the late 1880s, with other piano companies following suit.
Why 88? Keys above or below that standard 88 were considered too high or too low for the human ear.
By 1893, Steinway had replaced the original, 85-note Model A-1 with a new 88-note Model A-1.
In these earlier years of the company, the Model A was the smallest of all of Steinway’s grand pianos and had a diminished scale design than the Model B. Early Model A pianos were much more narrow than modern ones.
The early Model A featured some of C.F. Theodore Steinway’s innovations, secured by several patents. For example, the Model A featured the new, continuous bent rim case, which gave both a stronger cabinet and excellent soundboard vibrations. Theodore Steinway’s bent rim innovation is still used on Steinway grands today.
Also, Theodore Steinway first introduced the solid spruce radial bracing used ever since by Steinway in this game changing instrument.
In 1897, Steinway moved forward with a new Model A-2 grand. The A-2 was a bit longer than the A-1’s 6 feet. One significant improvement was in the widening of the piano’s tail, which allowed for a larger soundboard.
This was another game-changing move by Steinway, proving that they were devoted to putting the necessary research into creating the perfect piano.
This larger Steinway soundboard was a precursor to their patented 1936 Diaphragmatic Soundboard, which was designed to act like a human diaphragm. The thickness is in the middle, with continued tapering to the outer edges.
This creates a greater variance of tone, color, and richness. Such soundboards are found today in all Model As and other Steinway models.
A sensitive, well-designed soundboard is needed to respond to subtlety. Without the Diaphragmatic Soundboard, the tonal attributes created by the duplex scale design would be like words whispered to someone with earplugs.
Today’s Model A soundboard provides a sound that is concert-quality despite coming from a smaller grand, with a bass register that is surprisingly strong.
In 1905, Steinway & Sons introduced an additional innovation for the new short scale design for the Model A-2, which allowed for a more consistent tonal progression from bass to treble sections. Steinway sold the A-2 has having a larger tone than any other grand piano size.
This short scale feature continued until 1914. Stylistically, the A-2 was a departure from the A-1, in that it incorporated larger legs.
By 1913, Steinway & Sons listed both the A-2 and a new model, the A-3. The A-3 was a significant departure from the previous Model A pianos in that it is larger and possesses more power and a wider range of tone.
Some considered the Model A to be a 7’ piano in a smaller package with its exceptional scale design. As a result, it was favorably compared to the Steinway Model B.
However, the A-3 was more affordable than the B and could fit well in a smaller space. Production of the Model A-3 continued until 1945, at which point they were discontinued, perhaps to allow Steinway & Sons to focus on promoting the Model B.
For nearly sixty years, Steinway’s New York factory produced no Model As–an interesting development considering how positive the reviews had been over the years, especially for the Model A-3.
But in 2005, the Model A made a comeback, but more based on the shorter, 6’ Model A-2 model rather than the Model A-3.
Today’s Model A still has sufficient length to create the famous Steinway sound but, like previous versions of the Model A, this model is popular for being small enough at 6’2” to fit easily into more spaces in the home.
For a smaller grand, the tone produced is concert-quality without being overpowering.
In addition to a rich bass register, the treble is clear and warm. The responsive action features that valued effect Steinway is known for: the sense that it is enabling your playing, not working against you.
Other models compared to today’s Model A are the smaller Model M and, again, the larger, more expensive Model B.
To coin a phrase from Goldilocks and the Three Bears, for many the Model A is “just right” in terms of tone, size, and a 2023 cost of $119,400 with a standard ebony polish.
While much is made regarding the Model A being an exceptional piano for the home, some institutions, dealing with tight budgets, have turned to the Model A instead of the more expensive Model B, which can be over twice the A’s cost.
This compromise is a winning proposition for the college or mid-size concert hall that wants the quality of a Steinway at a more affordable price.
The modern Model A is the beneficiary of the many innovations Steinway included across several decades in the A-1, A-2, and A-3 models. The result is a bold sound from a smaller ground that possesses warmth, depth, and resonance.
