Hours: Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM | Closed Sundays
509-327-4266
Hours: Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM | Closed Sundays
509-327-4266
Interested In Used Pianos? – Send us a text. We may have what you’re looking for. Our inventory rotates frequently.
There ARE several features that most all manufacturers agree make a better piano.
Below you’ll see an explanation of a few premium features. See our education & comparison page for more details and a more in-depth look.
There are a few features that manufacturers of all makes use in their highest quality grand pianos that can also make an upright piano perform and “sing” better. Unfortunately most manufacturers don’t include them in their uprights.
Using any of these features will make a piano perform better. However, it’s how they ALL work together in a symphony that makes all the difference.
Note: There are many pianos that cost more that do not have premium features.
LOOK for these letters indicating each model’s premium features.
Tapering the soundboard allows it to move more freely and sustain longer.
This will make those long bass note last longer and make your music sound better.
Definition:
A bridge made of laminates of wood, glued together vertically.
This help the vibrations of the string reach the soundboard faster than a solid bridge. Thus, giving a better tone and more sustain.
Better hammers not only have the outside felt but a denser underfelt.
This helps you control your tone and gives you the power you may need for those thunderous fortissimos.
They also should last longer and keep their voicing longer.
For over 160 years, STEINWAY & SONS has been dedicated to making world-class pianos. Founded in 1853 by German immigrant Henry Engelhard Steinway in a Manhattan loft, our pioneering handcrafted methods are still employed today to ensure our uncompromising standards of quality, in turn ensuring that the STEINWAY remains the peerless instrument of uncompromising expression. Discover the craftsmanship of our world-class pianos.
Steinway & Sons offers ALL premium features and more.
The only upright worthy of being in the grand section.
Unlike other manufacturers that mass-produce their uprights, STEINWAY & SONS uprights are handcrafted in the same factory as our grand pianos, using the same techniques, conditioning processes, and craftsmen. The result is the world’s finest upright, living up to the STEINWAY & SONS name in every respect. STEINWAY upright pianos take advantage of over 125 patented features and processes.
No matter your level of skill or your musical goals, STEINWAY–DESIGNED pianos offers an instrument to match to your needs.
Second only to STEINWAY & SONS the BOSTON PERFORMANCE EDITION pianos have more PREMIUM features than any other piano remotely close to it’s price range.
The Steinway-designed BOSTON grand pianos offer ALL premium features.
Designed by STEINWAY & SONS, employing the unique patents and expertise that have made the STEINWAY heritage synonymous with musical excellence, the BOSTON line of grand and upright pianos captures the STEINWAY DNA and represents a singular achievement in instrument-building: a superior playing experience at a price level never before thought possible.
EBONY POLISH | WALNUT SATIN
The BOSTON 118E PERFORMANCE EDITION combines the best in beauty and performance in an affordable piano. At a height of 46½” (118 cm) and a depth of 23½” (60 cm), the small profile allows you to fit this piano into almost any room.
Designed by STEINWAY & SONS, employing the unique patents and expertise that have made the STEINWAY heritage synonymous with musical excellence, the BOSTON line of grand and upright pianos captures the STEINWAY DNA and represents a singular achievement in instrument-building: a superior playing experience at a price level never before thought possible.
EBONY POLISH | EBONY SATIN | WALNUT POLISH | WALNUT SATIN | MAHOGANY POLISH
The BOSTON UP-126E PERFORMANCE EDITION makes a great addition to any teaching studio or home. A longer music rest accommodates more music. Height: 49½” (126 cm)
Designed by STEINWAY & SONS, employing the unique patents and expertise that have made the STEINWAY heritage synonymous with musical excellence, the BOSTON line of grand and upright pianos captures the STEINWAY DNA and represents a singular achievement in instrument-building: a superior playing experience at a price level never before thought possible.
EBONY POLISH | MAHOGANY POLISH
The largest Boston upright piano at a height of 52″ (132 cm), the UP-132E PERFORMANCE EDITION provides a rich and powerful sound that rivals many grand pianos.
Designed by STEINWAY & SONS, employing the unique patents and expertise that have made the STEINWAY heritage synonymous with musical excellence, the BOSTON line of grand and upright pianos captures the STEINWAY DNA and represents a singular achievement in instrument-building: a superior playing experience at a price level never before thought possible.
