Steinway Logo on Both Sides of Concert Grand Pianos?
October 14th, 2009
I was watching TV the other night, and Saturday Night Live was on with Drew Barrymore as the host and Regina Spektor as the musical guest (Oct. 10, 2009). As I was enjoying Spektor sing and play on the beautiful, high gloss Steinway D with the bass side turned toward the audience, I was shocked to see my favorite gold stenciled decal “Steinway & Sons” on the LEFT case of the piano and choked on my popcorn (almost). The Steinway logo is always on the right side of the case facing the audience! The following day, I asked Kent Webb, the Manager of Technical Service & Support at Steinway & Sons in New York. Below are the reply from Kent and the video of Regina Spektor’s performance on Saturday Night Live.
“We (Steinway & Sons factory in Astoria Queens) are now putting the logo on treble AND bass sides of the new Concert & Artist pianos that are made in high polish polyester. Exactly for the reason that you witnessed — sometimes, especially on TV when the piano is miked, pianists like to play with the bass side of the piano facing the audience. It makes no sense acoustically, but if the piano is miked it can be done. Billy Joel usually prefers to play piano with the bass side facing the audience, it is just his personal preference.”
- Article by Yoori Marti