Steinway has done well by promoting the Model A as having it all: concert-quality sound with a size and price that lends itself to smaller budgets and venues.
Most of all, the Model A is prized for its versatility. An advanced pianist, as well as a new piano student, can enjoy its capabilities.
Come and test a modern Model A for yourself by making an appointment with one of the piano consultants at M. Steinert & Sons.
Find out why so many Steinway customers have found the Model A to be the piano that is just right for them.
For more reading, enjoy these other articles about Steinway pianos:
Steinway’s Model D: The iconic concert grand piano of choiceby Stephen N. Reed
When Steinway & Sons rolled out their very first Model D concert grand piano in 1884, they could not have known how much one piano model would come to define their company. Top Steinway dealers like M. Steinert & Sons proudly offered this exceptionally designed concert grand then and have been doing so ever since.
The 130+ piano patents Steinway has filed over the years, along with the best materials and painstaking design features account for much of the Model D’s success.
So does Steinway’s willingness to listen well to the many Steinway Artists who have weighed in over the years on the reasons the nearly 9’ Model D is their concert grand piano of choice.
Hearing these artists’ perspectives provides a better understanding as to why the Model D is preferred by over 95% of professional pianists playing with orchestras worldwide.
The Steinway Model D is so ubiquitous on the major concert stages worldwide that many critics find it synonymous with the word “piano.”
Indeed, the Model D gets to the heart of Padua’s Bartolomeo Cristofori’s breakthrough when creating the first pianoforte in 1700: the ability to bring out greatly diverse shades of loud and soft tones, along with rich colors in both the treble and bass registers.
The Model D is the official piano of hundreds of musical venues, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Juilliard, and the New England Conservatory.
Over 200 colleges and universities are officially designated as All-Steinway Schools, with the Model D taking center stage on their campus’s performing arts centers and music departments.
Moreover, if you’ve listened to a classical or jazz piano recording lately, chances are that you were listening to a Steinway Model D.
Steinway’s competitors point to the competent marketing department at the New York-based piano maker as the key to the Model D’s dominance as the concert grand piano of choice for most performing pianists.
However, such reasoning ignores the stated professional needs of many performing artists who make their living from the musical instrument they play.
Additionally, would institutions of higher education and symphony orchestras risk turning off talented prospective students or season ticket holders with a concert grand piano that didn’t deliver?
What is it that has made the Model D the standard in the industry for generations?
Early in the history of Steinway & Sons, one can see the gradual emergence of the concert grand piano that would become the Model D. Some point to the Centennial Grand, rolled out by Steinway in 1875, as the direct precursor to the Model D, which made its appearance in 1884.
But even before the Centennial Grand, elements of the Model D were coming into focus. For example, Steinway’s “Plain Grand Style 2” piano, unveiled in 1868, was already getting closer to 9’ in length and was the first piano with 88 keys.
The Plain Grand Style 2 was Steinway’s lead model and featured Steinway’s patented repeating action and resonator. Stylish appointments included serpentine piano legs.
By the time the Plain Grand Style 2 was built, Steinway & Sons had become the top piano manufacturer in America, with great influence in their industry. Steinway’s use of a cast iron frame and overstringing in the Plain Grand Style 2 were picked up by other piano makers.
By 1880, Steinway started to produce their Model A, a smaller grand piano that nevertheless had significant ramifications for the Model D later.
Steinway’s Model A featured a laminated maple cabinet, resulting in their first modern rim case. This case was created by the use of long, thin planks of maple that were bent around a form and pressed together with glue.
The result was a stronger and more stable case for the Model A. Steinway had hit upon an approach to their smaller grand pianos’ rims that worked for larger models like the Model D, as well.
A Model D prototype was used in 1883 as a concert instrument at Steinway Hall in New York City. Steinway then unveiled the 1884 ‘D’, a new concert grand model with a 20-note bass register (instead of 17), a capo bar in both upper treble sections, a multi-laminated case, and a pedal lyre.
The modern Model D measures 8’11¾“ in length, an evolution from its earlier prototype which was 8 ½’ in length.
