Steinway Quality Explained

What goes into crafting a high quality instrument like the Steinway piano? A rigorous manufacturing process that hasn't evolved over the past 150 years. Each element of the process is carefully procured, hand crafted, and monitored, making each Steinway unique and full of character.

Steinway Piano Quality Explained
Steinway Piano Quality Explained

Throughout generations, Steinway pianos have been renowned for their sound, tone, and character. How are these Steinway pianos consistently crafted to attract the finest pianists and musicians in the world? 

Steinway pianos are crafted with a meticulous and comprehensive standard of excellence. Contrary to the trend towards mass production, the manufacturing process of a single Steinway grand piano takes over a year. The process has not evolved over the past 150 years — from the initial stages of hand picking different varieties of lumber to dehumidifying the sawn timber boards to a six person team bending a rim, the creation of a Steinway piano is a very hands on, involved, and demanding process.

Steinway Factory Timber 
Raw wood materials at the Steinway & Sons Factory

Steinway Factory Wood Parts 
Wood selection at Steinway & Sons Factory

Steinway Factory Rim Bender
Rim bending machine at Steinway & Sons Factory

The subsequent result is that each Steinway piano is an incredibly high quality instrument that has gone through a rigorous process, but yet each one has distinctive characteristics that make it unique because of its hand craftsmanship. It's why it is important for a potential Steinway piano buyer to test out several Steinway pianos and different Steinway piano models and explore each one's expressive nature and character experienced, from its full and resonant bass to its lyrical, higher registers to the simulated vibrato effect.