Suggestions needed! The best steinway concert pianos?

[ferlyangel]

I'm trying to do a project on steinway pianos and i'm also planning to buy a steinway piano.
I really would like to hear some advice on the best upright steinway pianos and the best grand models, espeically for the ones used at concerts! Thanks!!

[stevebob]

If Steinway were like a brand of toothpaste with dozens of flavors available, your question would make somewhat more sense.  To my knowledge, though, there are just five models of Steinway grand pianos presently made in the U.S.  They vary in length; only the longest is called a "concert grand" and typically played in a concert venue.

As to Steinway's upright pianos, my impression is that they are eclipsed in popularity and performance by its line of grand pianos to such an extent that the uprights barely register on most people's radar at all.  Most people on this forum could probably name the five grand piano models without hesitation, but might have trouble thinking of a single model of Steinway upright.

[fnkyazn]

From a personal point of view, I would say that the Steinways made in Hamburg are the best Steinway grands, simply because their manufacturing process in Europe is much more refined than it is in their New York Factory.

As for the uprights, the K-52 is their tallest upright--it produces the most sound, and has the widest range as far as Steinway uprights go. 

If you're looking for a piano, I think Steinway grands are great.  However, I can't say the same about their uprights.  In my opinion, after playing several uprights, I've found many that outperform the Steinway upright that are less than the price of a Steinway upright. 

Remember, Steinway is a brand name, just like BMW and Mercedes.  It's a good brand, but don't let the name sell you, let the piano sell you.  And if the piano doesn't sell you, do yourself a favor and try exploring elsewhere.

[quantum]

For the price of a new Steinway upright, I could buy a 6 foot grand of several other brands.  That said, the sound is quite notable for an upright.  I have enjoyed playing several.

I find that each model grand has its characteristics, and an individual may have preference of some models over others.

M, L, O, and A are relatively close in size but have differing sound characteristics. 

Personally I have no interest in Model S or M, the price to performance ratio for these pianos is not warranted for me.  Very rarely do I come across a Model M that I like.  For the money I would pay for these, I could have pick of several other brands at the 6-7 foot length - larger sound, deeper bass.

Personal favorites of mine are the Model A and B.  The tonal variety and sensitivity to touch I have experienced in these pianos is far greater than Steinway's smaller pianos. 

There can be a lot of variance between pianos of a specific model.  Some people criticize this as inconsistency, especially of the New York factory.  You really have to try out the individual pianos to see if you like them.  If you are considering purchasing, make sure to test drive the particular piano you want to take home - not just the same model.

[chick98]

During WWII piano production pretty much ceased; in order to help the war effort many piano factories were re-tooled for military work. HOWEVER, most factories, including Steinway, continued to make a very limited number of pianos. It has been said that the builders took special pride in those few pianos; and, they were made with exceptional care and attention to detail.

I am one of those that believe that 'real' Steinways were not produced after SS was sold to CBS and eventually Selmer. My advice would be to find one built before 1971 and preferably built between 1941 - 1945. Good Luck!

[latrobe]

I'm trying to do a project on steinway pianos and i'm also planning to buy a steinway piano.
I really would like to hear some advice on the best upright steinway pianos and the best grand models, espeically for the ones used at concerts! Thanks!!

:-)

I am about to say something wicked. Very wicked. Very controversial. Very horrible. Please forgive me. My sense of humour is awful. . . But there's an element of truth here. . .

Steinways are WONDERFUL in big concert halls. Brilliant for getting that A flat right over to the back of the auditorium to the 2000th member of the auditorium. But in a lesser space, particularly in a chamber music environment, I _hate_ Steinways: every note is an interruption to the music.

Steinways are a brand. Fine. If you want to buy into that brand because you want to buy into that brand, then buy a Steinway. You'll love it. But otherwise, look for a musical instrument . . .

:-)

Extreme. I know. I deserve to be flamed, burnt at the stake and my ashes launched into outer space. Sorry. I'm a Bechstein man. Otherwise seduceable by a 4 string Bluthner.

Having said this, Steinway and their marketing and their monopoly on concert artists has been significantly responsible for the standardisation of pianos - and that means pitch and temperament. Steinway tuners will not contemplate unequal temperament and it is for this reason that for many decades we have been accursed to hearing 19th century music in a manner akin to having to watch black and white television when we know that colour technology exists and the colours can be vivid.

For this reason my vitriol towards Steinways that is on many levels perceivable as sheer blind obstinate prejudice, is justifiable. The piano used to be ever such more of a musical instrument.

Best wishes

David P

[quantum]

Extreme. I know. I deserve to be flamed, burnt at the stake and my ashes launched into outer space. Sorry. I'm a Bechstein man. Otherwise seduceable by a 4 string Bluthner.

You deserve an award.

People deserve to know that there are more to pianos than the name Steinway.  I would never like to be an exclusive _____________ piano artist (fill in any name you like), as I feel such would be too limiting. 

[gyzzzmo]

The Steinway uprights ive been playing on had a very nice sound and touche, but you better learn how to tune piano's yourself if you buy one, those i played on all got false during the day.
I cant say anything about how they sound in smaller rooms since i've never played on one in that situation.

[quantum]

The Steinway uprights ive been playing on had a very nice sound and touche, but you better learn how to tune piano's yourself if you buy one, those i played on all got false during the day.
I cant say anything about how they sound in smaller rooms since i've never played on one in that situation.

One of my teachers had one of these uprights in a very small room with carpet, draperies and soft furniture.  Sounded pretty good.  Mind you it was an older Steinway. 

[keys60]

BRAVO !!!! Latrobe. BRAVO !!!

I recently tuned a Hamburg Steinway L. at a school. The action was fabulous. The sound was good.
But I hate Steinway's bully tactics towards musicians too. They seduce them with sweetheart deals and never let them touch another brand on stage. God forbid they touch a Bosendorfer because it helps with their artistic creativity and interpretation of a particular piece.

[richard black]

Yeah, the whole Steinway mystique thing is most certainly BS. My take is that Steinway makes good pianos - very good. They aren't all everyone's taste, but they are well designed and well made. But they aren't the only game in town!

The big trouble with generalising - Steinway this, Bösendorfer that, pianos made before 19xx the other - is that pianos are individual things made largely out of a living material (wood) and they all have very different lives - different environment, amount of playing, care and attention, regulating, revoicing and so on. Steinway's big selling point is that the pianos never fall below a certain level (obviously, unless they've been badly maltreated), but if one is talking about the finest levels of detail at the highest level, not every Steinway is 'perfect', whatever that means in such a subjective context.

As regards finding your own piano, this simply means being patient, trying different makes, models and individual examples, and then picking one and growing old with it. As regards playing in public concerts, I just think it's part of the fun, finding a piano there and figuring out what one can do with it that maybe one couldn't with last night's instrument.