Making the Model D nearly 9’ in length was a deliberate move by Steinway engineers to provide the pianist more control and a wider range of expression, due to the pianist playing back on these longer keys more easily.
Additionally, the length of the keys gives added power for the piano to hold its own with any orchestra–and to be heard well on the back row of any concert hall.
Except for the Model D lengthening to nearly 9 ‘, few changes occurred in the years that followed, except for a new soundboard.
In 1936, a patented Steinway soundboard was added. This soundboard had a thickened center point that tapers to its edges to yield a quicker response and longevity.
The combination of the stronger rim, a richer bass, and a patented Steinway soundboard has been to create a Model D concert grand piano that now constitutes 5% of all Steinway grands created each year. All of Steinway’s famous piano innovations come together in this one concert-level instrument.
Since 2010, 25,000 of the 600,000 pianos built by Steinway have been Model Ds. Of the 424 Centennial Grand predecessor pianos, about 30 still exist.
Steinway’s commitment to establishing a strong bass register back in 1884 has paid big dividends over the years. Over the years, the Model D and other Steinway grands have possessed a strong bass to go along with their broad tone and a timbre some have called “spine-tingling.”
The sheer power in a Model D allows it to project to the back of any concert hall.
The Model D’s action is exceptionally responsive, allowing the pianist to channel a range of subtle emotions directly into the keyboard. Again, the length of the keys in the Model D is responsible. The pianist utilizes their gentler feel when playing towards the back of the keys.
This sophisticated action is the reason so many professional pianists prefer the Model D: they feel at one with the instrument and believe that its range of tone and color brings out their musical best.
The Model D is the ideal piano for some–but not others
While the Model D has typically been associated with concert halls, an increasing number of Model Ds now find their way into homes.
In addition to the Model D being the overwhelming choice of professional concert pianists and universities worldwide, this 9’ grand piano is also appropriate for the home of both the professional pianist and the serious amateur.
However, the Model D is not the piano for the budget-minded or those with a modest living space. 11 feet of floor space in the home, including the bench, is needed to accommodate the Model D.
In essence, the Model D is for those who insist on the best possible piano–and who can afford its $198,400 price tag.
For five generations, Steinway & Sons’ Model D has stood out as the standard of the industry, the concert grand to which all others are compared. Today, over 95% of pianists performing with an orchestra request the Steinway Model D as their piano of choice.
Each generation of Steinway Artists has had champions for the Model D, pianists for whom the D was the piano that they had long sought as a performing artist. Several of these were at the very top of their profession. Some examples include:
The materials and design Steinway & Sons have invested in the Model D is a testimony to company founder Henry Steinway’s famous philosophy to simply build the best piano possible.
Many believe Steinway has achieved that musical quest in developing and refining the Model D concert grand over five generations.
The combination of using the highest quality materials, creating the best possible design, and seeking input from the world’s greatest performing pianists have resulted in an exceptional 9’ grand piano.
The Model D is seen as the pinnacle of pianos for concert halls as well as the homes of all those who share Henry Steinway’s search for the perfect piano.
If you’re in the Greater Boston area, come into one of our showrooms and see for yourself the concert grand the musical world has been buzzing about for over 130 years: Steinway and Sons’ Model D.
Meantime, read further about what places Steinways in a class of their own:
Steinway Model B Review: Is the B the perfect piano?by Stephen N. Reed (updated January 2023)
The Model B is Steinway’s best-selling model and has been acclaimed for having the top Steinway sound and touch outside the concert grand models. The Model B is well-known for its constantly refined tone, touch sensitivity, broader dynamic range, longer sustain, and nuanced color.
How did the Model B achieve these aspects, becoming the standard against which all 7′ foot grand pianos are measured for the past century?
For several hundred years, piano design engineers agreed that, regardless of brand, a grand piano in the vicinity of 7′ in length can be considered ideal from a musical perspective.
