Rim/Backframe |
Laminated hard rock maple (Acer Saccharum) inner rim. Laminated Philippine mahogany outer rim. Continuous bent rim. 11 outer rim laminations, 17 inner rim laminations. 23mm (7/8”) outer rim width, 38mm (1 ½”) inner rim width. |
Braces/Posts |
Radiating braces of laminated Philippine mahogany provide stronger triangular support than parallel designs. This rigid support increases tuning stability, soundboard, crown retention, and longer piano life. 3 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-grain solid (not laminated) Sitka spruce. Minimum 3 annual growth rings per cm (minimum 8 per inch). Tapered from treble to bass, which allows a greater freedom of movement thereby creating a richer and more lasting tonal response. Tapered from 8 mm to 6 mm. Vibrating area: 1.15 m2 (1,776 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: 10 |
Bridges |
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 agraffe; with front and rear duplex. Lower tension scale for longer sustaining tone and longer life of the whole piano. 17,251 kg (38,032 lb) tension. |
Plate |
Cast from grey iron, bronze-painted and lacquered. Vacuum cast. |
Tuning Pins |
Nickel-plated steel, cut threaded. |
Strings |
Treble: Highest grade steel (in half size increments). Number of sizes: 13. Lowest tenor note: 27. Mapes Bass Strings: Steel core wire wound with solid copper. Made by Mapes in Tennessee, U.S.A. Number 1 speaking length: 119.4 cm (47”) |
Hammers |
Premium wool topfelt over premium wool underfelt. Weight of topfelt: 9.5 kg (20.9 lb). Compression-wired to retain permanent shape. Mahogany moldings. Tapered hammer-shanks from select resilient maple or horn-beam. Computer-designed pear-shaped hammers with reinforced shoulders result in superior tone, increased durability and greater voicing ability. |
Action |
Solid maple (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. |
Keybed |
Made from laminated hardwood faced with spruce. Strong, rugged construction provides a solid mount for the keyframe and action allowing for precise and prolonged action regulation. Large maple dowel ends provide a solid mount for adjustable brass touch-regulating glides. Keybed thickness is 42 mm. |
Keyframe |
Spruce with hardwood inserts in the balance rail and front rail for added stability. |
Pedals |
Heavy solid brass castings. Soft, full sostenuto and damper (sustaining). |
Other |
Music desk positions: 4 Fallboard: Soft fall fallboard Casters: Heavy-duty double-wheel solid brass casters. Locks: Fallboard and top locks. PropSticks: Double top prop sticks. |