Overview

Boston Piano Company is a piano brand created in the early 1990s as part of a strategic initiative by Steinway & Sons. The Boston line was conceived to occupy the space between entry-level Asian instruments and premium European and American pianos, offering design concepts associated with Steinway while leveraging modern large-scale manufacturing.

Boston pianos are not built in Steinway's New York or Hamburg factories. Instead, they are produced through international manufacturing partnerships, most notably with Kawai Musical Instruments for many years.

Origins and Purpose

During the late 20th century, Steinway faced increasing competition from high-quality Japanese pianos that offered strong consistency and affordability. At the same time, Steinway's own instruments were positioned firmly at the premium end of the market.

The Boston brand was introduced to address this gap:

• To offer a piano at a lower price point than Steinway
• To incorporate certain Steinway design philosophies
• To be manufactured at scale with modern efficiency
• To remain clearly distinct from Steinway's flagship instruments

Boston was never intended to replace Steinway, but rather to exist as a separate, clearly defined line.

Design Philosophy

Boston pianos were designed with input from Steinway engineers, most notably incorporating a wider tail design than was typical for pianos of similar length at the time. This allowed for:

• Longer bass strings
• Greater soundboard area
• Improved bass response relative to size

Other commonly cited design elements include:

• Rim designs influenced by Steinway geometry
• Scale designs aimed at tonal balance rather than maximum brightness
• Actions regulated to emphasize control and evenness

These concepts were then executed within the constraints of modern factory production.

Manufacturing and the Kawai Collaboration

For a significant portion of Boston's production history, Boston grands were manufactured by Kawai in Japan. Kawai was chosen due to its reputation for:

• Consistent manufacturing tolerances
• Stable rim and plate production
• Reliable actions and parts supply
• Experience producing instruments for multiple international brands

While Steinway provided design direction and specifications, Kawai handled day-to-day manufacturing. This arrangement allowed Boston pianos to maintain predictable quality while being produced in meaningful volume.

It is important to note:

• Boston pianos are not Steinways
• They are not rebuilt Steinways
• They are purpose-built instruments made to a defined specification

Materials and Construction

Typical Boston grand pianos include:

• Laminated maple rims
• Solid spruce soundboards (species and sourcing varied by era)
• Cast iron plates manufactured to Boston specifications
• Actions using high-quality, industry-standard components

Compared to some competitors, Boston pianos tend to favor structural stability and tonal balance over extreme brightness or lightness of touch.