This is due to the overall acoustic balance of the bass, tenor, and treble registers and how they complement and enhance each other. The bass is rich, distinct, and prolonged without overwhelming the treble. The sustain of the higher octaves is noticeably longer, and the harmonic content of the notes is more audible and colorful.
Over 165 years, Steinway & Sons has made each piano part involved in creating the famed “Steinway sound” the best it can be, both in terms of materials and design. The following parts are critical to the overall sound of the Model B.
The braces beneath the grand piano establish the piano’s structural foundation, much like a house’s cement foundation and will, in tandem with the cast iron plate above them, perform the primary function of withstanding the 40,000 pounds of string tension within a piano.
Spruce provides tensile strength with less weight. Maple dowels fasten braces to the rim, producing a single homogenous foundation upon which the entire tonal component is built.
To increase the surface square inch volume of the soundboard and thereby increase the overall resonance of the grand piano, Steinway widens the rear or “tail” of its larger grand pianos to accommodate more of a vibrating surface area composed of the resonant spruce wood.
The three largest Steinways (A, B, and D) boast a wide tail design.
All three of Steinway’s larger models feature a cast iron treble bell in the shape of a cone affixed to the rim’s underside.
This bell serves to hold the plate vertically rigid using a steel bolt from the nose of the bell to the cast iron plate, preventing vertical flexing of the plate under the enormous string tensions, thereby assisting significantly in tuning stability, especially in the treble registers.
The one-piece continuous bent rim, 2¾” thick, is one of the most significant technical innovations in piano building. The rim provides the foundation for the stability of each Steinway grand piano.
The Steinway Model B’s rim comprises 16 Hard Rock Maple layers, with the inner and outer rim being pressed together in a single operation. This provides the structural integrity that enables a Steinway piano to endure for generations.
The soundboard lies at the heart of a Steinway piano. Great care is taken in selecting the wood and the soundboard’s design. To meet the highest quality standards, Steinway uses only superior Sitka spruce with a regular grain and a prescribed number of annual growth rings.
The Steinway Diaphragmatic Soundboard is based on a 1936 patent to achieve optimum performance in dynamic range and maximum sustain. Under this patent, the soundboard is gradually tapered from the center to the edge, permitting freedom of movement and creating a sound of unparalleled richness and sustain.
Created like the soundboard of violins to give a free and even response throughout the entire scale, the Model B design permits complete freedom of movement while displacing a greater amount of air, creating a richer and more lasting tonal response.
Close-grained, quarter-sawn Sitka spruce, which has exceptional stability and vibrance under stress and vibration, is used for the Model B soundboard.
Along with the Model D, the Model B features a single-piece bridge. The continuous “shepherd’s crook” bridge is a feature of only Models B and D. It is one long continuous bridge from the highest treble to the deepest bass, enabling the instantaneous transfer of the vibrations of some 233 strings throughout the bridge and the soundboard, creating more color, more resonance, and more sustain.
Steinway constructs its soundboard bridges exclusively from vertically laminated hardwood with a horizontal grain, capped with solid maple. Each bridge is notched by hand for precise, individual string-bearing.
This design ensures optimal sound transmission from the strings to the soundboard, resulting in a sustained, resonant tone—creating the unique Steinway Sound.
In 1963, Steinway introduced the Hexagrip Pinblock, engineered to enable pianos to hold their tuning longer and with great precision. The exclusive design provides the tuning pin with smoother movement under torque, a more uniform retaining action, and a piano that holds its tuning longer.
The Model B is the most aesthetically pleasing, non-concert Steinway. The curved 7′ sweep of the piano’s right side from front to back is more gracious and less stubby than a smaller baby grand.
The shape made a more elegant statement and was in former days often referred to as the “parlor grand,” as it would grace the room reserved for conversation and the entertaining of guests in spacious homes.
Most Steinway Artists own Model Bs or Model Ds–or both. The Model B is not too large for many living rooms but also large enough to be appropriate for a smaller concert hall or a church sanctuary.
It is the most versatile of the five smaller grands by Steinway and is Steinway’s best-selling model. It is often the choice of serious amateurs or professional pianists who do not have the budget or the room for a 9′ concert grand Model D.
