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Steingraeber & Söhne

Steingraeber & Söhne
Steingraeberpassage 1
95444 Bayreuth, Germany
+49-921-64049
+49-921-58272 (fax)
steingraeber@steingraeber.de
www.steingraeber.de

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Bayreuth is famous the world over for its annual summer Wagner festival. But tucked away in the old part of town is a second center of Bayreuth musical excellence and one of the world’s best-kept secrets: Steingraeber & Söhne. The company was founded in 1852 by Eduard Steingraeber, though its roots date back to the 1820s, when Eduard’s father and uncle opened a workshop for square pianos and organs in the city of Neustadt. Eduard was an innovative piano designer, exhibiting his first full-size cast-iron frame at the world exhibition in Paris in 1867. From 1872 on, Steingraeber was associated with, and built pianos for, Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner, and in 1873 opened its first concert hall in Bayreuth.

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Steingraeber has worked with furniture designers since 1904, when it collaborated with Bruno Paul on his Art Nouveau furniture for the St. Louis World’s Fair. More recently, the company built a piano designed by Jørn Utzon, architect of the Sydney Opera House, with features reminiscent of that building. The Steingraeber engineering department offers consulting services on the technical development of pianos. This service was created in 1991, after reunification, to assist piano manufacturers of the former East Germany, and has designed and manufactured prototypes of new piano models for a number of European piano manufacturers. These designs are different from Steingraeber’s own current models. In 2012, Steingraeber entered into a cooperative agreement with Pearl River, in China, to help that company design and manufacture a new line of premium pianos.

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Steingraeber is one of the smaller piano manufacturers in the world, producing fewer than 80 grands and 60 verticals per year for the top end of the market. It is owned and operated by sixth-generation family member Udo Schmidt-Steingraeber, who still makes pianos using the traditional methods of his forebears at the company’s present factory, which it has occupied since 1872.

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Steingraeber makes three sizes of vertical piano: 48″, 51″, and 54″. An interesting option on the vertical models is their “twist and change” panels: two-sided top and bottom panels, one side finished in polished ebony, the other in a two-toned combination of a wood veneer and ebony. The panels can be reversed as desired by the piano owner to match room décor, or just for a change of scenery.

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The company also makes five sizes of grand piano: 5′ 7″, 6′ 3″, 7′, 7′ 7″, and 9′ ½”. The 5′ 7″ model A-170 grand has an unusually wide tail, allowing for a larger soundboard area and longer bass strings than are customary for an instrument of its size. The 7’ model C-212, known as the Chamber Concert Grand, and recently redesigned from the model 205, was intended to embody the tone quality of the Steingraeber Liszt grand piano of circa 1873, but with more volume in the bass register. The 9′ ½” model E concert grand was introduced in 2002 for Steingraeber’s 150th anniversary. Unique features include a drilled capo bar for more sustain in the treble, unusually shaped rim bracing, and a smaller soundboard resonating area in the treble to better match string length. In 2007, Steingraeber introduced the 7′ 7″ D-232 concert grand to provide an additional smaller, concert-size instrument. Its design includes many of the innovations of the model E. New in 2012 is the 6′ 3″ model B-192, which follows the design enhancements of the D-232 and C-212 in a size more comfortable for homes and smaller concert halls.

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Steingraeber pianos have a unique sound, with an extensive tonal palette derived from a mixture of clarity and warmth.

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Steingraeber is known for its many innovative technical improvements to the piano, one of which is a new action for uprights, available in all three vertical-piano models. This SFM action, as it is called, contains no jack spring, instead using magnets to return the jack more quickly under the hammer butt for faster repetition.

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Another innovation, introduced in 2013, is the optional sordino pedal, which inserts a thin strip of felt between hammers and strings. Popular in early 19th-century grand pianos, the purpose of this feature is not, as in most modern pianos, to damp the sound almost completely, but rather to create a distant, ethereal sound, and thus to expand the instrument’s expressive possibilities. On a Steingraeber piano, the sordino can be operated by the middle pedal, with a hand lever under the keybed allowing the pianist to choose between sostenuto and sordino; or it can be operated by a fourth pedal or a knee lever. A hand lever or — less popular — a knee lever can also be employed to activate the so-called Mozart Rail, which reduces both the hammer-blow distance and the key-touch depth to simulate the sound and touch of the pianos of Mozart’s day, as well as for softer pianissimo playing and faster repetition.

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In 2014, Steingraeber introduced the world’s lightest grand piano lid, made of modern aircraft material with a honeycomb interior, which makes the lid nearly 50% lighter than conventional lids. The company says that the new material also projects sound better. Steingraeber also specializes in so-called ecological or biological finishes, available as an option on most models. This involves the use of only organic materials in the piano, such as natural paints and glues in the case, and white keytops made from cattle bone.

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In Steingraeber’s Transducer Grands, four or five transducers are attached to the soundboard, which, when an electronic signal is applied, turn the soundboard into a loudspeaker. A Transducer Grand can be played as a regular, acoustic piano; or the strings can be silenced and the piano can be used as a MIDI controller with Steingraeber virtual-piano software by Modartt, or with any other piano software—or the acoustic and virtual pianos can be played simultaneously.

