German Steinway Model D concert Grand piano.

A Steinway model O grand piano.

Steinway model V upright piano.

Brief information on the best and most commonly available used Steinway grand and upright pianos in the UK

Used Steinway grand pianos available in the UK

German or American?
There is varying opinion even amongst top dealers and restorers as to whether the German or American Steinway grand piano is the best, though quality control is reputed to be better in the Hamburg factory. In the UK about 95% are German Steinway pianos. The American Steinway can be recognised as it generally has a square shaped "fall board" or "lid" over the keys, whereas the German Steinway fall board is rounded as in most makes of grand piano. Also the German Steinway pianos are usually more mellow in tone and the American ones more strident. However, there are exceptions to these differences!


Restored Steinway pianos, from 1877 to about 1950.
If you're thinking of buying a professionally reconditioned Steinway grand piano then they generally have a powerful rich tone and fine touch, with an aesthetically pleasing cabinet. The most common colours are rosewood and black, and some walnut, with post 1920s ones often mahogany. Bear in mind that if you have a small room, then a Steinway grand piano will probably be too loud; the exception to this is the model S which is designed to be quieter. We recommend restored Bluthner grand pianos as ideal for the smaller room.

Used modern Steinway pianos in the UK, from 1951 to present
These are mainly black polyester. The ones made in the 1960s have a particularly rich warm tone; the key tops of these are normally ivory.

Restoration of Steinway grand pianos
We are experienced restorers of Steinway grand pianos; they invariably require at the very least new hammers, and often restringing. If the piano is well used the action becomes slack and the springs weak; this then needs regulating. We are also traditional French polishers and are able to recreate the original finish or chage the colour if required.

Recommended most readily available used Steinway grand pianos in the UK:
We are used Steinway grand piano dealers and buy, restore and sell good quality used Steinway grand pianos. Here is a list of the most commonly available in the UK:

Grand Pianos
By far the most common restored Steinway grand pianos are model O's, A's and M's, with the most common colours of traditional Steinway grand pianos are rosewood and Mahogany. They vary enormously in quality and in how much they've been used, but generally older Steinway grand pianos have been used extensively and therefore very worn. Reconditioning can also vary widely.

Description of most common models of Steinway grand pianos. The following models are listed in order of availability in the UK:

Model O Length 5' 10½" (180cm), usually Rosewood or Mahogany. Earlier ones with turned legs and later with square tapered
(about 50% of all Steinway pianos abailable) The best have a rich, full and powerful tone

Model A Length 6' 2" (188cm) usually rosewood or mahogany, earlier ones with turned legs and later with square tapered. The best have a rich, full and powerful tone. (about 20% of all Steinways grand pianos abailable)

Model B Length 6ft 8in to 6ft 11in (212cm). These are uncommon second hand, and much sought after. Model D Length 8ft 11in. 274cm. Concert grands; used ones usually need extensive reconditioning.

IMPORTANT ADVICE
Steinway grand pianos have a powerful tone and are designed to be played in a sizeable room with high ceiling (the model "S" made around 1925 is the exception to this, being of quieter tone) . If your room is small, you would therefore be advised to consider a quieter piano such as a Bluthner.

Brief description of all Steinway grand pianos.

CASEWORK
The wood used for the case is most commonly rosewood followed by mahogany and black. Used Modern Steinway pianos are nearly all bright black with the occasional mahogany or other wood colour.

Turned legs and fretted music desks are found on most Steinway grand pianos up to about 1910. Thereafter square tapered legs and plain music desks are the most common.

Most modern used Steinway pianos in the UK are generally black or rosewood.

Steinway upright piano - advice
If you're thinking of buying a professionally reconditioned Steinway upright piano then you're getting a piano with a fine firm touch and rich tone The most common colours are black, mahogany and rosewood, and some walnut. Post 1920s ones are also mahogany.

GENERAL COMMENT
Most used Steinway upright pianos for sale in the UK are pre 1900 and require extensive reconditioning. Dealers restoring Steinway grand pianos rarely restore uprights as all Steinways are "fussy" pianos and eat up much time in the reconditioning process. The older uprights take as long as the grands to restore, and they are therefore not an ecconomical proposition for dealers.

If you're looking for a fine older style German upright piano in the UK, you may be better considering Grotrian Steinweg, Bechstein, Lipp or other top make. Modern Steinway pianos (from about 1950) are a better choice. Older Steinway upright pianos are much less common than Bechstein upright pianos, who were the most prolific makers of fine uprights from c1890 to c1930. Brief description of all Steinway upright pianos
Dealers and restorers often aviod restoring a Steinway upright piano because the amount of work is just as great as that for a grand, but the profit is much less. They are often very worn, many models have Steinway's unique double hinge system which can be difficult to work on.

Here are some of the Steinway upright pianos that are more commonly available in the UK:
Modern Steinway upright pianos:
Model V Height 125 cm, Length 152,5 cm, depth 67,5 cm.
Model K Height 132 cm, Length 152,5 cm, depth 68 cm.

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We have supplied Steinway grand and upright pianos to most UK destinations including:
London, Aberdeen, Aylesbury, Bedford, Berkshire, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Chichester, Coventry, Croydon, Dorset, Edinburgh, Essex, Gloucester, Hampshire, Inverness, Isle of Wight, Kent, Leicester, Lincolnshire, Central London, West London, North London, South London, Maidenhead, Manchester, Northampton, Norwich, Oxford, Oxfordshire, Portsmouth, Reading, Rugby, Sheffield, Shrewsbury, Somerset, Southampton, Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Tangmere, Tunbridge Wells, Warwick, West Sussex, Winchester, Wimbledon, Windsor, Witney, York.