Steinway grand model guide
Steinway Model D
The Model D is Steinway’s full concert grand, designed for major halls, conservatoires, recording venues and demanding professional use.
Its scale, projection and action capacity require expert preparation and a suitable acoustic. A used Model D should be assessed as a working concert instrument, not simply as a larger domestic grand.
Model D specifications
Current dimensions are shown as a reference. Historical examples can vary slightly by factory and period.
Model
D
Concert grand
Length
About 274cm
Approximately 8ft 11¾in
Width
About 156cm
Approximately 5ft 1¼in
Made in
Hamburg and New York
Concert preparation varies by venue
Designed for concert demands
The Model D’s long scale, large soundboard and long key levers support projection, tonal range and fine control in a large acoustic. Successful concert preparation balances power with clarity, repetition and reliable quiet playing.
Hamburg and New York instruments have different construction and voicing traditions, but individual hammers, regulation, preparation and venue acoustics matter more than broad factory stereotypes.
Typical environments
- Concert halls and recital venues
- Conservatoires and universities
- Professional recording studios
- Large rehearsal and performance spaces
Assessing a used Model D
Usage history
Establish whether the piano served a hall, institution, studio or private owner. Heavy professional use can create different wear from age alone.
Structure and action
Inspect wrest-plank, bridges, soundboard, strings, frame, action geometry, hammers and repetition. Request detailed records of rebuilding and concert service.
Venue preparation
Evaluate projection, tonal transitions, una corda, sustain and control in the destination acoustic. Preparation should serve the hall and repertoire.
Compare Model D with B and C
The Model B is a versatile semi-concert grand, and Model C occupies the large-grand space between B and D. The Model D is intended for full concert projection and requires correspondingly greater room, access, maintenance and preparation.
For institutional purchase, include technicians and pianists in the assessment. Compare instruments under realistic performance conditions rather than choosing solely by age, factory or finish.
Considering a Model D?
Send the serial number, photographs, exact dimensions, usage history and restoration documentation for an initial discussion.
Explore the Steinway range
Compare the full grand range, browse current pianos, or ask the Oxford team about a specific instrument.