The Boston GP-193 PE II
Steinert’s Patrick Elisha takes a visual and musical tour of the Steinway-designed Boston GP-193 PE II Grand Piano
Who is it for
- Teachers and serious students seeking the finest production grand piano design with the harmonic richness offered only in the dynamic range of a full size grand
Who is it NOT for
- Those who can only fit a grand piano that is limited to around five feet in length
Finish Options
- High Polish: Ebony
- Satin: Ebony
GP-193 PE II Important Details
Dimensions
Length: 193 cm (6′ 4″)
Width: 154 cm (60¾”)
Height: 102 cm (40″)
Net Weight: 374 kg (823 lb)
Rim
Hard Rock Maple inner rim — this is the foundation of the Boston’s tone. Besides providing superior structural integrity to the piano, it enhances tone by being a rock hard foundation for the soundboard. A Maple rim is found only in the finest pianos. Continuous bent rim. 13 outer rim laminations, 17 inner rim laminations. 26mm (1″) outer rim width, 38mm (1½”) inner rim width.
Braces
Radiating braces solidify the piano’s structure. Their triangular layout provides more support than parallel designs. This rigid system improves tuning stability and soundboard crown retention, and lengthens piano life. 4 braces.
Pinblock
Octagrip™ pinblock made of 11 layers of Hard Rock Maple — glued in different grain angles of 60 degrees — affording the tuning pins greater stability under tension and enabling the piano to stay in tune longer.
Soundboard
Close and straight-grained solid (not laminated) Sitka Spruce. Minimum 3 annual growth rings per cm (minimum 8 per inch). Tapered from treble to bass, allowing a greater freedom of movement in the bass, and stiffness in the treble, thereby creating a richer and more lasting tonal response. Tapered from 9 mm to 7 mm. Vibrating area: 1.47 m2 (2,284 in2)
Ribs
Made from durable spruce to assure strong and constant support of the strings bearing down on the soundboard. Ribs are fully let-in to the inner rim to support the important soundboard crown and prevent the piano from losing its tone. Number of ribs: 12
Bridge
Treble: Vertically laminated (alternating maple and mahogany) with a solid maple cap, curved to fit the crown of the soundboard. Bass: Solid maple mounted to cantilevered base.
Scale
Overstrung; combination of agraffe, with front and rear duplex. Rescaled bass and treble for lower tension scale for increased sustain, better tone clarity, and deeper clearer bass. 18,313 kg (40,374 lb) tension.
Plate
Cast from grey iron, bronze-painted and lacquered. Vacuum cast.
Strings
Treble: Highest grade steel (in half size increments). Number of sizes: 16. Lowest tenor note: 21. Mapes Bass Strings: Steel core wire wound with solid copper. Made by Mapes in Tennessee, U.S.A. Note 1 speaking length: 142.5 cm (56.1″).
Hammers
Premium wool topfelt over premium wool underfelt. Weight of topfelt: 9.8 kg (21.6 lb). Compression-wired to retain permanent shape. Mahogany moldings. Tapered hornbeam hammershanks. Computer-designed pear-shaped hammers result in superior tone, increased durability and greater voicing ability.
Action
Solid maple and hornbeam(all wood, no plastic) for all moving parts. Steinway profile-shaped flanges, extruded aluminum action rails for increased stability and less frequent regulation. Steinway action geometry provides superior touch.
Keys
Genuine spruce, individually balanced and weighted. Synthetic ivory and ebony key covers. New synthetic ebony has ebony-like surface texture and appearance that absorbs perspiration from the fingers. The fine synthetic ivory of the white keys has the same properties of friction, porosity, conductivity, and appearance as ivory.
Pedals
Heavy solid brass castings. Soft, full sostenuto and damper (sustaining).
Architecture
Classic case design. Coved toplid and keyslip, square arm shape with matching square fallboard shape, and wall cornice detail are all classic and beautiful. Violin-shaped topstick.
Other
- Fallboard: Soft fall fallboard.
- Casters: Heavy-duty double-wheel solid brass casters.
- Locks: Fallboard and top locks.
- Prop Sticks: Double top prop sticks.
- Bench: artist, adjustable bench (cushion, adjustable height) for all ebony finish pianos.
- Black Felts for Plate, under Fallboard, and around Pedals on Lyre.
