Introduction: Advice from a Seasoned Professional
Hello. This guide offers tips on how to buy a piano. I am a piano technician with 50 years of experience tuning, repairing, rebuilding, buying & selling, and playing pianos. While I don't claim to know every single thing, I possess as much or more knowledge than most experts in this business. This buying guide has been assembled based on my practical knowledge and experience and will be very useful whether you buy a new or used instrument.
I wrote this guide in 2011. The information about basic piano construction and core brands will always be the same. However, information about the current American and Asian piano market, specific prices, and the condition of used pianos will likely change over time. Age is not a piano's friend — they deteriorate with aging, even though basic construction remains consistent.
I am determined and able to give you some of the best piano-buying advice and tips to help you make the best possible choice. My thoughts combine technical evaluation, quality analysis, and my own playing experiences.
Disclaimer: Without actually seeing and inspecting the instrument you are looking at, I cannot offer any guarantee that the piano you buy will be a good one. I accept no responsibility if your purchase turns out to be a lemon. You are responsible for your final decision, so take great care in choosing a new or used piano.
The Critical Need for a Technician
Since I am a professional piano tuner, I strongly suggest hiring a competent technician to evaluate the instrument in question. This is truly the only way to know for sure that what you buy is in good playing condition, does not have any unseen problems, and will hold a tune. This recommendation applies to both new and used pianos.
You might think you don't need an expert for a new piano, or that the salesman is your friend — wrong. While I am not saying all salespeople are misleading, a lot of the time in a sales presentation, you may get either wrong information or no information. You must do your homework.
What is a "Bad" New Piano?
- Practically all pianos made in China: A few are somewhat acceptable at first, but none of them will hold up over the long run. Churches and schools especially beware — Chinese pianos will likely fall apart within 10 years. Your best bet is to just stay away from these pianos. Be aware that a piano with an American or European name does not always mean it was made there; check the origin yourself, as some salespeople may withhold this negative information or flat-out lie.
- Cheaper inferior-made pianos: All countries have made a few really bad pianos over the years. It is impossible for you to discern the difference in quality without technical training. A very basic rule is that the more expensive a new piano is, the better it will be.
- Pianos that can't do what the salesperson says: I have heard salespeople make up outrageous claims. For example, one customer was told a grand piano had an adjustable sostenuto pedal when the piano didn't even have one. Do not allow yourself to suffer because of a salesperson's ignorance or greed.
General advice: Use your head. Do your homework. Buying a piano should be an enjoyable experience, and I will try my best to keep you from being confused.
Guide Topics
- Buying a Starter Piano
- Used Piano Age, Value and Tuning
- Regulation
- Buying a New Piano
- Tuning a New Piano
- Rebuilt Pianos
- Best Used Pianos To Buy
A starter piano is often referred to as a practice piano, and the main word here is cheap. Unfortunately, most cheap new pianos are junk. And after they are bought, they become used junk. A very basic rule is that the higher-priced new models are better. If you pay the lowest price, you likely get the worst one — which is probably a Chinese-made instrument.
The age of a used piano can be determined using the name and serial number. Check out our How Old Is My Piano page.
- Valuation: If you hire a tech to evaluate the piano, ask them for a ballpark idea of the value. Note that the value is not necessarily the same as the final selling price; used-piano prices on the open market have dropped quite a lot in recent years.
- Tuning and Concert Pitch (A-440): Make sure the piano will hold a tuning, preferably up to Concert Pitch (A-440). If it is significantly below pitch (half step or more), having it raised to A-440 will likely cost two or three times the usual tuning fee.
- Tuning Neglect: 80% or more of all pianos are grossly neglected. A piano must be tuned at least once a year to stay up to concert pitch and stay in tune as long as possible. A piano does not stay in tune more than a few months at the most. This neglect can take a toll on the instrument. Please get your piano, new or used, tuned at least once a year.
Regulation is adjusting the action (the working part of the piano inside that includes the hammers) to play and perform as well as possible. This is an even more neglected area than tuning.
- Cost: Tuning may average between $100 and $300. Regulation could cost $800 to $3,000 depending on whether it is a grand or vertical, and how badly off it is. Upright regulation is less involved.
- Effectiveness: A proper full regulation is only truly effective if the instrument is in good condition (newer instruments with less wear). Partial regulating is possible on older and newer pianos and costs much less (maybe $100 to $500).
