Steinway - Whats what?

[gruffalo]

Hi, i am making this post so i can get to know more about Steinway Pianos. A friend of my mum (ie.e old man) wants to sell it to me. its a Steinway 1921 (dont know model, was just a brief convo).

Before i make any choices, i just want to know more about what the different Model letters ie. "Steinway D" or B etc. stand for and what prices these are worth. i have tried internet searches and i find it difficult to see any consistency in prices, models and age. Apparently in immaculate condition, but not quite sure if he means framework so i dont know much about the restoration. I can find more details about this particular piano tomorrow, but i just want to know more about steinways.

Thanks for reading.

[gfiore]

 You want to know about NY, or Hamburg models. Grand or vertical?

[pianorama]

A model D is 8'11", the largest, model S is the smallest, 5'2" I think, model L and O are both 5'8" or maybe 5'6", though the O is one quarter of an inch longer. (wow, big difference ) Model A is 6'0" I think, and that's all I know.

 More info at www.steinway.com

[gfiore]

 D - 8' 11 3/4"
 C-7' 5 1/2" Hamburg
 B-6' 10 1/2"
 A-6'2" NY and Hamburg
 O- 5' 10" Hamburg  The O was reintroduced in NY this past January
 L- 5' 10 1/2"
 M- 5'7"
 S- 5'1"

[pantonality]

Can I assume the 1921 refers to the year it was built? If so have a competent tech check it out. It probably needs a complete rebuild. Most pianos north of 50 years of age that haven't already been rebuilt need rebuilding. Rebuilding includes a new soundboard as well as pinblock and action. Good luck.

Steve

[gruffalo]

mistake made, its even older than that. its 1901. im going to visit on monday. i will prob get a tech to check it out, but would i be able to tell, just from looking and playing, if it needs restoring?

so the model number refers to size? that makes sense. i will get some more details on the specs when i go there.

[cy_shuster]

mistake made, its even older than that. its 1901. im going to visit on monday. i will prob get a tech to check it out, but would i be able to tell, just from looking and playing, if it needs restoring?

Probably not, without some training (see "The Piano Book", Larry Fine).  Like a car, the worst problems are hardest to see (like engine problems).  Any hundred-year-old piano needs major work over its lifetime.

--Cy--

[saturation]

Probably not, without some training (see "The Piano Book", Larry Fine).  Like a car, the worst problems are hardest to see (like engine problems).  Any hundred-year-old piano needs major work over its lifetime.

--Cy--

I second Cy on that very wholeheartedly.  At that age, at minimum you're looking to buy the piano in restoreable shape.  You can easily pull out the keyboard and inspect its shape, inspect the pinblock, the soundboard from below, and the general condition of the rim and iron frame.  That's what you'll need the tech to tell you.

At best the instrument is playable, you can check that out by doing so at the site.

You get get the entire history of the piano, from its day at the factory, to the day it was sold by the 1st dealer, direct from Steinway.  All you need to ID the piano is the serial number.

What is it worth in terms of the conditions at examination?  For a guide check the Blue Book for Pianos and Larry Fine's 'The Piano Book.'

[gruffalo]

ok, i visited today. the guy has given it to an auctioneer. i spoke to the auctioneer who is a close friend of the guy who took me there, and he hopes to get about 4000 pounds out of it. so i visited the piano.

it was mahogony, it was a New York & Hamburg Steinway. Some of the keys on the keyboard were dodgey. mostly in tune except the keys at the bottom (probably because of the moving around). its a 1901, and i checked the serial with the dates on the steinway website. just from seeing it, its gonna need a restoration job. thats if i try and get it. what i would like to know is, how much (roughly) would a restoration job be? And how effective would that job be? for me, no matter how good a sound comes out of a piano, i wont like it if it doesnt have a nice heavy and even touch.

i understand that the restoration costs would vary according to the state that the piano is in, but if someone could give me a range of costs? i just rang steinway in London, who gave me another number and told me to ring back tomorrow. the auction is on thursday so i need to find out as much as possible, as quick as possible. luckily, the place wasnt a seriously popular auction place.

thanks for the help so far.

[gfiore]

  First, and most important.  Is it a grand or vertical?  What model, or size?
 A full rebuild will cost between $18,000-28,000 depending on who's doing the work, and how good they are. At this pianos age, just about everything will need to be replaced.

[saturation]

The standard scuttlebutt is at least US $15,000-20,000 to rebuild a Steinway, literally gutting it and replacing most everything except the furniture components, frame, rim, and keyboard [ if its original ivory and worth keeping.]   Such pianos are often sold for at least double the rebuild cost.

For an estimate in the EU or US consider the prices of rebuilt Steinways offered for sale or the rebuild estimates here:

https://www.countrypiano.com/showroom.html

https://www.besbrodepianos.co.uk/pianorestoration.htm

I'm not a piano technician, and will bow to the more qualified poster here.  I went through this route from my piano, that being over 10 years ago.

[gruffalo]

thanks for the info. the keyboard replacement (definitely needed) seemed to be around $1500, which isnt too bad. but its what i cant see that worries me. i would send out a piano tech, but my mum said it may be a bad idea if he decides to offer a larger price to this guy. he would no more about buying pianos and their value aswell. i will see what steinway say tomorrow morning.

thanks for the help.

Gruff

[cy_shuster]

Replacing the keyboard would be more like $5000, but I doubt that's needed; it's seldom done.

You have been given some strange information.  A Steinway is made in either NY or Hamburg - not both.  The year was given as 1921, then 1901.  Now you're considering investing thousands to have it rebuilt, but not a hundred to have a technician give you a professional opinion?

You might want to start over and describe what you're looking for in a piano, what your skill level is, and what your budget is.  Buying a piano more than a hundred years old at auction, without knowing what you're getting into, is not a wise first purchase.  Pianos don't have "antique" value like furniture does.

--Cy--

[gruffalo]

ok, it looks like i am not going to buy it now. my mum mixed up the dates because she doesnt know much and didnt write it down. we decided to send a tech, but not happening now. the piano itself had written on the front above the keys "New York and Hamburg Steinway & Sons". i found that rather odd myself.

[gfiore]

 You mean the stencil on the fallboard  looked like this-             Steinway&Sons
                                                                                              NewYork&Hamburg 


 That is how the older Hamburg Steinways, and the NY Steinway stenciled the Steinway name on the fallboard around the turn of the century. It is'nt unusual.

[gruffalo]

yup thats the one. hey, since you are a piano tech yourself, do piano techs have some policy where the wont try and snatch the deal of the piano someone is selling? or do you just have to trust them not to?

trust must be a big thing between you and your tech. because they could tell you so much about a piano being wrong that you wouldnt have a clue, yet things might not really be wrong. if you know what im saying.

[gfiore]

 Unless the tech is a rebuilder he/she is not going to bid on a piano at auction. Hire a tech to inspect the piano who is not bidding in this auction. This piano is over 100 years old. Are you sure you want to take the risk without a techs report?

[cy_shuster]

Trust is important in all business deals.  Do you ask your dentist what she or he is going to do? :-)

--Cy--