Boston Upright Pianos
University Performance, Steinway-Designed
Designed by Steinway and produced with premium materials, Boston pianos bring serious tonal and
mechanical performance to the mid-price category
Engineered for Expression
Steinway foundations: Featuring Spruce soundboards, staggered backposts, low-tension string designs, and an 11-layer maple Octagrip® pinblock—all Steinway inventions.
Responsive action: Like Steinway, All-solid wood action parts deliver dynamic touch and repetition—designed for players seeking nuanced expression.
Long-lasting stability: Built to stay solid over time; ideal for rigorous use in universities, studios and homes alike
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.
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.
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.
A Staff favorite here at Piano Centre for it’s performance relative to size. Beyond that, the Boston 118E is one of those pianos that consistently outperforms pianos that are much larger with a tonal quality that is second to none.
The new Boston UP-120S Performance Edition is imbued with the classic Boston touch and tone and is optimized for any music room — at school or at home. Height: 47⅜" (120.3 cm)
The Boston UP-120S is a bestseller at Piano Centre for a reason. It offers performance, and tonality, equal to pianos well above its price and size.
Essex Upright Pianos
Steinway Legacy at Home.
Accessible excellence is at the heart of the Essex upright — a piano designed by Steinway & Sons. Steinway’s commitment to superior instruments can be found even in its most affordable piano offering.
The Essex EUP123S upright piano, designed by Steinway & Sons, represents a thoughtful balance between performance, durability, and refined design. This is the top performance model in the Essex line-up, it benefits from Steinway’s engineering expertise while remaining accessible to a wider range of families and pianists.
What sets the EUP123S apart is that it is not simply “branded” by Steinway—it is genuinely designed by their team, at the NY factory. This includes the use of Steinway-developed scaling designs, which carefully calculate string length, tension, and diameter to optimize tonal richness and sustain. The piano also incorporates a solid Sitka spruce soundboard (like steinway), a material prized for its excellent resonance and responsiveness, allowing for a warm, singing tone even in an upright format.
The structural integrity of the instrument is reinforced through a robust, staggered back construction, using selected hardwoods that enhance stability and longevity. Its action design is engineered for precision and consistency, offering a responsive touch that supports both developing students and more advanced players. Additionally, the use of quality components—such as all hard rock maple action parts, durable hammers and well-balanced key mechanisms—ensures reliable performance over time.
Aesthetically, the EUP123S reflects a clean, elegant European-inspired cabinet design, making it suitable for both traditional and contemporary interiors. We love the extra wide music desk that is able to accommodate 6 sheets of music. Beyond appearance, its proportions are carefully considered to maximize sound projection while maintaining a compact footprint.
We have proudly offered the Essex EUP123S in our market since 2008, where it has consistently demonstrated excellent performance in our local climate in Northern Alberta. It has also proven to be stable in NWT! Its thoughtful construction and carefully selected materials have proven highly resilient to seasonal changes, maintaining tuning stability and structural integrity over time. This long-term reliability, combined with its musical versatility, has made it one of the most successful and trusted models in our lineup.
Designed by Steinway & Sons in collaboration with renowned furniture designer William Faber — the Essex EUP123se is a traditional cabinet and features a practice middle pedal which makes for a quieter, more subdued tone and mutes the volume by at least 75%.
A nicely balanced upright with elegantly proportioned classic straight legs, the classic design of the EUP-123E, or Classic Studio Upright, makes a great choice for even the most eclectic of homes.
At Piano Centre, we always describe the Essex 116E as a bit of a sleeper. It’s smaller stature belies its big performance. A piano that is bigger than it's physical size would suggest.
The timeless design of the Classic Studio Upright (EUP-116E) is at home in any home.
Designed by Steinway & Sons in collaboration with renowned furniture designer William Faber — the Essex upright has been created in the spirit of the Steinway heritage as a tribute to the idea that beautiful piano styles and finishes can and should be possible in every price range. With elegant traditional styling and museum-quality finishes, Essex will be a stunning addition to your home.