Current Problem. Sounds like hearsay but like to know. Is this true? Would you prefer to visit our Chinese site at steinway.com.cn? Steinway pianos are used heavily in orchestras & touring performers. Steinway & Sons Company is facing three major challenges. Earliest examples of model V have 52 wound strings, the highest ten strung over a return bridge in the low tenor. I heard (stressed HEARD, don’t know) though Steinway OFFICIALLY didn’t make the AIII anymore, that some rolled out AFTER WWII because they had AIII PLATES lying around and they only made a few more by CUSTOM order only until the plates were used. ©2021 Lot 30 - Steinway (c1971) A 6ft 11in Model B grand piano in a bright ebonised case on square tapered legs; together with a matching stool. Steinway Grands. However if you want to buy furniture and/or if you are short on cash, an 85-key Steinway piano is a good alternative. Several unforeseen problems with these bushings eventually caused their downfall. Older pianos are better than new ones. Our time in this historic industry has allowed us to buy and sell many Steinway pianos. Would you prefer to visit our European site at steinway.eu? If you are looking for ADS FOR PIANO-RELATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES and don't see any here, please turn off the AD-BLOCKING FEATURE in your web browser, or list www.pianobuyer.com as an EXCEPTION. As a consequence of the Great Depression, some of these latter were sold without installation of player components and were identified as YM, YL, and YA. Customer Reviews. The technical problems of Teflon bushings were magnified by bad press and the conservatism of piano technicians, and Steinway finally gave up and began a return to cloth bushings in 1981. (Neither do Ferraris and Rollers). Technicians have attempted many solutions to this problem, using chemical, mechanical, heat, and electrical methods, and some of these methods appear to provide at least temporary relief when the problem is not severe. First, with the exception of the years 1898–1903 and 1916–1931, pianos were not always shipped in the order in which they were manufactured. The model D pianos above have a 17-note bass section; those below have a 20-note bass section. ...Case of Steinway & Sons: Buying a Legend In the case of Steinway & Sons, two investment bankers, Dana Messina and Kyle Kirkland are faced with the question of how to build on the business.Steinway & Sons was established in 1853 in New York City, by Henry Engelhard Steinway, a German immigrant who became well known for his technical excellence in piano production. Model C Parlor Concert Grand (and ancestors). The first step in buying a used piano is determining your budget. The article can be read below: Classic Grand Pianos Brought Back to Life Refurbished Steinway Pianos Sold Like New but for Half the Price. These early style numbers, however, referred to both differences in scale design and differences in furniture styling. Encased in a deep polished ebony finish, this instrument is a true feast for the ears and the eyes. In the piano world, older is not better. The model C pianos above have a 21-note bass section; that below has a 20-note bass section. One piano on special order (1931). Note that it is not possible to replace the Teflon bushings with cloth bushings without replacing all the action parts as well. So was the last AIII (off Steinway’s books) really made in 1942 and not 1945? During the formative years of Steinway & Sons, an immense amount of experimentation and development was in progress. Although certainly not unique to Steinways, the verdigris problem is frequently found in Steinways from the 1920s and to a lesser extent in pianos made during the several decades before and after that period. For pricing of new Steinway grand and upright pianos (also called vertical pianos), Steinway does not publish prices online, however we are happy to supply pricing if you complete the form below. In the list below, to avoid confusion, only the word model is used and, as I said, furniture style variations are omitted. Larger Steinway pianos like the 9′ model D cost $171,000. The only problem with them is that, like the wood around them, they respond to humidity changes, swelling up in damp weather and shrinking in dry weather, causing the attached moving parts to become alternately sluggish or loose. Steinway made grands and uprights with extended cases for the Aeolian Co., who installed the Duo-Art reproducing mechanism. And you have it right there, 161,865 to 321,289. Filter by Brand. During the nineteenth century some letters, like the numbers, were used to designate more than one scale design or style, but in the twentieth century a given letter has been applied to only one scale design regardless of the case styling. Have all your questions answered — by phone or email. When you purchase any Pre-Owned Steinway, you will receive 100% of the original purchase price in trade toward a new Steinway or Steinway - Designed piano of greater value for the lifetime of the instrument. The US government issued its edict in 1942 for all musical instrument manufacturers stop making musical instruments and to cross-manufacture (Steinway wood in fighter plane wings; Conn’s brass instrument valve making to make airplane gauges). The pianos above have round tails, those below have square tails. Early pianos have a straight bass bridge; later ones, above number 110,000, have a curved bass bridge. The materials that go into them, and the string tension are two major points. ), Researchers studying the historical Steinway serial number