New pianos are bought at current retail prices from a music store (unless buying directly from a manufacturer).
- Recommended high quality: I only recommend Yamaha, Kawai, Steinway, Charles R. Walter, and Petrof. Yamaha and Kawai are Japanese (and Japanese pianos have always been superior to other Asian-made ones). Petrof is in the Czech Republic.
- Avoid Chinese pianos: None of the Chinese pianos, please. They are building inferior-quality instruments. A new Chinese grand may cost $6,000 to $10,000 (2011 prices). These pianos will not hold up. Institutions should especially avoid them.
- Suggestion for an affordable new grand: If $7,000 to $10,000 is your limit for a grand, your only reliable option is buying a used one or considering the one Chinese-made instrument I will suggest: Pearl River (verticals around $3,000). Otherwise, use that money to buy a nice used grand or vertical.
- The future of quality: New Steinway baby grands (5' 1") sold for around $50,000 in 2011, and prices increase annually. Making a really good piano is not a cheap process, and you must pay a high price for high quality.
A new piano needs more tuning in the first two or three years because the new strings will stretch and the piano must stabilize to its surroundings (heat, cold, and moisture affect all pianos).
- Frequency: Have a new piano tuned 2 or 3 times a year for the first 2 or 3 years. After that, once a year may suffice.
- Cost: An annual tune-up costs between $100 and $120 (2011 rates), averaging about $8 to $10 a month. If you can't afford that, can you afford the piano?
- Forget the myth: Do not listen to the comment that a piano should only be tuned if it is moved. Tune it once a year no matter what.
For piano tuning in Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Arlington, and Lakeland, Tennessee, call (901) 827-3609. Mississippi and Arkansas customers are also welcome.
Rebuilding an old piano is a good idea only if the instrument was of good quality in the first place (e.g., Steinway, old Baldwin, Yamaha, or Kawai).
- Cost & value: Rebuilding a grand nowadays can cost $20,000 or more. Because of this cost, you rarely see rebuilt uprights, even though many old uprights from a hundred years ago are wonderful and worth rebuilding.
- Inspection: Not all technicians are quality rebuilders. Pay a tuner to look at a rebuilt piano, as it is a significant investment.
Any individual piano on this list could still be a lemon due to aging, abuse, or neglect — buyer beware.
- Baldwin Acrosonic Spinet: Best years are 1940s and 1950s. The early Acrosonics were very good and respected. Later models (late '70s, '80s, '90s) were not as good.
- Yamaha Spinet: All were good pianos, but sometimes the bass strings have gone dead. Restringing the bass section is worth it; overall, this may be ranked as the best spinet.
- All Yamaha consoles, studios, and grands: All are worth looking at. Though quality varies in cheaper models, overall they are good pianos.
- All Kawai consoles, studios, and grands: Rated about the same as Yamaha; all are worth looking at.
- Everett Spinet: Built in Southhaven, Michigan. The best ones are from the 1940s and 1950s.
- Older Baldwin grands: Pre-1960s grands were very good. Quality dropped in the '80s and '90s. The original Baldwin company went bankrupt in 2001 and was bought by the Gibson Guitar Co. Note that almost all new Baldwins are now made in China.
- Sohmer consoles and studios: Used to be good and dependable. Older is better; avoid spinets due to pin-block issues.
- Older Young Chang grands: Those made before around 1995 are acceptable, though not as good as Yamaha or Kawai. Be aware that the grand actions and keys may start clicking as they age.
- Steinways: The Cadillac of the piano business. Older verticals can sometimes be bought at lower prices ($700 to $2,000). Grands almost always carry a high price tag. Used, unrestored grands start around $20,000 to $25,000, likely needing another $20,000 for rebuilding. Steinway is just about the last great American piano.
- Miscellaneous: Other good brands include Kemble, Petrof, and Charles R. Walter. Very rarely, you may find an old, big, tall upright (100+ years old) in excellent playing condition — especially in northern U.S. regions where humidity is less harsh. If you find one in excellent shape, buy it.
