What is the difference between Steinway and Boston?

Steinway and Boston pianos, while sharing a familial connection as "sister brands" with Boston pianos designed by Steinway & Sons, exhibit several key distinctions in their construction, components, and market positioning. These differences cater to various playing preferences and budgets while maintaining a commitment to quality.

Understanding the Relationship Between Steinway and Boston Pianos

Boston pianos are developed and designed by Steinway & Sons, leveraging the legendary piano maker's century-plus experience in acoustic piano design. This relationship positions Boston as a premium performance instrument that incorporates many of Steinway's design principles, yet it is manufactured outside of Steinway's Hamburg and New York factories, making it a more accessible option than a handmade Steinway piano. You can explore more about Boston pianos on the official Steinway & Sons website.

Key Differences Between Steinway and Boston Pianos

While both brands aim for high quality, their approaches to materials, construction, and specific features differ.

Design and Materials

Both Steinway and Boston pianos share a notable design element: Hard Rock Maple inner rims. This material choice contributes to the structural integrity and sound projection of both instruments. However, subtle differences in material selection and specific components set them apart:

• Wood Selection: Steinway is renowned for its meticulous selection and seasoning of all wood components. While Boston also uses quality materials, Steinway is more particular about some other woods throughout the piano's construction, indicating a higher standard or different grade of wood used for various parts beyond the inner rim. This attention to detail can influence the piano's longevity, tonal qualities, and stability.
• Hammers: The hammers, crucial components that strike the piano strings to produce sound, are different between the two brands. These differences in hammer design, felt type, and density contribute significantly to the unique tonal character and touch response of each brand. Steinway's hammers are often crafted to achieve its signature rich, complex tone, while Boston's hammers are designed to complement its specific acoustical properties.

Pedal Functionality (Uprights)

A practical difference, particularly in upright models, lies in the functionality of the pedals:

• Boston Uprights typically feature a muffler pedal, also known as a practice pedal or celeste pedal. When engaged, this pedal lowers a strip of felt between the hammers and strings, significantly reducing the volume for quiet practice.
• Steinway & Sons pianos (including their uprights) commonly incorporate a Sostenuto pedal. This sophisticated middle pedal allows a pianist to sustain only the notes held down at the moment the pedal is pressed, while subsequent notes played remain unaffected. This provides advanced expressive capabilities not present with a simple muffler pedal.

Manufacturing and Market Positioning

• Manufacturing: While designed by Steinway & Sons, Boston pianos are manufactured in a different facility, allowing for more streamlined production processes. Steinway & Sons pianos are entirely handmade in their factories in New York and Hamburg.
• Price and Accessibility: These manufacturing differences contribute to Boston pianos being a more accessible and often more affordable alternative to a new Steinway. Boston pianos are designed to fill a niche for serious students and professionals who desire a high-quality instrument with Steinway's design pedigree but at a different price point.

Comparison Summary

Here's a concise overview of the key differences:

In essence, Boston pianos offer a Steinway-designed experience with many of its core principles, making high-quality piano performance available to a broader audience. Steinway pianos, on the other hand, represent the pinnacle of handcrafted piano artistry, characterized by unparalleled attention to every detail of materials and construction.