books have found them to be a nest of inconsistencies. Steinway and the Lyre are registered trademarks.One Steinway Place, Astoria, NY 11105 - (718) 721-2600. We buy Steinway Grand Pianos paying the highest wholesale cash prices in the industry. Here is a detailed explanation what you can expect at the different price points. Please enter a valid postal code (ex 10001), Please enter a valid postal code (ex A1A 1A1, A1A1A1), Please enter a valid postal code (ex 3000). For those with a budget that allows them to purchase a new Steinway, we always recommend the best piano that the budget allows, and that would always be a new Steinway. Most the information in there I kind of already knew but I read it for review and to see if there’d be something I didn’t know. Find a retail location to see a Steinway piano in person. Buying a Steinway piano is a bit like buying a Ferrari or a Rolls Royce. You will need some luck to find anything usable. The squared-off tail allows for more soundboard vibrating area near the bass bridge. Our church has one, no. For those with a budget that allows them to purchase a new Steinway, we always recommend the best piano that the budget allows, and that would always be a new Steinway. Teflon, created by DuPont, is a very slippery inert plastic, immune to temperature and humidity changes. -Kevin M. Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer is published by: The wood could also squeeze the bushings in the dry season, causing the action parts to become sluggish, which completely defeated the purpose of the Teflon bushing. We will write a custom Case Study on Steinway & Sons: Buying a Legend specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page. This had the unexpected effect of causing some of the bushings to become loose in their wooden parts during the humid season (the opposite of what one might guess), resulting in a clicking sound whenever those particular notes were played. Outside the U.S. please be sure to include the country code. The company has lost grip of its brand loyalty to its customers. Steinway & Sons. The bushings were tiny, hollow cylinders of Teflon; the center pins would rotate in these instead of in cloth (see illustration). We guarantee a courteous and prompt experience in this process. Buying a piano no longer means having to wait for a pianist to play it at home.” LANG LANG. Also, if a piano with Teflon bushings is in the shop for rebuilding, it would make sense to rebuild the action with cloth-bushed parts. Box 601041, San Diego, CA 92160 USA, © 2021 Brookside Press LLC. Fully rebuilt by our expert piano specialists, this instrument features a new solid spruce soundboard, a new hard maple pinblock, a fully rebuilt action, and much more. 230 + Reviews 5.0Google. If you are looking for more general pricing information, please supply a phone number and a representative will call you at a time that is convenient to you to discuss some options that may be within your budget range. The model O, above, has a round tail. wanted at iBuySteinways! Created by Casey Saliba of the Steinway Piano Galleries in Texas (Dallas, Ft. Worth, and Plano), along with the collaboration of Steinway & Sons, A Grand Guide to Buying a Used Steinway Piano is designed to assist you in your journey in selecting a genuine used Steinway piano. Buying a Used Steinway. Thanks again for the article. Last Steinway pianos with 85 keys were produced at the end of the 19th century. Depreciation of Pianos. *I gratefully acknowledge Mr. Roy Kehl, piano technician, of Evanston, Illinois for generously sharing with me the results of his research into the history of Steinway scale designs, from which this list was largely developed. Where to Find Steinways for Sale . I’ve actually been to the Steinway showroom in London, and they have a significant selection of pianos there, both new and restored. Stay In Touch. Estimate: £20,000 - £30,000 Watch. Other letter-named case variations on large scales include M, P, Q, S, K, T, and O. Do yourself a huge favor and have the piano checked by a qualified piano technician before you pay for it, or have it moved to your house. A Steinway representative will contact you regarding your inquiry. If you encounter an older Steinway with an extremely heavy touch or one in which the keys and hammers appear not to return to their rest position quickly, there is a good chance the piano has a verdigris problem. And even more so, the whole PIANO BUYER contribution to the whole piano community. I’ve generally always thought Steinway pianos sound very warm. Steinway pianos appreciate over time, with each new model causing the value of existing models to rise, as well. All moving action parts pivot on small metal pins, called center pins, that rotate in tiny holes in the wooden parts. In that year Steinway began to assign style numbers to some of their pianos and by 1866 each piano was designated in this way. In particular, what value do they bring to the company and what decisions should they make? Within this context, what do two young entrepreneurs (with little or no experience in the piano industry) hope to accomplish in buying Steinway? Firstly, Steinway doesn’t actually publish prices for their new pianos. In 1932 the term style was replaced by model in price lists and catalogs. Second, the point in the manufacturing process at which the serial numbers are assigned has changed over the years. When combined with the fact that it takes months to build a Steinway, it becomes almost impossible to say precisely when any particular Steinway was “manufactured.”