With the disappearance of many piano manufacturers during the first half of the 20th century, due to the two world wars and its financially disastrous interbellum, the urge for research along with continuous innovation in piano manufacturing faded away.
Piano manufacturers were particularly focused on cross-strung pianos and mass production. As a result, many of the innovations that were introduced on cross-strung instruments (a cast-iron frame, modern action, etc.) were never applied in straight-strung instruments.
Subsequently there haven’t been any fundamental changes nor important developments in grand piano manufacturing for more than a century. As a matter of fact all contemporary pianos are variations on the same cross-strung concept.
The Chris Maene Grand Piano is the first to bring back the straight-strung concept to the 21st century. It combines clear sound, transparent bass and richly colored registers, so typical for straight-strung instruments, with the action, stability and power of contemporary piano-playing.