Fazioli claim the model F-308 is the world’s largest production piano measuring 3.1 metres or 10 feet and 2 inches in length. There are twenty of these pianos in existence, weighing in at 1550 pounds or 703 kilos, and are made at the Fazioli factory in Sacile, Italy, 45 miles north of Venice. The Fazioli has an interesting feature in that it has four pedals, the traditional sustain, sostenuto and una corda pedals but then a fourth pedal on the left, which is a half blow pedal, a similar concept to the upright piano’s version of the una-corda pedal. This allows passages to be played at pianissimo without changing the tone and timbre of the instrument, an issue sometimes associated with the traditional una-corda. Some say that the bass register is not as overpowering as the Bösendorfer’s Imperial concert grand which has the largest number of keys out of all production pianos. The famed piano was designed by Ludvig Bösendorfer in order to be able to give authenticity to the organ masterpieces of J.S.Bach. It has 97 keys, nine keys or an augmented fifth more than the traditional 88. In length, the Bösendorfer imperial is 290cm (9 feet 6 inches) and is sometimes known as the Bösendorfer Concert Grand 290 although this length is not worthy of note in terms of this article.

The Rubinstein 12 foot piano, or the Rubenstein R-371, is a bespoke piano but it is in production and is made to order. It is 371cm in length or 12 feet and 2 inches. Like the Bosendorfer it has 97 keys. It’s length makes it the world’s largest piano in manufacture.

Charles H. Challen and sons was an English piano manufacturer established in 1804 in London. By 1959 they had ceased independent manufacture but during that time they laid claim to making the world’s largest grand piano. The instrument was made in 1924 in celebration of the silver jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. It was exhibited at British Industries fair of 1935, where it was played by Billy Mayer (William Joseph Mayerl , 31 May 1902 – 25 March 1959) for HM the Queen. The video above shows Billy playing the behemoth piano, who is fondly remembered for his renditions of his work “Marigold” (see video). The piano weighed in at 1134 kilos (1⅟4 tons) with nearly 30,000 kilos (30 tons) of down bearing on a very sturdy frame (or plate). The cost of production was £600 back in the day, approximately £9300 in today’s money ($11500 at the time of writing). It was 3.556 metres in length (11 feet 8 inches). It is rumoured to now live in France, but this cannot be confirmed.

In an attempt to eradicate wound bass strings from the piano, providing an unheard of uniformity in string gauge as every string is made from MWG (music wire guage) wire. Adrian Mann unveiled the world’s longest single manual piano in Dunedin, New Zealand in 2009. He completed the project at the grand old age of 20 years old.

Stuart and sons, a manufacturer based in Tumut at the base of the Snowy Mountains in NSW Australia, produces a 108 key instrument known as The Beleura Concert Grand making it the only production instrument that has a pitch range of a full nine octaves. It is 3 metres in length and is 1.8 metres wide. It has four pedals much like the Fazioli, and the una corda and half blow pedals can be used simultaneously. It possesses both a music rest and an iPad holder.

The acknowledged largest grand piano measures a staggering 6.07 metres long. It is known as the “Stolëmowi Klawér" and it lives at the Education Centre and Regional Promotion in Szymbark in Poland. It has a width of 2.49metres and 156 keys. It is 1.92 metres in height (yes…height) and weighs in at 1.82 tons and was built to commemorate the birth of Chopin. Whether it can be classified as a truly musical instrument or a folly is a subject for debate but it is recognised by Guinness as the world’s largest piano ever made.

More information on these pianos can be found below.

Alexander piano

https://www.alexanderpiano.nz/page/466305

Stuart and sons 108 keys

https://www.stuartandsons.com/stuartpianos.html

Stolëmowi Klawér

https://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Poland/West/Pomorskie/Szymbark/photo1557474.htm

Rubenstein

http://www.pianosrubenstein.com/r371.html

Bosendorfer imperial

https://www.boesendorfer.com/en/pianos/pianos/Concert-Grand-290-Imperial

Fazioli