The Model B is the piano Steinway gets most right. At 6'11" it captures most of the D concert grand's power and color while fitting in a large living room, teaching studio, or small hall, and its scale design is the most balanced in the Steinway line — a warm, complex midrange, singing treble, and bass that stays defined rather than merely loud. The action, properly regulated, offers the responsiveness that has made Steinway the professional default for a century. Resale value is exceptional, and a B can be rebuilt indefinitely; fifty-year-old examples remain concert-worthy. The honest caveats: a new B now runs around $140,000, and quality out of the factory varies more than it should at that price — some arrive needing significant voicing and regulation before they sing, so buy through a dealer with a strong technician and audition the specific instrument, never the model. Hamburg-built examples are generally more consistent than New York ones. The Steinway sound is also warmer and less crystalline than a Fazioli or Shigeru Kawai, which some players find muddy in dense repertoire. Those caveats noted, the B remains the single safest six-figure piano purchase there is.
Near-concert-grand sound in a domestically viable size Best-balanced scale design in the Steinway range Outstanding resale value and indefinite rebuildability The professional standard action and tone Factory preparation inconsistent; individual instruments vary notably Around $140,000 new, plus ongoing skilled technician costs Warm voicing can sound veiled next to Fazioli or Shigeru Kawai