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Steingraeber pianos can also be special-ordered with a carbon-fiber soundboard, and with the Phoenix system of bridge agraffes (see www.hurstwoodfarmpianos.co.uk for more information on the Phoenix system).

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In addition to its regular line of pianos, Steingraeber makes a piano that can be used by physically handicapped players who lack the use of their legs for pedaling. A wireless (Bluetooth) pedal actuator is operated by biting on a special denture.

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Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor, transferable to future owners within the warranty period.

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See the Introduction to Brand Profiles, Models, and Prices for an explanation of pricing.

Model & Pricing Guide

Verticals

Model
Inch
Description
MSRP
SMP
122 T
48
Ebony Polish or Satin
$54,860
$54,860
122 T
48
White Polish or Satin
$55,930
$55,930
122 T-SFM
48
Ebony Polish or Satin
$58,010
$58,010
122 T-SFM
48
White Polish or Satin
$59,060
$59,060
122 T
48
Twist & Change Panels
$61,920
$61,920
122 T-SFM
48
Twist & Change Panels
$65,070
$65,070
122 T
48
Ordinary Veneers Satin
$67,000
$67,000
122 T
48
Special Veneers Satin
$69,290
$69,290
122 T-SFM
48
Ordinary Veneers Satin
$70,150
$70,150
122 T-SFM
48
Special Veneers Satin
$72,400
$72,400
122 T
48
Ordinary Veneers Polished
$73,660
$73,660
122 T
48
Special Veneers Polish
$75,660
$75,660
122 T-SFM
48
Ordinary Veneers Polished
$76,780
$76,780
122 T-SFM
48
Ordinary Veneers Polished
$76,780
$75,530
122 T-SFM
48
Special Veneers Polish
$79,120
$79,120
122 T
48
Extraordinary Veneers Satin
$84,200
$84,200
122 T-SFM
48
Extraordinary Veneers Satin
$87,350
$87,350
122 T
48
Extraordinary Veneers Polish
$90,880
$90,880
122 T-SFM
48
Extraordinary Veneers Polish
$94,050
$94,050
130 T-SFM
51
Extraordinary Veneers Satin
$100,720
$100,720
130 T-SFM
51
Extraordinary Veneers Satin
$100,720
$99,470
130 T-PS
51
Extraordinary Veneers Polish
$106,040
$104,790
130 T-PS
51
Extraordinary Veneers Polish
$106,040
$104,790
130 T-PS
51
Extraordinary Veneers Polish
$106,040
$106,040
130 T-SFM
51
Extraordinary Veneers Polish
$107,380
$107,380
130 T-SFM
51
Extraordinary Veneers Polish
$107,380
$106,130
130 T-PS
51
Ebony Polish or Satin
$70,000
$68,750
130 T-PS
51
Ebony Polish or Satin
$70,000
$68,750
130 T-PS
51
Ebony Polish or Satin
$70,000
$70,000
130 T-PS
51
White Polish or Satin
$71,070
$71,070
130 T-PS
51
White Polish or Satin
$71,070
$69,820
130 T-PS
51
White Polish or Satin
$71,070
$69,820
130 T-SFM
51
Ebony Polish or Satin
$71,390
$71,390
130 T-SFM
51
Ebony Polish or Satin
$71,390
$70,140
130 T-SFM
51
White Polish or Satin
$72,440
$72,440
130 T-PS
51
Twist & Change Panels
$77,060
$75,810
130 T-PS
51
Twist & Change Panels
$77,060
$75,810
130 T-PS
51
Twist & Change Panels
$77,060
$77,060
130 T-SFM
51
Twist & Change Panels
$78,440
$78,440
130 T-SFM
51
Twist & Change Panels
$78,440
$77,190
130 T-PS
51
Ordinary Veneers Satin
$82,100
$80,850
130 T-PS
51
Ordinary Veneers Satin
$82,100
$80,850
130 T-PS
51
Ordinary Veneers Satin
$82,100
$82,100
130 T-SFM
51
Ordinary Veneers Satin
$83,480
$82,230
130 T-SFM
51
Ordinary Veneers Satin
$83,480
$83,480
130 T-PS
51
Special Veneers Satin
$84,410
$83,160
130 T-PS
51
Special Veneers Satin
$84,410
$84,410
130 T-PS
51
Special Veneers Satin
$84,410
$83,160
130 T-SFM
51
Special Veneers Satin
$85,770
$85,770
130 T-PS
51
Ordinary Veneers Polished
$88,800
$87,550
130 T-PS
51
Ordinary Veneers Polished
$88,800
$88,800
130 T-PS
51
Ordinary Veneers Polished
$88,800
$87,550
130 T-SFM
51
Ordinary Veneers Polished
$90,200
$88,950
130 T-SFM
51
Ordinary Veneers Polished
$90,200
$90,200
130 T-PS
51
Special Veneers Polish
$91,090
$91,090
130 T-PS
51
Special Veneers Polish
$91,090
$89,840
130 T-PS
51
Special Veneers Polish
$91,090
$89,840
130 T-SFM
51
Special Veneers Polish
$92,470
$92,470
130 T-SFM
51
Special Veneers Polish
$92,470
$91,220
130 T-PS
51
Extraordinary Veneers Satin
$99,360
$98,110
130 T-PS
51
Extraordinary Veneers Satin
$99,360
$99,360
130 T-PS
51
Extraordinary Veneers Satin
$99,360
$98,110
138 K
54
Extraordinary Veneers Satin
$103,620
$103,620
138 K-SFM
54
Extraordinary Veneers Satin
$106,730
$106,730
138 K
54
Extraordinary Veneers Polish
$110,280
$110,280
138 K-SFM
54
Extraordinary Veneers Polish
$113,450
$113,450
138 K
54
Ebony Polish or Satin
$74,260
$74,260
138 K
54
White Polish or Satin
$75,310
$75,310
138 K-SFM
54
Ebony Polish or Satin
$77,390
$77,390
138 K-SFM
54
White Polish or Satin
$78,490
$78,490
138 K
54
Twist & Change Panels
$81,300
$81,300
138 K-SFM
54
Twist & Change Panels
$84,450
$84,450
138 K
54
Ordinary Veneers Satin
$86,380
$86,380
138 K
54
Special Veneers Satin
$88,650
$88,650
138 K-SFM
54
Ordinary Veneers Satin
$89,550
$89,550
138 K-SFM
54
Special Veneers Satin
$91,840
$91,840
138 K
54
Ordinary Veneers Polished
$93,080
$93,080
138 K
54
Special Veneers Polish
$95,370
$95,370
138 K-SFM
54
Ordinary Veneers Polished
$96,230
$96,230
138 K-SFM
54
Special Veneers Polish
$98,520
$98,520

