1990 Steinway Model S Walnut Grand Piano

The rim of a grand piano is primarily responsible for maintaining the crown, or curvature, of the soundboard. This curvature is absolutely critical to a piano’s ability to project sound and maintain a tuning to proper pitch. As such, strong, rigid, dense wood makes for solid rim construction. Steinway pianos have a unique one-piece, continuous bent, hard-rock MAPLE rim, Boston pianos have a hard-rock MAPLE inner rim and the outer rim is MAHOGANY. Essex grands have BEECH inner rims and MAPLE outer rims. Many manufacturers do not specify their rim material, possibly obscuring the use of inferior materials or allowing for variations in production.

Found in Steinway pianos constructed 1936 and later, the patented diaphragmatic soundboard is not only made from the finest sitka spruce found on Earth, it is uniquely tapered outward from the center in a pattern that maximizes freedom of vibration. Additionally, it is double-crowned, bending in two directions simultaneously, creating a bell-like shape or diaphragm that projects the Steinway tone like no other piano.

Originally patented by Steinway in 1872, similar designs are now implemented in countless performance grands. Each treble string is sectioned into three separate vibrating lengths. The longest is in the middle and this is the main note we hear. The duplex sections on either end are tuned to upper harmonics of the main note. This design greatly enhances the complexity and richness of the tone and increases the strength of the very highest notes.

The Steinway rim, developed and patented in 1878 is a unique and integral part of every Steinway piano. Made entirely of hard-rock maple wood, the inner-rim and outer-rim are bonded together in a single operation to create one solid rim that will endure for generations. Musically, the rim maintains the soundboard crown and reflects vibrations back to the soundboard, providing unmatched projection, sustain, and clarity.

All the finest pianos have premium solid-spruce soundboards, but spruce soundboards are not created equal. A premium soundboard will be made of straight-grain solid spruce (not laminated) with a minimum of 8 grains per inch and be free of knots and irregularities. These qualities ensure overall structural integrity and even distribution of vibrations. Most manufacturers do not specify anything beyond solid vs. laminated, allowing for a wide variance in wood quality.

Dense under-felt is applied before the white hammer felt is glued and fastened to the hammer molding. This reinforcement will help the hammer retain its shape through years of impact with the strings and adds mass to the hammer to deliver more energy to the string. Often overlooked and not something that will cause an issue right away, this is a feature many manufacturers will eliminate in order to cut costs.

Originally patented by Steinway in 1880, this groundbreaking design is now found in nearly every high-performance piano in production. The solid bridge is replaced with multiple layers of wood, like a layer-cake on its side. This design transfers vibrations from the strings to the soundboard most efficiently and with the least loss of energy. This improves every aspect of tone, projection, sustain, and dynamic range.