Iconic American Sound

Transported to the
Golden Age of Pianos

Sit at a Mason & Hamlin, and you’re not just playing a piano—you’re stepping back into the golden age of piano making. With its growling bass, lyrical middle, and clear, bell-like treble, the sound is full, expressive, and unmistakably alive. It’s the kind of tone that Maurice Ravel praised Mason & Hamlin for—the “quality of tone,” describing it as a “small orchestra.” Over a century later, that same voice remains—warm, powerful, and timeless.

Historic Designs

Crafted from the original 1900s Mason & Hamlin scale designs, these pianos are a direct connection to the golden age of American piano-making. Richard W. Gertz, the visionary head piano designer at Mason & Hamlin in the early 20th century, meticulously designed a unique combination of scale designs, rims, and materials—not only for strength and durability but also for their ability to produce a sound that resonates with exceptional warmth and clarity that has defined the Mason & Hamlin sound for over a century.

Oversized Soundboard

Creating the Mason & Hamlin soundboard begins with the finest locally sourced, quarter-sawn Eastern White Spruce—the same wood that was the premier choice during the Golden Age of piano making. Revered for its sweet tone, optimal strength to support the curve of the soundboard, and its sensitivity to the strings, this wood remains unparalleled.

Today, Mason & Hamlin is the only piano maker still using it. We dry and age each soundboard to achieve perfect equilibrium moisture content, carefully shaping it to maximize its resonance. The result is a larger speaking area that produces a sound both sweet and powerful, melodic and thunderous—embodying the timeless Mason & Hamlin voice.