Page updated November 2007

Steinway grand pianos - advice

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 black and rosewood, and some walnut, with post 1920s ones often mahogany.

Recommended most readily available used Steinway grand pianos in the UK:

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

Grand Pianos:
By far the most common restored Steinway grands are model O, A and M grands, with the most common colours of traditional Steinways 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:
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 Steinways 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)

Other models represent the other 30% of used Steinway grand pianos in the UK.

IMPORTANT ADVICE
Steinway grands 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.

GERMAN OR AMERICAN?
There is varying opinion even amongst top dealers and restorers as to whether the German or American Steinway grand is the best, though quality control is reputed to be better in the Hamburg factory. In the UK about 95% are German. The American can be recognised as it generally has a square shaped "fall board" or "lid" over the keys, whereas the German fall board is rounded as in most grands. As a generalisation, the German Steinway is more mellow in tone and the American one more strident.

Brief description of all Steinway grand pianos.

GENERAL COMMENT
Most used Steinway uprights for sale in the UK are pre 1900 and require extensive reconditioning. Dealers restoring Steinway grands 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 Steinways (from about 1950) are a better choice. Older Steinway uprights are much less common than Bechstein, 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 is difficult to work on.

Here are some of the Steinway uprights more commonly available in the UK:

Modern Steinways uprights:
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.
Most modern used Steinways in the UK are generally black

Photos of some of our previous and present Steinway pianos in stock:
Click on photos for more information

Steinway Model A Grand

Steinway model S Grand

Steinway model O Grand - currently in stock November 2007

Steinway Grand, American model M