EBONY POLISH
The ESSEX incorporates STEINWAY & SONS’ latest design specifications and engineering standards, as well as the STEINWAY commitment to excellence developed over 160 years of quality craftsmanship. Every ESSEX instrument is inspected by a team of highly experienced STEINWAY & SONS technicians before it leaves the factory.
The Steinway-designed ESSEX grand pianos offer ALL premium features.
The STEINWAY-DESIGNED ESSEX piano incorporates the latest design specifications and engineering standards from STEINWAY & SONS. Learn more about why the ESSEX remains the best choice in its price range for anyone looking for a quality piano at an affordable price.
The styling of the Continental Upright (EUP-108C) puts it at home in any décor. The contemporary design offers distinctive and stylish elegance at an affordable price.
The STEINWAY-DESIGNED ESSEX piano incorporates the latest design specifications and engineering standards from STEINWAY & SONS. Learn more about why the ESSEX remains the best choice in its price range for anyone looking for a quality piano at an affordable price.
The Classic Studio Upright (EUP-111E) is the perfect choice for any home. With its classic design, it is sure to compliment any interior space.
The STEINWAY-DESIGNED ESSEX piano incorporates the latest design specifications and engineering standards from STEINWAY & SONS. Learn more about why the ESSEX remains the best choice in its price range for anyone looking for a quality piano at an affordable price.
With a variety of styles, you’ll find the perfect fit for your home.
The STEINWAY-DESIGNED ESSEX piano incorporates the latest design specifications and engineering standards from STEINWAY & SONS. Learn more about why the ESSEX remains the best choice in its price range for anyone looking for a quality piano at an affordable price.
Over the past 90 years, KAWAI has earned a reputation for outstanding quality and workmanship in the crafting of world-class musical instruments – and has received over 50 major international awards for product and service excellence.
The Kawai 506 was specially designed to meet the needs of those who require high quality and durability in an instrument, without a premium price tag. Churches, schools or other venues seeking longevity and value will find the 506 to be a solid musical choice.
EBONY SATIN | MAHOGANY SATIN
The Kawai ST-1 is everything an institutional piano should be – amazingly strong, exceptionally playable, and built to last. It combines the world’s most advanced upright piano action with many new design enhancements that allow it to outperform every other piano in its class. For institutional settings that demand consistently high performance amid the rigors of heavy use, the Kawai ST-1 is the ideal choice.
EBONY POLISH | EBONY SATIN | WALNUT SATIN | MAHOGANY SATIN | OAK SATIN
The 53″ K-800 is the epitome of upright piano craftsmanship. Its elegant form and exceptional tone will fulfill the needs of any professional teaching studio or intimate performance setting.
EBONY POLISH
With its taller 51″ height and newly-designed scale, the K-500 Professional Upright Piano offers a rare combination of power, dynamic range and tonal richness to meet the musical demands of any studio environment.
EBONY POLISH | EBONY SATIN | MAHOGANY POLISH
The uniquely practical 48″ K-400 features a grand-style music rack that places music at eye level and provides a solid surface for sheet music and oversized music books. A New England Style, dual-hinged fallboard adds to its distinctive appeal.
EBONY POLISH | EBONY POLISH W/NICKEL
The K-300 builds upon the success of its award-winning predecessor, the K-3, that was named MMR Magazine’s “Acoustic Piano of the Year” for four consecutive years. The K-300 proudly extends this distinguished legacy.
EBONY POLISH | EBONY SATIN | EBONY POLISH W/NICKEL HARDWARE | EBONY SATIN W/NICKEL HARDWARE | MAHOGANY POLISH | MAHOGANY SATIN | WHITE POLISH
With outstanding tone and touch in a beautiful 45″ frame, the K-200 offers the dependability and character needed to please any performing pianist from the novice to the seasoned professional.
EBONY POLISH | EBONY SATIN | EBONY POLISH W/NICKEL HARDWARE | EBONY SATIN W/NICKEL HARDWARE | MAHOGANY POLISH | MAHOGANY SATIN
The 508 Decorator Console is specially designed to meet the needs of those who require elegance, high quality and exceptional durability in an instrument, without a premium price tag. This finely-crafted, superb-sounding instrument will provide satisfying musical enjoyment for years to come.