Having sold over 150 million records, Steinway Artist Billy Joel ranks as one of the world’s most respected entertainers and recording artists. In an interview on Steinway’s website, Joel attributes his early curiosity about the piano to Steinway’s Model B.
“The piano teacher that my mom took me to had a Steinway,” Joel explains. “It was a Steinway B, the Model B grand — and it was so much better than the piano that we had in our house. I used to love to go to her house to play her piano, not because I liked taking lessons [laughs], because I just loved the sound of the piano that she had. It was set up in a studio and the acoustics were fairly ambient and that piano…
“I used to try to get her to… ‘Can we lift the lid up on the piano?’ Because I wanted it louder. Sometimes she would and sometimes she wouldn’t, but that was my first exposure to a Steinway. I was about five years old.”
Classical pianist and Steinway Artist Lang Lang was involved in designing the Black Diamond Steinway grands, most of which are Model Bs. That’s not by accident. Steinway trusted the launch of this new line to the Model B, its all-time best-selling grand piano. Every Black Diamond includes Steinway & Sons Spirio – r.
Another superstar, singer Lenny Kravitz, has joined creative forces with Steinway, creating his own Limited Edition Model B series.
The 2023 Model B is one of the least expensive high-end pianos, starting at $134,900.
Compared to the price of other longer Steinway models and comparable models in other high-end brands, the Model B is seen by many as the best investment in the Steinway line.
This grand piano is for customers who want the best and will sacrifice to own it. The Model B is not for those buyers who want to save money by buying a used Steinway, nor for those without a space in their home at least 9′ long for a piano and bench.
The Model B is available as a Steinway Spirio, Steinway & Son’s cutting-edge player piano with a 4,300+ piece musical library of Steinway Artist performances and the Spirio | r – with the ability to record, archive, and edits performances in high resolution.
Many believe that the Model B is Steinway’s best piano, including professional pianists. Again, the Model B may not be ideal for someone who needs to buy a lower-budget piano or doesn’t have the space to accommodate a nearly 7′ grand.
However, the Model B has earned its popularity and acclaim for the professional or the serious amateur who wants a piano to challenge them and bring out their best as a musician. Some piano critics go so far as to say that the Model B is the “perfect piano.”
Larry Fine, a leading piano consultant and author of The Piano Book, writes, “The Model B is my favorite of the…Steinways and the best choice for the serious pianist, recording or teaching studio, or small recital hall.”
See if you agree. Play a Model B and listen for yourself. M. Steinert & Sons has piano consultants who can help you explore the nuances and the power of the Model B, including its Spirio versions. A piano this legendary needs to be fully experienced.
Meanwhile, click on the links below to some of our other articles about Steinway pianos.
by Stephen N. Reed
People naturally associate the word “Steinway” with classical music in part thanks to the company’s endorsement from classical piano titans like Sergei Rachmaninoff and Vladimir Horowitz–both of whom were Steinway Artists.
However, that reputation could give the wrong impression to many who are simply not into classical music. They might think that Steinway pianos are somehow limited only to classical pianists, composers, and their particular kind of music.
In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the contributions Steinway Artists have made in other musical genres, including varieties of jazz, blues, and hip hop.
Since 1860, Steinert & Sons has been helping New Englanders with their particular piano needs. Moreover, we have been a Steinway dealer since 1869.
Many of our customers have had a wide variety of musical interests beyond classical music. They have found that Steinway more than meets their expectations. For example, when it comes to the Steinway Spirio self-playing piano, it is recording at the highest resolution possible. Other brands rely on low-resolution MIDI files.
With Spirio, a jazz or contemporary performer will be working with the most cutting edge technology available for recording, playback, and editing. Steinway has created a proprietary data file format that captures the nuances and full range of emotion from each artist’s level of performance, resulting in a heightened level of playback.
While Steinways grace the classical music halls across the world, famous jazz and contemporary pianists have also joined the ranks of Steinway Artists and for the same reason as their classical counterparts.
