New Steinway ModelO

[klavieranika]

We have just purchased a Steinway Model O yesterday. We bought this as a family instrument for our 3 young children of who 2 already play the violin and also for us. I played for about 10 years as a child and my husband is a total beginner. We have been looking for a long time to find a suitable instrument and finally decided to go for this Model. In the Steinway Hall they had two  instruments of the Model O of which one had a more mellow tone and easier action while the other one had a stiffer action and brighter/ clearer sound. The sales person favoured the second one to begin with and called it a concert/solo piano but when I pointed out the slight stiffer action she noticed something about the way the keys were put in  that would cause this effect and that this would need to be regulated. I preferred the first one to begin with but once I started reading more on the internet and realised that every steinway is different and not necessarily equal in quality I started to think it would be better to go for the more objective good one. By then the sales person had changed her view and said she favoured the more mellow one like me and also had the other one checked by a technician for its action. Again she called the brighter one the concert version and the mellow one the house version but wouldn't take a stand which one would be the better one for us. We are obviously very inexperienced in this and it is such a big decision. Can anybody give me a clue based on this information which one would be more suitable and if the stiffer action is a worry (when I said that i would like this to be adjusted she said the stiffer action would be quite good for the children)?
Yet another question on the subject, would anybody recommend the ModelB in our situation?

[daniloperusina]

When buying a new grand piano of this caliber you basically have to worry about absolutely nothing. You can't get better quality for any sort of money, period.

Now, opinions are going to vary, but I've played on hundreds of Steinways, model O's and B's included, and it's true that not two of them have been alike. And though a few of them have been dissapointing for different reasons, absolutely each and everyone I've ever played, including very old and worn ones, has had that tone and that craftsmanship in the action, which are two of the reasons for Steinway's supreme reputation.

I wouldn't call the model O a concert instrument, it's too small (= the bass strings are too short). That's just sales talk. The model D is a concert instrument, and sometimes you find models C and B as well, in smaller venues or in recording studios. But the quality of craftsmanship is the same in all models.

One of the reasons why it sounds mellow or bright is the hardness of the hammers. This is adjustable by a technician to suit your preferences. The action is made up of a series of levers, of which the key itself is one, and the levers are connected to each other mainly via metal pins running through holes covered with felt. This is precisely fitted together, but can also be adjusted towards a lighter or heavier feel, but is sometimes more laboursome than the toning up or down of the hammers.

The procedure when buying new is that after it has arrived someone will come and tune it, and then someone will come and fine-adjust the sound, brighter or mellower, according to the acoustics in your home and how you want it. I don't know if messing about with the action is part of the deal, but keep a good contact with the tuner/technician and I'm sure he/she will be very helpful!

[daniloperusina]

Oh, and the model B could be said to be capable of a more powerful sound, and might be more ideally balanced between treble and bass, but I don't think that's really what you need, especially not at home.

And the "not necessarily equal in quality", well, I'm sure the same can be said about Rolls Royse, and I for one think that Mozart's Clarinet Concerto is of better quality than his Piano Concerto nr 25, but a low-inspiration Mozart is still head and shoulders above any second-rate composer's greatest work.

So don't worry, but do talk to the technician about how you want it, or have him/her explain to you in a nice way why you might simply be completely wrong!:)

[keys60]

Klav,

 Congratulations on your spectacular purchase. May I ask which Steinway Hall (as in NYC on 57st.??) you purchased from?

 That's the beauty of Steinway right from the factory. Unlike the Japanese pianos, like Yamaha, and I'm not knocking Yamaha, Steinway strives to produce each piano with varying touch and tone to suit the customers needs instead of producing a product of uniformity. Yamahas all pretty much sound and feel alike in their respective size classes.

As for the quality of between the 2 O's; an O is an O. Maybe what the sales person was referring to is that a concert pianist would probably tend to prefer a heavier action with a more pronounced tone, but as daniloperusina pointed out in their most excellent reply, its just sales speak. No way would they take a stand. Each Steinway showroom is lucky to sell a few pianos per month to the home owner. They just want to sell a piano and will tell you what you want to hear about the piano you prefer.

I personally love a meaty feeling action, yet can also appreciate a lighter one. It depends on what and how I'm playing that day.
I would highly recommend taking the piano that you and your family like the best. And that's it.
I would also like to point out that if your children are small, a stiff action can be tiring and possibly frustrating.
6 of one, half dozen of the other. Both O's are excellent instruments and also large enough for the average household room.
Enjoy you piano.

[klavieranika]

Thank you for all your reassurance. We are in London.

[hektorparis]

Another great feature about the Steinway Model O is that the piano actually has a 5 inch touch pedals. I think the size of the pedals make this very easy to constantly refer back to it without having to squint or to wonder about what you were looking at.

Having a large pedal that is easy to adjust and see is a great benefit when playing and using a piano. A touch pedals of this quality makes playing very easy, whether you are in the country or in an urban area. I visited Steinway Hall (in NYC on 57th St) but I bought my from Park Avenue Pianos on 59th St. https://www.parkavenuepianos.com

[steven1a]

The important point is that you bought a grand.  The horizontal orientation of a piano's action is much more natural and efficient than an upright's action, and more conducive to technical improvement as well as joy in playing.  A Steinway B is of course better than an O, but is commensurately more expensive.  The good thing about Steinways is that they hold their value, and with some luck, even appreciate.  The O has a pleasant tone, perhaps not as beautiful as the larger models, but quite fine in its own right.  If the family really sticks with the piano, you may want to upgrade to an L or even a B, if that is financially feasible, but in the early stages of piano lessons, an O will be a great instrument to use.

Steven P. Niles, Doctor of Music Arts, USC's Thornton School of Music
Instructor of Music, Los Angeles Mission College

[giff]

I am going to purchase a Steinway M or O (for a small high-ceilinged room 13x14) and am looking for some advice. How are you enjoying your model O, a year later?  Any complaints, any suggestions?

I thoroughly enjoyed the display M I played in Syracuse, then tried a superb O in Clifton Park (same dealer). Very comical trying out Steinways. After a lifetime of uprights I feel as though someone opened the window (and the door and bay window). Each one I play is a delight. How to choose, though. I recognize that every piano will differ so I am steering clear of ordering one without playing it, and I also realize that the O has an incredible bass (and having lived for years with a muddy one, I am a bit overwhelmed).

But without opening a proverbial can of worms:), what would you say about my choices?

[pianolive]

giff,

Choose the biggest Steinway you can afford and is suitable for your room.
Then play as many new pianos of that model as possible and buy the one you like best.

[giff]

That is sound advice.

One last question: can one really talk a price down on a new Steinway, or is that a pipe dream of mine?  I was offered a new O (with my poor little Baldwin Hamilton as a trade) for $61,000.

[pianolive]

No, I don´t think you can talk the price down.
Steinway dealers usually have to send back information to Steinway about the deal, and then become the last provision which is quite high.
It works the same way for some other piano brands. They all want to keep up the prices set from the manufacturer.
What you can do is to try and get a higher price for your old piano, or sell it yourself at a higher price. Dealers never pay the best price because they must sell it and make a profit too.
You can also try to get a new piano chair and overcast and as much free service as possible, maybe four free tunings and checks the first year.
Good luck!

[giff]

Thanks: what you're saying makes sense.

[quantum]

You can try to have a leather artist bench included (as opposed to vinyl).  Or even a duet leather artist bench.  In addition to the initial in-home adjustments, you could ask for a full regulation and voicing 6-12 months after your piano has been in your home.  At that point you will have become more familiar with your piano and can better gauge how you would like it to be refined.