Boston Pianos - Designed by Steinway & Sons
At Piano Centre, we believe Boston represents one of the most compelling performance pianos available outside of a true Steinway & Sons.
Fully Designed by Steinway & Sons at their factory and built in partnership with Kawai using world-class Japanese manufacturing, Boston pianos deliver an exceptional level of touch, tonal depth, and musical refinement at a price point far below that of a handcrafted Steinway.
For many serious pianists, educators, and passionate music lovers, Boston offers the closest experience to Steinway performance without stepping into heirloom-level pricing.
Why We Like Boston Pianos:
✓ Closer to Steinway performance than ever before
✓ Now equipped with genuine Steinway hammers
✓ Durable and dependable in our Alberta’s climate
✓ Built with world-class Japanese precision
✓ Deep bass and impressive dynamic range for their sizes.
✓ Excellent choice for first piano or upgrade from digital.
Our Opinion
Over the years, we’ve watched Boston evolve into one of the strongest performance pianos in its category.
What sets Boston apart is its ability to bridge the gap between premium consumer pianos and handcrafted performance instruments.
Simply put, Boston offers a level of musical refinement that exceeds what many buyers expect in this price range.
Recent improvements—particularly the introduction of Steinway hammers—have elevated the line even further, bringing greater tonal nuance, dynamic control, and expressive range.
For many pianists, Boston delivers the closest experience to Steinway performance without the investment of owning a Steinway & Sons.
How Boston Compares
Boston vs Essex
Essex offers exceptional value and is an excellent choice for families and developing players. Boston moves into a significantly higher category of performance, refinement, and musical sophistication.
Our Thoughts: Essex is a fantastic entry point. Boston is for buyers seeking a more serious musical instrument with greater long-term performance potential.
Boston vs Yamaha & Kawai
Many buyers considering Boston are also comparing premium models from Yamaha and Kawai—both highly respected for quality, consistency, and reliability.
Boston offers something unique in this category.
Designed by Steinway & Sons and built with world-class Japanese precision, Boston combines exceptional craftsmanship with a warmer, richer, and more expressive musical character.
Compared to many competing instruments, Boston often delivers greater tonal depth, stronger projection, and a broader dynamic range. Recent advancements—including the addition of genuine Steinway hammers—have brought Boston closer to Steinway performance than ever before.
Our Thoughts: Yamaha and Kawai build excellent pianos, but Boston stands apart by offering the precision of Japanese manufacturing with the musical philosophy of Steinway & Sons—delivering one of the closest experiences to Steinway performance without Steinway pricing.
Available Boston Grand Models
Boston GP178 5’10” grand piano
Boston’s most popular model, delivering impressive power, rich tonal colour, and exceptional dynamic range.
Our thoughts: This model defines what Bostons are all about. Its wider tail design and longer string length create a more substantial musical experience that continues to impress even advanced players, and performs like most pianos in the 6’-6’3” size.
Boston GP193– 6'4" grand piano
A concert-level grand piano with increased projection, tonal complexity, and deeper bass response.
Our thoughts: For serious pianists and teachers, the GP193 offers remarkable refinement and power. It begins to enter a category of performance that feels strikingly close to a 7’ and to much more expensive instruments.
Boston GP163 5'4" grand piano
A versatile grand piano balancing warmth, clarity, and expressive control.
Our thoughts: A wonderful step up for serious students and advancing pianists. The GP163 offers greater tonal depth and projection while remaining highly practical for most homes.
Boston GP215– 7'1" grand piano
A concert-level grand designed for exceptional projection, depth, and commanding musical presence that is capable of immense tonal output.
Our thoughts: Looking for the best performance in a grand piano without getting into Steinway price category? This is it. It is so well balanced, whisper quiet passages when needed to thunderous sound when playing Sforzando (sfz) / Fortissimo (ff).
Boston GP156– 5'1" grand piano
A compact grand piano offering large tone for a ‘baby’ sized grand.
Our thoughts: Ideal for homes where space is limited but musical expectations remain high. The GP156 delivers a level of touch and tonal sophistication rarely found in this size.
Available Boston Upright Models
Boston UP-118e 46.5” Upright Piano
A truly refined upright piano offering excellent touch and tone in a cabinet with an upper cabinet that swings open to allow more tone to escape.
Our thoughts: A super precise action and ample tone in a compact, fully Japanese built piano - fully prepped by Steinway technicians. We love how full-bodied this piano sounds.
Boston UP-132e 52” Upright Piano
Boston’s flagship upright, offering the closest upright experience to a Steinway piano.
Our thoughts: One of our favourite upright pianos. With longer strings, a larger soundboard, and exceptional range, the UP132 delivers serious musical performance for players who want grand-like results without the footprint. Think huge bass and limitless dynamics.
Boston UP-120S 48” upright- Newly improved!
A versatile upright performance upright that recently had adjustments made to the scale resulting in better transitions through the keyboard and delivering impressive performance with an intuitive touch.
Our Thoughts: One of the strongest upright values in the Boston lineup. Excellent for students and families wanting a piano that can support many years of growth.
FAQs on Boston pianos
Are Boston pianos made by Steinway?
Boston pianos are designed by Steinway & Sons and incorporate many of Steinway’s patented design principles, including the low-tension scale, wide-tail design, premium hardwood construction, and now, genuine Steinway hammers.
Built in Japan to Steinway’s standards, Boston combines Japanese precision with Steinway’s musical philosophy.
The result is a piano that feels distinctly closer to Steinway in sound and touch than any other piano.
How does Boston compare to Yamaha and Kawai?
Yamaha and Kawai both build good pianos known for quality, consistency, and reliability.
Boston stands apart by combining world-class Japanese manufacturing with Steinway design philosophy. Features such as the wide-tail design and genuine Steinway hammers help deliver a warmer, richer, and more expressive musical experience.
Why choose Boston over other premium pianos?
For many buyers, Boston delivers the ideal balance between premium, handbuilt performance and long-term investment—offering one of the closest experiences to Steinway without Steinway pricing.
How long will a Boston piano last, and does it retain value?
Boston pianos are built as long-term performance instruments using premium materials and exceptional craftsmanship. Their strong reputation, Steinway design heritage, and musical performance also help support excellent long-term value retention.
Boston owners also benefit from the Steinway Promise, which allows eligible buyers to apply 100% of their original Boston purchase price toward a new Steinway grand piano within 10 years—offering exceptional long-term flexibility and peace of mind.
Introduction to
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