What is a Square Grand Piano?
The square style of grand piano is a relic of a bygone age. One still finds them here and there, and in fact, I service several on a regular basis. These pianos have been out of production and essentially obsolete since about the turn of the century--that would be 1900. Many fine piano manufacturers produced a square piano including Steinway. In appearance, the square piano is really rectangular, with the keyboard slightly to the left of center on the front long side. The four massive legs distinguish this type of piano from any other. Cabinets were often veneered in rosewood and very ornate. The long bass strings of this type of piano run parallel to the front of the cabinet, not front-to-back as in traditional grands. These pianos are obsolete for some very good reasons. The generally flat (vs. crowned) soundboard, combined often with fewer strings per note made for a rather weak tone. With a simpler action mechanism, the piano key must be returned to its "top" rest position before it will repeat (modern grands will repeat at the slightest flutter of the key) usually leading to a stiffer overall feel. On the other hand, a square piano is a beautiful piece of history and can be cherished for that reason alone. I do caution people that these antiques should be appreciated for their historical significance, and if one is looking for a durable piano that meets modern standards they should set their sights on a good vertical, or traditional grand piano. The Chickering piano pictured here is for sale and can be seen in greater detail on my "Pianos for Sale" page.
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