. If you’re in the market for a Steinway piano, your first thought might be to buy a brand new piano. Traditionally, these holes have always been lined, or bushed, with wool cloth. Today, a new Steinway Model B Grand Piano would put you back well over $105,000.00. from the keyboard to the back--for $19,000, vs. $27,400 for a new one from Steinway. Remember, buying a Steinway piano is an investment, not just a purchase. Switching to Teflon bushings involved changing more than just the bushings themselves, though. ©2021 Steinway & Sons. The legendary history of Steinway piano appreciation means the best time to invest in a Steinway piano is always the present. An 1878 catalog lists pianos by style letter as well as style number for the first time, and letters and numbers appeared together in the catalogs through 1896, after which letters were used exclusively. So, what makes Steinway pianos so great? This is in response to your, “Buying a Used Steinway” article. (Note: A chemical treatment called Protek appears to be effective in solving the verdigris problem in many, though not all, cases. These cloth flange bushings (flanges are the hinges to which action parts are attached) are amazingly durable and resilient, and it is not unusual for a hundred-year-old piano to have flange bushings that are almost as good as new. Seven Types of Used Steinway Pianos Furthermore, the style to which each number referred changed from year to year, and so the numbers cannot be relied upon for identification. For that reason, Steinways don’t come cheap. The piano listed below as 6’1″, officially given in catalogs as 6′, usually measures between 6’1″ and 6’2″. Get the top Steinway stories delivered right to your inbox with the official Steinway & Sons Newsletter, published monthly. Excerpted from The Piano Book, Fourth Edition, by Larry Fine. Required fields are indicated by an asterisk. The squared-off tail allows for more soundboard vibrating area near the bass bridge. Ten of these were made on special order (1920–1923, 1925, 1930). If you are serious about playing piano do not buy an 85-key Steinway piano. Note: Serial numbers represent rounded-off count at year end. Though I knew of the years of its manufacture, what I wanted to know is the serial no. Hopefully, piano technicians and historians will also find the list useful. This makes verdigris an expensive problem to correct, so be aware of it when inspecting a used Steinway prior to purchase. Please contact us below to receive a price quote for the instrument you are interested in. But then, the best always is. According to technicians with extensive experience servicing these pianos, there are usually few problems with these bushings after those that give trouble during the first few seasons are replaced. Also, a given model may have been manufactured or sold in limited quantities after the time it was officially discontinued. When purchasing a Steinway, the first and most important consideration is whether you are purchasing a new, used or a completely rebuilt Steinway. We recently sent out a press release on buying a Steinway for thousands less. Brookside Press LLC, P.O. on the Steinway & Sons Spirio. You have to call them up or if you’re near London or New York, you can visit a showroom. 1. But because verdigris may penetrate the wood as well as the cloth, the only really permanent solution, especially in severe cases, seems to be replacement of all the action parts affected. And YES I did see something I’d been wanting to find out for a while and there is was, right there in your “Steinway – New York Models” chart. And the other question is kind of contradictory to the first. Model C was listed in the catalog and price list through 1905 and said to be discontinued in 1913, but was made and sold on special order as late as 1936 in New York. However, when you have an understanding of the depreciation of pianos, you will soon realize you can buy the same used Steinway piano for a fraction of the cost of a new one. Find a Location. Faust sells a fully rebuilt Model M Steinway--a baby grand that measures 5 ft., 7 in. The versions of model A below are considered to be of a superior scale design to those listed above. Excerpted from The Piano Book, Fourth Edition, by Larry Fine, As an aid to those buying a used Steinway, I have listed below all models of Steinway pianos made in New York City since the firm’s inception in 1853. | Privacy Policy & Terms of Use. Model V is currently made in Steinway’s factory in Hamburg, Germany. As a leading rebuilder of vintage pianos, we are always interested in buying used Steinways for rebuilding purposes. To minimize the servicing that its pianos needed from one season or climate to another, Steinway in 1962 introduced its “Permafree” action, in which all the cloth bushings were replaced with Teflon bushings. Occasionally we purchase Steinway uprights and other high quality grand pianos like Mason & Hamlin, Baldwin, Yamaha, Kawai and many European Grand Pianos. A fully rebuilt, vintage Steinway & Sons Model B is often priced at 40% less than it would be if purchased new. Steinway, as you know has always been hushed on this model because of what I’m a firm believer in, is Steinway, as I like to jokingly say, was in competition with itself, and lost. Contact Us. Two issues that frequently arise with respect to used and rebuilt Steinways are Teflon bushings and verdigris. The suffix “Y” was used instead of “R” on those pianos (1930–1931) made with normal-size cases for the Concertola (remote control with player mechanisms in separate cabinet). 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