Do Vintage Golden Era Steinways Sound Better? Yes, some do! 

A well built vintage Steinway can indeed rival, and in many cases, outperform a new Steinway. The real problem, however, is a great deal simpler. Steinway is for sale! The present owner is an investor, who purchased Steinway just a few years ago with the goal of doubling his money, but no one seems interested at that price. A Chinese firm, funded by the Chinese government seems to be the only interested party, but even they don't seem to be willing to pay the price being asked. Steinway has, for years, not sold certain parts to rebuilders, but now they are not allowing rebuilders to use the Steinway logo on the fallboards. It is my opinion that they are destroying the companies future for short term profits.

@@ThePianoforever Thank you for your well-informed reply. Once again, it seems, that GREED has reared it's ugly head to try and destroy what was originally, a work of LOVE and MASTERY.

I can understand Steinway not wanting their name on a piano the quality of which has been altered (for example, a new soundboard) but I'd like to see them legally challenge someone who's rebuilt his own piano to his taste. For example, Renner hammers are hard and need a lot of voicing, but still the new ones are sounding twangy . Perhaps an owner would prefer Abel, or American hammers on a Hamburg Steinway, or vice versa (I've seen many of the latter and think they have lost the NY quality of sound). Imagine car companies trying to legally prevent people making major alterations to their classic cars, for example replacing drums with disk brakes, or boring out the engine, are changing problematic air suspension for springs. Steinway always has been arrogant, but they are becoming more so. I agree that many older Steinways are far superior (a matter of taste) in tone to newer ones. That 1936 NY model D on one of your videos, for my taste, is a wonderful example - even as heard on video, and when it is re-strung I hope you'll play it again so that we can hear the modern copper-coiled strings in that region of the bass that had archaic strings. There's a piano instance of my car example! Keep up the videos. So many interesting pianos!

Gibson guitars has been using very similar tactics. They even released a promotional video, threatening people over the use of their guitar body shapes and logos. They also destroy brand new guitars by driving over them with a caterpillar - for insurance purposes... Now millions of guitarists are boycotting them for their greed, lack of decency or artistry. Just another corporate whorehouse. From what you say, this seems to be the path Steinway is taking, too. Mess with artists and you will get stomped... Financially speaking.

Yes, Gibson guitars is/has tried similar tactics as Steinway. World-class banjoist Bela Fleck bought a 1937 Gibson Mastertone, one of the finest banjos extant on the planet. He bought it around 1980 for $5,000, and today it is worth about $250,000. However, it was originally a 4-string model, and he plays 5 string. World-Renown luthier John Monteleone built Bela a new 5-string neck, and arched the fingerboard (most banjos have flat fingerboards). It gets dicey when someone makes modifications, rebuilds, or even just necessary repairs to an exquisite old instrument and then wants to restore the Gibson name on the headstock. You used to be able to get a decal to put on the headstock that said "Gibson" when you made repairs to an instrument that contained nearly all Gibson parts and was originally made at the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo. Somewhere along the line, unscrupulous people began putting Gibson, or Fender, or Martin decals on crummy guitars and tried to pass them off as vintage instruments on buyers who didn't really know. Now those decals are essentially impossible to come by. As a builder says in the Modern Marvels' Steinway video, "You can easily get something to look like a Steinway, but getting it to sound like a Steinway is a different matter altogether." I don't know what the answer is--there are conmen everywhere. But Steinway refusing to sell authentic parts to established, reputable repair and restoration businesses seems greedy and wrong.

I know right? Who made pianos look so gooood man

James likes everything about the piano - a Rennaisance man. He probably has planted trees to make his own piano when they're grown.

i thought the same thing

Also, bin ich ein hamburger?!

Woah, that's cool! I would love to get the chance to do a video on it, I will be traveling through that area in about a month. You can contact me privately on this webpage if you like. aloveofmusic.com/Contact.html

I think you would find the action to be amazing. If you are in the area or going to be in the area let me know as I will be at Kim's in Stanton in about a month and would be willing to answer any questions in person. My android does pick up replies to comments so start a new thread or send me a email.

I had not known Kranich and Bach made concert grands though I am not surprised. I'm curious as to how you encountered this behemoth

There's a lot of dispute over what makes a piano a "baby grand". I tend to refer to any piano under 7 feet as a "baby grand". Some people like to refer to pianos in the 6 foot range as "parlor grands" which I sometimes do too. But smaller pianos have many names, and there really is no right or wrong name.

Its bad business in my opinion, restored vintage Ferrari don't impact on the sales of new Ferrari in the slightest, I believe the exact opposite is true.

I'd imagine the biggest concern isn't 3rd party parts (Plenty of quality 3rd party part makers out there)... but the Steinway decals are another matter. Even if someone started making their own Steinway decals, I wonder if that opens up potential copyright issues...?

well its because after market parts are both cheaper and of higher quality. This piano is why they are doing this as the older rebuilt ones are usually better than their new ones.

Who is the rebuilder.?

Thank you.

I'm starting to believe that some pianos should just sit, and wait for the right owner to find them. I guess I am still thinking of the 1936 Steinway.

I think it's a good thing that I don't own a piano store, or I might go crazy with great pianos, and people might have to fill out an application to adopt.

Sounds like you might have some experience with that.... 😀 Would be fun to see how horrible clair de lune sounded on a saloon piano.

Parlor grand is a lesser-known term, and I used the name baby grand to avoid any controversy over the name parlor grand. I used it once before in a video and had a few people confused. But yes, you are correct.

@@ThePianoforever Thank you James! Thing is in here we use very different terms, for example for pianos that are below 1.70cm are 1/4 de cola, between 1.70 to 180 1/2 cola, 1.80 to 2.10 3/4 and above that we just say cola completa, pretty fun hehe

You would need to contact the dealer for that information.

Completely Refurbished Hamburg Steinway & Sons Model O Onyx Special Edition Nickel Plate/ Nickel Trim Serial Number: 151391 Year Manufactured: 1911 Regular Price: $85,800 Call me (714) 828-1000 for special discount pricing. We offer any of James' viewers a substantial discounts. Ask for Steve R

This comment has some powerful energy

Try the contact page over at aloveofmusic.com

Completely Refurbished Hamburg Steinway & Sons Model O Onyx Special Edition Nickel Plate/ Nickel Trim Serial Number: 151391 Year Manufactured: 1911 Regular Price: $85,800 Call me (714) 828-1000 for special discount pricing. We offer any of James' viewers a substantial discounts. Ask for Steve R

They can't - except in one crucial area. Steinway CAN refuse to provide "original Steinway" parts to rebuilders. Now that's not a problem for most rebuilders who prefer third party, better-quality (subjective, of course) parts -- but the Steinway decals are another matter. Even if someone could create their own Steinway decals, I believe that becomes a copyright issue so....

@@Finians_Mancave I have a 1901 Model N Steinway upright just completely redone. My Technician artfully left the original decal on it, carefully blending the new finish around it...

If I was looking for a baby grand, this would definitely be a strong consideration for me!

I feel it is the end of Steinway as we have known them.

I will have a video coming out tomorrow on this same subject. I am sure you will find the video interesting.