Steinway Model S
Steinert Overview
The model S was designed to fill a need for a less expensive smaller grand than the model M during the depression of the 1930s. It took six years to design. The reason was that Steinway would not market a piano based only on size. It had to have the “Steinway sound”. The result was the invention of the diaphragmatic soundboard.
The Model S(5’1”) shares exactly the same materials and handcrafted workmanship of the Steinway flagship concert grand Model D. The only difference is size.
The New Model S Customer
| Who it’s for: | Who it’s NOT for: |
|---|---|
| For customers who are not willing to live without Steinway sound and touch, but who have significant space limitations. | Customers who demand a wider dynamic range than is possible from this size piano. Not for serious pianists who have the space and budget for a larger Steinway. |
MODEL S Specifications
At 5′ 1″ (155 cm), this piano is the smallest of the Steinway grands.
The Steinway S can be custom ordered with any of the Steinway Crown Jewel finishes.
Dimensions
Length: 5′ 1″ (155 cm)
Width: 57¾” (147 cm)
Net Weight: 540 pounds (252 kg)
Braces
3 solid spruce with a volume of 1,050 cu. In. (17,202cm3); Spruce provides tensile strength with less weight. Maple dowels fasten braces to rim & crossblock producing a single homogenous foundation upon which is built the tonal component. Note: Treble bell is not required in smaller grands of lesser tensions.
Scale
Overstrung; combination agraffe; Front AND rear duplex.
Tension: 32,332 lbs. (14,550 kg)
Ribs
Made from durable, resinous sugar pine to assure strong and constant support of string down-bearing on the soundboard; rib ends are hand-fitted.
Tuning Pins
Premium blued steel; rust-resistant, nickeled heads
Strings
Treble: twelve whole & one-half sizes from high-tensile Swedish steel.
Bass: Swedish steel core wire wound with pure copper.
Longest: Agraffe/bridge: 45½” (116 cm)
Hammers
Premium wool top felt and under felt; treated to resist insects and moisture. Compression-wired to maintain permanent shape. Hard rock maple hammer moldings and shanks.
Dampers
Horizontal-cut premium wool for effective dampening with maple heads for endurance.
Keys
European spruce, individually weighed-off. Chip-proof, stain-resistant coverings for naturals; slip-proof, adbraded ebonized sharps. Durable Linden wood buttons reinforce keys over balance rail, permitting maximum tonal power with every strike. Longest key: 19″ (48.3 cm).
Keybed
Made from planks of quarter-sawn spruce. Horizonal and vertical birch planks present a vented system for humidity escapement. Crowned and reverse-crowned action frame gives a snug fit, intensifies key movement and prevents “slapping” during heavy playing. Large maple dowel ends provide a solid mount for adjustable brass touch-regulating screws. Thickness: 1¾” (4.45 cm).
Pedals
Heavy, solid brass. Soft, sustaining, and full sostenuto.
