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Steingraeber and Hurstwood Farm Pianos have a very close relationship.
Steingraeber build what is recognised as the World's most technically advanced piano, the Steingraeber-Phoenix under licence from Hurstwood Farm. The special features of this piano are bridge agraffes that transmit vibration energy from the strings to the soundboard much more efficiently than conventional bridge pins , yet at the same time do this without the ususal major stress load downbearing on the soundboard suffered by traditional build pianos. In consequence the soundboard can be designed for optimum acoustic performance without need for high strength and without the inevitable collapse that occurs after 5 to 40 years in most if not all traditional pianos.
Steingraeber-Phoenix now has 1.6mm thick carbon fibre soundboards which give it high performance, great clarity, tolerance to high humidity and durability. They have recently been fitted with the new WNG carbon fibre humidity proof actions that offer exceptional artist instrument interface and are efficient low friction actions offering high sensitivity. All Steingraeber-Phoenix pianos have a combined una corda /half blow pedal that enables secure playing at whisper level. This is hydraulically controlled.
The combination of these features results in longer sustain of each note and thus opens up new vistas of music interpretation. In due course we hope this will lead to composers writing compositions which exploit that potential.
A new range of pianos called Phoenix which have acoustic bodies made by Steingraeber is now available. These instruments are finished at Hurstwood Farm and are identical in specification to Steingraeber-Phoenix. The less onerous employee legislation in the UK enables us to offer these at roughly 2/3rds of the price of the German built and finished version. There is currently a waiting list for most models of these pianos. Concert grand instruments are built to order only.
The performance and sound quality is truly astonishing. A model 212 (7 feet) competes in performance with any traditional top quality concert grand, and the model 170 (5 foot 6 inch) has a power and rich sound one would normally associate with the best 7 foot instrument. This baby grand is appropriate for public recital of demanding compositions in a recital hall of up to 250 persons.
The Phoenix range is currently available only in Europe. Arrangements are in hand for sale in the USA through Atlantic Pianos in Melbourne Florida.
Steingraeber pianos are available with many special features including:- Mammoth ivory, Ivolan or Tharan key tops, Extra long dampers in the bass break, Flydampers at the bass/tenor crossover for uprights, Extra large castors or glide domes, DFM or Repetition grand simulation actions, Celeste rail, Sostenuto pedal etc. Piano Disc silent play system, The grands are offered with the Phoenix bridge agraffe which enhances the dynamic range, sustain and power of the piano. Cover Matching bench Extra long music desk We have made detailed study of these features and as a matter of routine fit them to every model of the piano we sell that in our opinion is enhanced by their use, unless otherwise instructed. In most cases this is without extra charge. (The free issue features are highlighted in red.) A range of many dozens of different wood finishes and styles is offered to order. Most instruments are offered in a "no frills" version in which the case and frame plus a few minor details are economically styled. The acoustic and action parts of these pianos is identical so they have the same high performance. The saving in cost is of the order of 10 to 15% on these pianos, which are ideal for schools and academies where ultimate finish is a luxury. For clients who love the the appearance of 'grandmother's old upright' but yearn for better sound and touch, we can arrange to fit a modern "state of the art" Steingraeber piano system with new frame and soundboard in the old case. (provided it is an 88 key piano). Steingraeber pioneering design and superb quality since 1852 have been legendary in Continental Europe. Perhaps because with 100% hand crafting production cannot be hurried, hitherto the make has been less well known to the British public. Now, for the first time, the full range from Steingraeber can be seen and played at Hurstwood Farm. Udo Schmidt-Steingraeber is the fifth generation of the Steingraeber family since 1852 to manufacture these hand crafted pianos in Bayreuth. He and his family live over the original factory where he has studied the craft since the age of 10. He tells us his son, whenever possible, now also aged 10, does likewise. Armed with such intimate experience, his Company has confidence and expertise to manage a programme of continuous development. ….a facility so sadly absent in some famous name pianos now controlled by commercial and financial interests where design has been static for a century or more. The difference in piano performance is startling and speaks for itself. The unique (optional) repetition or DFM actions in Steingraeber Upright pianos makes them feel and play like a grand piano. The artist can genuinely forget he is playing an upright. To play the new Steingraeber concert grand with its amazingly sensitive, low friction action is memorable experience. Steingraeber use selected parts from more than one action maker as well as parts of their own specification to achieve exceptional consistency and accuracy in keyboard weighting. Sharps because of their shorter leverage are weighted 1 gram lighter touch than the adjacent naturals. An innovative knuckle roller is an optional feature of the Steingraeber grand action designed to provide improved control in pianissimo playing. Each soundboard of a Steingraeber grand is tested for acoustic response. Its thickness and contour are then modified by hand using a special spoke shave tool to ensure ideal response of every part of the board. This feature necessitates a unique sequence of assembly so that there is proper access to do this work. Hammer shanks are tuned so that the initial percussive sound they produce as the hammer strikes is matched to the note frequency. The bridge materials and grain orientation which are unique to Steingraeber pianos ensure excellent transfer of vibration energy from string to sound board. Even the legs and lyre are engineered to be part of the acoustic whole. Alongside Stuart, Bosendorfer and Steinway, Steingraeber will in future take its place in the Hurstwood Farm Concert Hall. To visit the Steingraeber website, please click here |
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Hurstwood Farm
Piano Studios, The Hurst, Crouch, Borough Green, Sevenoaks, Kent
TN15 8TA |