Conclusion: Your Personal Piano Purchase
Ultimately, your individual judgment about any piano is highly important. If an instrument appeals to you, even if it's not a model I would typically endorse, the essential next step is to engage a professional piano tuner for an inspection. If the instrument is structurally sound, capable of holding a tune, and the asking price is reasonable, you should absolutely consider moving forward with the purchase. It's even possible the technician you hire will give their full approval.
The Reality of Imperfection and Maintenance
At this stage, you should recognize that nearly all pianos, whether previously owned or brand new, will exhibit some minor flaws. However, if the instrument is of respectable quality and you commit to having it tuned and regulated on a consistent schedule, you — or your child — should have a very pleasant playing experience. Remember this fundamental truth: an incredibly expensive $50,000 Steinway sounds just as bad as a low-cost $50 spinet when both are terribly out of tune.
Understanding the Used Market Value
Used vertical piano prices have fluctuated widely over the years, which is why I noted you might find a used instrument for less than anticipated. Recently (as of 2011), I've observed prices starting to firm up slightly. You might find spinets priced around $200–$300 and consoles around $500–$600 in the open market, though dealers typically charge double or more, particularly in my Memphis, TN service area. The used spinet, console, and studio segment has largely favored buyers over the last three to four years, although the duration of this trend is uncertain.
Evaluating Used Grands and Older Pianos
For used grand pianos, newer, high-quality name brands tend to command higher prices from both dealers and private sellers. These are primarily models sold within the last 30 to 35 years, though some 40- to 50-year-old grands remain in excellent shape. Older grand pianos (pre-WWII) are generally in poor condition primarily due to advanced age, requiring costly rebuilding. Few people are inclined to spend $15,000 or more to refurbish an old, lesser-known grand, and the same hesitation applies to the huge, old uprights. As much as one might cherish the memory of a grandparent's large, old piano, sometimes the time comes for it to be decommissioned.
A Final Word of Encouragement
I sincerely hope this information has been beneficial. See? Buying a piano can be an enjoyable process. Feel free to acquire your instrument from a wide range of sources: a friend, a neighbor, classified ads, online platforms like Craigslist, a garage sale, your church, or a dedicated dealer.
Other Brands You May Encounter
Here is a list of other piano names you might come across during your search. This is a mixture of American and foreign-made brands, and many are no longer in production. Quality varies widely across this list — proceed with caution.
Other Brands (Buy with Caution)
- Kimball: I strongly advise against models manufactured after 1959. Certain pre-1959 examples are acceptable, but even the earliest units were only average in quality at best. Furthermore, they are now generally too old to be viable options.
- Samick: Originating from Korea. While not my top recommendation, they are considered satisfactory provided their manufacture remains in Korea.
- Lester
- Kohler & Campbell
- Wurlitzer: Currently held under the ownership of Baldwin (now part of the Gibson Guitar Co. family).
- Chickering: An established brand now belonging to Baldwin.
- Hamilton: Also a brand currently owned by Baldwin.
- Howard: Another name operating under the Baldwin umbrella.
- Weber: Exercise caution regarding the grand models produced by Young Chang from the 1990s onward.
- Krakauer
- Hyundai: Please avoid this make entirely.
- Aeolian: Hyundai was responsible for manufacturing some of their grand and vertical pianos. It is likely prudent to disregard all instruments bearing the Aeolian name.
- Knabe: The older pianos were exceptional instruments. Their quality began to decline significantly around the 1930s after the acquisition by Aeolian.
- Janssen: The consoles were not particularly outstanding but were reasonably reliable. By reliable, I mean the piano can be tuned without significant issues and serves as an adequate practice instrument — nothing remarkable. Older Wurlitzers, typically those over 30 or 40 years old, also fall into this reliable category.
- Boston: Owned by Steinway. New instruments are priced at approximately half the cost of a new Steinway. This is a quality piano.
- Story & Clark
- Cable: I cannot recommend the spinets or the console models.
- Fischer
- Heintzman: Formerly based in Canada; production is now handled in China.
- Henry F. Miller: Ignore the spinets. Newer grand and vertical models are generally not recommended — suitable only perhaps as decorative furniture. They are manufactured in China.
- Pramberger: This brand is owned by Samick in Korea.
Contact for More Information
We invite any questions you may have about a certain piano you might be interested in buying.
- Send your piano-buying question to John at 901-827-3609 — no charge.
- If you want to sell a piano, please call.
Thank you from www.thepianotickler.com