Grands

Model
Feet
Inch
Description
MSRP
SMP
A-170 S
5
7
Studio Lacquer anti-scratch
$125,120
$125,120
A-170
5
7
Ebony Polish or Satin
$129,380
$129,380
A-170
5
7
Special Veneers Polish or Satin
$149,140
$149,140
A-170
5
7
Ordinary Veneers Polished or Satin
$147,170
$147,170
A-170
5
7
Ebony Polish or Satin incl. Mozart Rail
$139,650
$139,650
A-170
5
7
Extraordinary Veneers Polish or Satin
$159,520
$159,520
A-170
5
7
White Polish or Satin
$132,260
$132,260
B-192 S
6
3
Studio Lacquer anti-scratch
$144,210
$144,210
B-192
6
3
White Polish or Satin
$151,940
$151,940
B-192
6
3
Special Veneers Polish or Satin
$170,940
$170,940
B-192
6
3
Ebony Polish or Satin
$149,080
$149,080
B-192
6
3
Ebony Polish or Satin incl. Mozart Rail
$159,350
$159,350
B-192
6
3
Ordinary Veneers Polished or Satin
$168,800
$168,800
B-192
6
3
Extraordinary Venerrs Polish or Satin
$182,550
$182,550
C 212 S
7
0
Studio Lacquer anti-scratch
$164,120
$164,120
C 212
7
0
Special Veneers Polish or Satin
$193,520
$193,520
C 212
7
0
Ebony Polish or Satin incl. Mozart Rail
$192,890
$192,890
C 212
7
0
White Polish or Satin
$172,890
$172,890
C 212
7
0
Ebony Polish or Satin
$170,040
$170,040
C 212
7
0
Extraordinary Venerrs Polish or Satin
$206,350
$206,350
C 212
7
0
Ordinary Veneers Polished or Satin
$191,120
$191,120
D-232
7
7
Special Veneers Polish or Satin
$224,550
$224,550
D-232
7
7
Ebony Polish or Satin
$199,490
$199,490
D-232
7
7
Ordinary Veneers Polished or Satin
$222,000
$222,000
D-232
7
7
White Polish or Satin
$202,240
$202,240
D-232
7
7
Ebony Polish or Satin incl. Mozart Rail
$222,340
$222,340
D-232
7
7
Extraordinary Veneers Polish or Satin
$238,150
$238,150
D-232 S
7
7
Studio Lacquer anti-scratch
$193,320
$193,320
E
9
0
Extraordinary Veneers Polish or Satin incl. Sordino Pedal and Mozart Rail
$343,450
$343,450
E
9
0
White Polish or Satin incl. Sordino Pedal and Mozart Rail
$298,280
$298,280
E
9
0
Ebony Polish or Satin incl. Sordino Pedal and Mozart Rail
$295,320
$295,320
E
9
0
Ordinary Veneers Polish or Satin incl. Sordino Pedal and Mozart Rail
$323,140
$323,140
E
9
0
Special Veneers Polish or Satin incl. Sordino Pedal and Mozart Rail
$325,350
$325,350
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