Description
Dimensions
Height: 100 cm (39¼”)
Length: 173 cm (5′ 8″)
Width: 151 cm (59¼”)
Net Weight: 309 kg (680 lb)
Encasement
Cabinet Style
Classic Case Designed by Steinway & Sons
Finish
High Polish: Ebony, Sapele Mahogany
Satin: Ebony
Hardware
Brass
Technical Specifications
Rim/Backframe
Outer and inner rims are laminated walnut. Wide tail design (similar to Boston). 22 mm outer rim width, 38 mm inner rim width.
Braces/Posts
Steinway–like radial bracing. 3 braces.
Pinblock
Laminated bi-directional maple. Thickness: 36 mm.
Soundboard
Solid Spruce. Linear taper. Vibrating area: 1.25 m2 (1,938 in2)
Ribs
Ribs notched into inner rim (no floating ribs). Ribs made of spruce and staggered/graduated. Number of ribs: 12
Bridges
Vertically laminated maple base with solid maple cap.
Scale
Designed by Steinway. 18,191 kg (40,021 lb) tension.
Plate
Cast iron, painted with Steinway Gold.
Tuning Pins
Carbon steel nickel coating.
Duplex Scales
Front and rear duplexes designed by Steinway.
Strings
Roslau wire. Number of sizes of treble strings: 9. Lowest tenor note: 27. Number 1 speaking length: 130 cm (51.1″)
Hammers
Designed by Steinway. Weight of topfelt: 7 kg (15 lb).
Action
Designed by Steinway. Angled whippen heel. All wood (no plastic) for all moving parts. Extruded aluminum action rails with Steinway rosette.
Keys
Steinway design. Spruce.
Keybed
Spruce.
Pedals
Brass. Una corda, full sostenuto, and sustain (damper) pedals.
Features
Slow-fall Fallboard. Fold-down fallboard lip. Matching cushioned bench.
Compare this piano to other brands
Besides other Steinway-designed features, below are features on the Essex EGP173 EVEN COMPETITORS AGREE make a better piano.
1 – Vertically laminated bridges
2 – Duplex scale design
3 – Sostenuto pedal
4 – Lower tension scale design
5 – Hammers with a dense underfelt
6 – Tapered, solid spruce soundboard
7 – Thicker rim for stability
Notable NEW grand pianos with all the above features:
All Steinway
All Boston
Yamaha CX series ($35K+)
Yamaha S series ($75K+)
Yamaha CF series ($105K+)
Kawai GX series ($30K+)
Kawai EX 9′ grand ($200K)
Shigeru Kawai ($60K-$213K)
What is MISSING?
These pianos have the same big brand name on the fallboard but the manufacturer has decided to remove some features to reduce costs. So what do they take off to reduce the price? (Notice the price is STILL higher!)
Yamaha GC series (22K-28K) – 5’1″ & 5’8″
MISSING: 1 – Vertically laminated bridges • 3 – Sostenuto pedal • 4 – Lower tension scale design • 5 – Hammers with a dense underfelt • 6 – Tapered, solid spruce soundboard • 7 – Thicker rim for stability
Yamaha GB1K (13K) – 5′
MISSING: 1 – Vertically laminated bridges • 2 – Duplex scale design • 3 – Sostenuto pedal • 4 – Lower tension scale design • 5 – Hammers with a dense underfelt • 6 – Tapered, solid spruce soundboard • 7 – Thicker rim for stability
Kawai GL series (14K – 30K) – 5′ – 5’11”
MISSING: 1 – Vertically laminated bridges • 4 – Lower tension scale design • 5 – Hammers with a dense underfelt • 7 – Thicker rim for stability
The Essex GP173
is the BEST BUILT and sounding PIANO
under $20K.