MAHOGANY SATIN
The K-15 provides an excellent introduction to Kawai upright piano quality. Featuring a solid spruce soundboard and the highly-regarded Ultra-Responsive Direct Blow Action with ABS Styran parts, this continental-style instrument produces a rich, clear tone with performance qualities that rival much larger upright pianos.
EBONY POLISH | WHITE POLISH | MAHOGANY POLISH
WE SERVICE THE FOLLOWING AREAS
EASTERN WASHINGTON: Tri Cities, Yakima, Wenatchee, Walla Walla, Greater Spokane Area, Pullman.
NORTHERN IDAHO: From Moscow/Lewiston → North. (CDA/Sandpoint).
STATE OF MONTANA
If you are not in one of these areas, please contact your local dealer.
The Premier Piano Showroom Of The Inland Northwest
Having the soundboard made out of solid spruce is the first step. But there’s a lot more to it. That’s a bit like saying a car has tires. There can be a drastic difference in quality.
THE SCIENCE
Think back to those early science classes in elementary or middle school where you learned about tree growth. When you cut a tree in half, you can count the rings telling you how old the tree is. You can also look how close the rings are together. This tells you how fast or slow the tree grew.
The closer the rings are together, the slower it grew. It also makes it stronger. These trees are more expensive so not every piano uses the best quality spruce.
TIGHT GRAIN
A good quality soundboard should have very tight grain. (or grain that is close together) Soundwaves travel through the grain. A tight grain allows more of the sound to be captured; thus producing a longer sustain and better tone.
TAPERED
A good quality soundboard will be tapered. This allows more vibrations and longer sustain. Thus producing a richer, fuller tone.
An advanced version of tapering, The Diaphragmatic Tapered Soundboard, was originally patented by STEINWAY & SONS in 1936.
*Most every manufacturer makes a piano with this feature. It’s just a matter of what price you have to pay to obtain it. Everyone agrees this makes a better piano.
When a hammer strikes the string of a piano, that tone begins to decay. The purpose of everything under the lid of a piano is to capture as much of that tone before it goes away.
The first contact for those string vibrations is the bridge.
There are essentially two types of bridges made in modern pianos these days; a bridge made of a solid piece of wood with a cap or a bridge that is pieces of wood vertically laminated together with a cap.
The difference is quite simple. The premium feature, vertically laminated bridge, is stronger and takes the tone from the string down to the soundboard several times faster that a solid bridge.
Many piano companies choose to leave this upgrade feature off their upright pianos and several models of their lower prices grand pianos.
The vertically laminated bridge was originally patented by STEINWAY & SONS in 1880.
*Most every manufacturer makes a piano with this feature. It’s just a matter of what price you have to pay to obtain it. Everyone agrees this makes a better piano.
One of the most common statements we get in this industry is customers want something that will last and hold value.
One of the most common “upgrade” features manufacturers offer is Hammers With Underfelting.
This is exactly want it sounds like. It is a regular piano hammer but with a dense underfelt. It is easy to spot as it’s usually a darker colored felt such as red or purple.
This extra felt gives you the ability to have more control over your playing and increases your ability to widen your dynamic range. It will also help the hammers to hold their shape and last longer.
As stated before, if the manufacturer is cutting costs by not providing this feature that you can see, they are most likely cutting costs where you cannot.
*Most every manufacturer makes a piano with this feature. It’s just a matter of what price you have to pay to obtain it. Everyone agrees this makes a better piano.
The Sostenuto pedal is that middle pedal on a grand piano. Many people ask us what it’s used for.
The sostenuto pedal allows you to sustain a selected group of notes by pressing the desired keys down and then engaging the sostenuto pedal. This will free up your hands to play other notes un-sustained.
Many people purchase less expensive grand pianos because they feel they’d never have need for or use this feature. And if it was the only feature missing, maybe you wouldn’t miss much.
Unfortunately the piano that doesn’t have this feature will not have most premium features. And…you CAN spend about the same amount (if not less) and get this and other premium features.
*Most every manufacturer makes a piano with this feature. It’s just a matter of what price you have to pay to obtain it. Everyone agrees this makes a better piano.