Hamburg Steinway Model D Start Price USD 105,000.00 Current Price USD 105,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, May 11, 2008 End Time Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Location Irvine, CA See more about 'Hamburg Steinway Model D' Description Hamburg Steinway Model D-274 This instrument is a magnificent 1961 Hamburg Steinway Model D-274 Concert Grand Piano (9’).  The Hamburg Model D is arguably the best piano ever made.  Only a small number of Hamburg D's are manufactured each year; this particular instrument is one of the very best examples available anywhere in the world.  It was listed recently but I took it off the market so that several interested parties could have a chance to play it before the auction ended.  No one has made up their mind yet, so I am now re-listing it. The period during which this piano was built was an excellent time for Steinway in Germany; the design incorporates all of the most important Steinway developments and advances, but the piano was built before CBS purchased the Steinway company in 1972 (the post CBS era brought many problems to both the New York and Hamburg factories).  This piano was manufactured with European beech in the rim and Bavarian spruce in the sound board, both of which are no longer used (after 1990) due to scarcity.   This instrument (Serial# 377 620) was located in a concert hall in Germany from delivery until 1991 when the hall closed.  It was returned to the Steinway factory where it received new hammers and a full factory regulation. I purchased it in 1992 in Saarbrucken, Germany at a prominent Steinway dealer. The dealer packaged it in a factory-built crate and air freighted it to California for me. In 2002 the bass register was re-strung by Master Steinway Technician Richard Harris, using the finest strings available.  New tuning pins were installed at the same time (a standard procedure).  The strings settled-in within a year. Tuning stability in all registers is excellent. The tone is breath taking, with huge depth and amazing sustain in the low registers. The mid range is clear and powerful (note: the hammers have never been needled, polished or coated, so voicing to the buyer’s taste can be readily accomplished).  The upper registers have a beautiful, haunting character that is positively captivating. From the lowest note to the highest note, this instrument exhibits the sweetness of tone and the complex harmonic structure that makes the sound of a Hamburg D so special and distinctive. The action is made by Renner in Germany. This action is found on all Hamburg Ds and is widely considered to be superior to the factory-built action used in New York Steinways.  It is light, extremely smooth and responsive, and permits a vast range of dynamics and shading.  The key covers are Ivory, which has not been available in the US for decades.  Ivory provides a feel and a ‘grip’ that is more functional, and far more pleasant to the touch, than the best modern plastics.  The case is finished with the characteristic glossy black European lacquer, rather than the typical dull matte finish of the New York versions.  The legs are held on with large threaded fasteners instead of the cam-blocks used on most New York Steinways. The casters are an oversized double-wheel design, with two of them having locking mechanisms.  On a bare floor, one person can easily move it from place to place. The case has some small blemishes, but you have to look carefully to see them. Overall, the finish is very good. The piano includes a padded protective cover and comes with a factory built bolt-on shipping skid to assist in transit.  It also comes with a heavy-duty adjustable padded ‘Artist’ bench. It was appraised in 1999 at $125,000 when the Euro was still lower than the dollar. A new version of this piano costs approximately $170,000 plus sales and/or import tax (depending on your location). Regretfully, I am selling this instrument due to a planned move to Europe.  It is presently located in southern California, but transportation can be arranged to anywhere in the world.  Serious parties are invited to see it and play it at their earliest convenience. # # #  On May-15-08 at 11:13:51 PDT, seller added the following information:New! In an effort to insure that my asking price is fair, I recently played two brand-new New York Steinway D's and one that is five years old. This Hamburg D that is being offered is vastly richer in tone, has a better action, and substantially more power… especially in the lowest and highest registers. The price of a new NY D is about $115,000 before tax. For less money you can own a far better instrument. Place a Bid!