Steinways are like wine, right? Some years better than others?

Some people believe that.

Before the Great Depression and World War II, in a period called the "Golden Age of Pianos"
(when no parlor was complete without a piano) the Steinway company was hugely successful.
With the factory running full-steam, their workforce of craftsmen was very busy making
what some think to be the best Steinways ever made.

But then movies and radio came along. And the stock market tanked. And WWII bought
material shortages. Hundreds of piano manufacturers when belly-up.

Steinway survived making green upright pianos for the war effort and other products to keep
their craftsmen busy...and close by.

After the war Steinway struggled to keep going despite years of red ink. Finally in 1972, the
Steinway heirs--after more than a century of family ownership--decided to cash out and sell
the company to CBS.

Did CBS cut corners at the Steinway factory during the years (1972-1985) they owned the
company? Some say yes, citing the use of inferior parts. Others argue no. The ownership
may have changed but the craftsmen were still there.

Does this short history mean a Model "B" made in 1976 isn't as good as one made in 1917?

Not really. Think of pianos as people.

Some are really good. A few are outstanding. Most are fairly decent. And then there are some
real dogs.

The key is not to judge a Steinway by the year it was made. Judge it by how it sounds
and what it feels like to play. And if you can't tell the difference, ask for help from someone
who can.

Is my livingroom large enough for a Model "L"?
Or, should I be looking for the smaller "M"?

We've come up with a simple way to answer the question: "What size grand piano is best for
me?"

First, move the furniture away from the spot you intend to position your Steinway. Then,
go to the kitchen and get five coffee mugs, a spool of string and a tape measure.

Okay. Now, decide where the keyboard will go. Got the spot? Mark it by putting down two
coffee mugs 58" apart. That's the width of nearly all Steinway grands. (Except for the concert
grand Model "D" which is nearly 62" wide.)

How long of a grand can you accommodate? Here are the model lengths to the nearest inch:

Model "S": 5'1"
Model "M": 5'7"
Model "O" and "L": 5'10"
Model "A": 6'2"
Model "B": 6'11"
Model "D": 8'11"

Let's say the Model "B" looks like a good fit for you. Take the third coffee mug and place
it--at a right angle--6'11" from the lowest note on your keyboard.

Then, parallel to the keyboard, place mug No. 4 about 39" from mug No. 3. And the last
mug? Put it down--at a right angle--32" from the highest note on the keyboard.

Finally, take the spool of string and run a line through the handles on the coffee cups.

BINGO! A Steinway Model "B" is outlined in its approximate dimensions on your living room
floor.

Now, pour yourself a cup of coffee and contemplate your handiwork.

Is it a good fit? Great! Too big? Move your mugs around and see what works.

The Japanese mass-produce a great piano.
Why should I stick with a Steinway?

Two reasons: Your ear and your portfolio. Let's talk money first. If you buy a Steinway
grand and take good care of it, in ten years, it could very well be worth more than you paid
for it. Far East manufacturers can't make this claim.

"A Steinway piano...is a singularly inspired investment -- an instrument that combines the
joy of musical perfection with the security and reassurance of financial appreciation. It is,
quite simply, a treasured possession that grows in value over the course of time... .
According to Forbes, over the past ten years, the retail value of a Steinway concert grand
has appreciated nearly 200%."


Now, as for your ears, the difference between the sound of a hand-made Steinway vs. a
mass-produced Asian piano is something like eating Grandma's special Sunday ravioli
instead of a can of Chef Boy Ar Dee's.