Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Steinway rumors?

I have heard interesting rumors in recent weeks from multiple sources:

1. Steinway is consolidating and slowing down production of its smallest models. Given that its smallest models are only within inches of each other, that it makes no sense to have four small models: S, M, O and A. One claimed that S, M and O are being discontinued. Another said that S and O are being discontinued.
2. Steinway may be stopping production of upright pianos in the US altogether.
3. Rim construction of the smallest models is being outsourced to Kawai.

I find 1 and 2 plausible, but 3 to be rather far-fetched.

Since Steinway already has the machinery etc. to make all these models, what would be the advantage of reducing the number of models?

Don't many major manufacturers have at least three models in the 5'1" to 6'2" range?

I heard #2 from the local Steinway Gallery several months ago when I was shopping for a piano. I was inquiring about their K52. He said the one in the store was the last one in Canada. Steinway US was not making anymore.

I agree. I thought that Steinway & Sons considered themselves to be the master builders of smaller grands between the 5’1” to 6’2” range? I don’t know of course, but I would think those smaller size pianos are their biggest and most profitable selling pianos. Seems strange to me.

Greetings,
The model S was introduced in the 1930"s to keep sales up. It isn't a great piano, in that the shorter strings define the sound, (actions are the same in all their smaller pianos) The depression was on , and people were living in smaller places and it was easier to sell small pianos.. Today, with the flood of pianos out there in the market, I would think a premium brand would concentrate on the semi-pro, or wealthy-status, markets to sell their bigger pianos. Higher profits, I would imagine.
Regards,

Last August I was told by a very reputable source in the industry some things about Steinway that, should they be true, will amplify what you have heard and go way beyond.

Once again, these are rumors. If they are true however, it will be the most dramatic development in the piano industry in decades.

Stay tuned.

"Buy the rumor...sell the fact".

Remember that the current owner of SS is/was a hedge fund manager.

Just sayin...!

Pwg

It not the last one in Canada. (just rumour ) Tom Lee has at least two in the stores ,perhaps more in the warehouse.
There is also one 46" (1098 ?), new piano ,the action and tone was not impressive.
The K52 at least sounded and responded like performance grade piano.(very nice)
This one stood next to my piano in the dealer.(both were 130 size pianos with
sostenuto pedal )
It is still there.It has been the same place since 2017.I bought my piano in 2018.
For some reason I always thought a Steinways M one of thier best selling pianos ?

Trust Kawai to be making parts if not pianos for Steinways (Yes I know my imagination is running away) .They made pianos for Scheidmayor before that manufacturer ceased making pianos.Of course they make Boston pianos.
I was looking at a tall Boston a few weeks ago and I am sure they have the same cabinet
as the K52 ?
Perhaps it is all rumour ! I sincerely hope so ., like so many here I do admire thier pianos .

Actually looking at the website the cabinet for the Boston and K52 are not
exactly the same.They are just similar in style.So no ,everyone I was wrong
not the same !

I'd love to see a re-birth of a NY Steinway C ! That way when I win some dough in the lottery, I won't have to venture outside the borders of Ca., renew my passport , plus sit on a plane for 14 hours one way.

As a complete amateur who’s quite happy with my piano, I am mildly interested in what happens with Steinway pianos as a conversational topic but fortunately or unfortunately maybe does not have any affect on my piano experience. I’ll just watch and wonder as I have been doing the last 30 years.

Since they own Renner and the there is a big dealer here Vancouver I find it interesting.
Looking at the dealer website the older K52 upright has a beautiful cabinet.
The new K52 (looks like it just arrived) is very different looking not anywhere as nice.
A different cabinet.
Like WeakLeftHand of course I am interested especially since I considered
this upright.

My guess is that the larger models are more profitable. The increment in materials and labor to produce a B is small relative to the price jump.

I recall that, when the model S was introduced during the Great Depression, it was created as a less expensive model to sell, even it cost just as much as the larger model M to produce. The company got some concessions from the union, and got the model S to be produced by workers with less experience thus lower wages to remain afloat.

Don't get me wrong. I'm claiming that the margin is larger on a B than on an M or an S. But sales volume on the S & M (pun intended) may be higher. And high enough to justify having the lines. Steinway has a lot of relatively fixed costs, and you need volume to recoup those costs.

The value of the land at the factory is worth a lot. Developing that land will give them a much higher RoE.

It totals 11 acres.

Last summer it was reported that Paulson was selling half of the acreage to Robert De Niro for $73MM

Stay tuned.

Ewwwwh! I hate Robert De Niro.”

The lower paid, less experienced workers info is a new one to me. Hopefully that arrangement ended when Steinway started producing pianos again after WWII. .