They say that a Steinway piano helps bring out their best music through its subtle range of tone and color, its strength, its sophisticated and nimble touch.
Well over 90% of performing pianists choose Steinway grand piano as their preferred instrument. However, many think first of classical concert pianists when reading that stat.
Yet one need only remember that America’s jazz icon George Gershwin was a Steinway Artist. The great Duke Ellington was also a Steinway Artist.
So were some of the greatest popular songwriters of the early-to-middle 20th Century like Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. As a result, Steinway grand pianos established themselves as versatile, preferred instruments for many jazz and contemporary performers.
Today, the list of jazz and contemporary Steinway Artists continues to grow, again with leading names like pop icon Billy Joel and jazz star Diana Krall. Harry Connick, Jr. is there, too, along with Davell Crawford, Adam Birnbaum, Lenore Raphael, and Connie Han, among others.
For Steinway Artist Aaron Diehl, a Steinway grand piano is the ideal instrument for pieces that include aspects of both classical and jazz. With such pieces, a Steinway serves as a bridge between the two different genres, allowing them to blend together well.
Diehl talks about just such a piece he has added to the Steinway musical library, 15 Etudes for Jazz Piano, by Dick Hyman.
“When most people think of Études, they think of Chopin, or they think of Rachmaninoff, of the great European classical composers,” notes Diehl. “What’s interesting about this set of Études, they cover 15 different styles of 15 different pianists. It starts with Scott Joplin and ends with Bill Evans.”
“And there’s a common thread through all of these études, and that’s a steady rhythmic pulse,” says Diehl. “This is something that is very unique to jazz, the idea of a steady rhythmic syncopation that occurs from start to finish.”
For Diehl, a Steinway’s predictability, along with the uniqueness of each Steinway, make it an extraordinary instrument for jazz and other genres.
“With Steinways, there’s a standard of excellence that is always present with the pianos,” says Diehl. “What I love is that each individual instrument has very specific characteristics that differ from instrument to instrument.”
“Action is very important to me,” notes Diehl. “I typically like a moderate action, not too heavy, not too light, but one where I really feel like I have complete control over the instrument. I’m not expecting too many surprises in terms of evenness. The treble, I can feel exactly how my touch is going to resonate with the bottom of the keybed. Same with the bass.”
A Steinway Artist since 2015, Robert Glasper proves the relevance and versatility of Steinway pianos across the genres.
Gospel, R&B, and Motown were all part of Glasper’s upbringing. Motown, R&B. Glasper started performing by playing piano at his church. Later, he would join his mother for gigs on the Houston jazz circuit.
By high school, Glasper was building his musical skills at the Houston High School for the Performing Arts and New School University. There he was influenced by rock, hip hop, and pop music.
By 2003, Glasper had performed in the bands of prominent jazz artists, and his appreciation for hip-hop and R&B allowed him to develop connections in those musical worlds, both as a musician and a producer.
Glasper could have brought his experience of these modern genres to any piano maker. He chose Steinway.
“Steinway means individuality, perfection, personality, swag, diligence, and excellence!” says Glasper.
Glasper has discovered what Duke Ellington found out a generation ago.
When a piano company can point to A-listers from every generation among their roster of artists, that makes for some powerful testimonials.
George Gershwin wrote some of his best jazz works at his Steinway grand piano. When Billy Joel plays to a sold out concert at Madison Square Garden, he’s playing a Steinway.
More blues and hip hop artists are discovering Steinway’s value for their music, too.
But your opinion is the most important one when you are looking into a piano that will help you bring out your best across all genres, including jazz, blues, and contemporary music.
Come into one of our two showrooms in Boston and Newton to see if the action of a Steinway feels as good to you as it does to Steinway Artist Aaron Diehl.
See for yourself if you agree that a Steinway can bring out your best efforts as a jazz or contemporary pianist.
Aaron Diehl, Robert Glasper, Diana Krall, and Harry Connick, Jr. believe that you’ll like what you discover in a Steinway.
