How Bostons perform above their class
Boston GP178-PEII
Believe what you hear…
There are distinct design differences between the Boston and other pianos in their price categories, and these design principles are exclusively found in the Steinway designed pianos. Just as the Steinway is known for its unmistakable “Steinway Sound,” so, too, has the Boston developed a reputation for a distinctly pure, rich sound that simply can’t be reproduced by other pianos.
The Boston owes its superior sound to Steinway–designed advancements:
Steinway Designs and Innovations Present in every Boston Grand piano.
Steinway & Sons Engineers Susan Kenagy and John Patton designed the Boston from scratch at Steinway & Sons’ New York factory, calling upon over 165 years of pioneering piano manufacturing.
Steinway–designed low-tension scaling results in a longer sustaining tone and longer life of the whole piano. A low-tension string scale design gives a fuller tone by allowing more of the lower partials to sing. This also allows for more power when needed and enables a wider dynamic range.
The linearly tapered solid Sitka–spruce soundboard (same material & wood source as Steinway), designed for optimal vibrational response, which provides a bigger, richer, fuller tone and increased sustain.
The hard rock maple inner rim (same material & wood source as Steinway), which — by virtue of its superior qualities—produces less vibration and less absorption of sound to generate a better, fuller sound from the soundboard.
The “wide-tail” design, which offers substantially more surface area on the soundboard to create a richer sound and the impression of playing on a larger instrument. Additionally, the wide-tail design permits longer bass strings, as they can be placed closer to the center of the soundboard, providing a much richer, deeper and colorful bass. The wide tail design was first introduced in Steinway when the unveiled the model A!
The Boston’s Pear-shaped hammers are manufactured on a Steinway-owned hammer press. Striking the strings at exactly the right spot, these hammers are designed to produce the best tonal result.
Solid copper-wound bass strings — made by Mapes Piano String (same material & wood source as Steinway) Company in Tennessee, USA — will last longer than copper-plated on steel. It also ensures pure tone for the life of the instrument. Steinway–patented overstringing permits maximum speaking length of bass strings and a smoother transition from bass to tenor.
The Steinway-patented, vertically-laminated maple bridge with solid maple cap, which provides the best transfer of energy from bridge to soundboard. The patented bridge is also placed closer to the center of the soundboard in Boston grands, thus allowing for a more even disbursement of energy and resulting in a richer, fuller tone.
Boston GP215 Grand Piano Soundboard
