| The first step in buying a used piano is determining | | | | the pin block cannot be replaced unless the piano is |
| your budget. Here is a detailed explanation what you | | | | rebuilt. The repair bill is $6,000.00 to replace the pin |
| can expect at the different price points. | | | | block, replace the strings, the dampers, and tune the |
| 1. Under $500.00: You will have to do your own | | | | piano up to pitch and get the action to work properly. |
| research. You will need some luck to find anything | | | | John has just wasted $800.00 on a piano that is |
| usable. Do yourself a huge favor and have the piano | | | | unusable unless he spends an extra $6,000.00. John will |
| checked by a qualified piano technician before you pay | | | | likely be spending another $300.00 to have the piano |
| for it, or have it moved to your house. If you do not | | | | removed. |
| you may find yourself in the unenviable situation of | | | | 9. $7,500- $10,000.00: You are in a good place with lots |
| having to pay to have the piano junked. | | | | of possibilities. In this price range you should be able to |
| 2. Under $1,000.00: Same as above, but taking twice | | | | purchase a small Korean or Japanese piano from a |
| the financial risk. | | | | dealer. Common brands in this price and size range |
| 3. Under $1,500.00: For this price you can, with luck, find | | | | are Yamaha, Young Chang, Kawai, Boston, and |
| a reconditioned spinet or console from a dealer. The | | | | Sammick. You can go as old as 1975 for a Yamaha |
| dealer is likely to have taken the piano in on trade. A | | | | grand in this price range, and for the other brands you |
| piano like this will be reconditioned. This means the | | | | should go no older than 1985. |
| piano has been cleaned inside and out, and the action | | | | 10. $10,000.00 -$15,000.00: In this price range you should |
| has been given a once over to make sure the piano | | | | expect to find very good quality Yamaha and Kawai |
| will play reliably. The case will be polished. Some kind | | | | grand pianos up to 6 ft. 5 in. Good models are |
| of warranty will be given. At this price point you should | | | | Yamaha G2, G3, C1, C2, C3, C5, and Kawai KG2, |
| expect that the piano plays properly and holds a tuning. | | | | KG3, KG5, RX2, RX3. |
| However, it would be unrealistic to expect a great | | | | Also in this category you will find rebuilt and refinished |
| sounding, musically inspiring piano. The piano will almost | | | | grand pianos from reputable piano rebuilders. These |
| certainly be at least forty years old | | | | pianos will also have rebuilt actions. Typical brands are |
| 4. Under $2,000.00: Same as above, but with a more | | | | Chickering, Knabe, Baldwin, Broadwood, Sohmer, and |
| attractive cabinet. At this price point you would expect | | | | many lesser known, but equally good brands. At this |
| the piano to be at least thirty years old. | | | | price range you should expect five-year warranties to |
| 5. Under $3,000.00: Now you are getting to the point | | | | be included in the price of the piano. |
| where you can expect to get a decent musical | | | | 11. $15,000.00 -$20,000.00: You are now in reconditioned |
| instrument. At this price point you should be able to find | | | | Steinway and Mason and Hamlin country. This is "no |
| a console or studio upright that has a good musical | | | | country for old men". You will be paying a lot of money |
| sound, and a solid touch to the action. The best | | | | for a piano THAT WILL EVENTUALLY NEED TO BE |
| examples of pianos in this price range are Yamaha, | | | | RESTORED. The price of restoration for a Steinway |
| Kawai, Young Chang, Sammick, and Sohmer. Yamaha | | | | M (5 ft. 7 in.) is $20,000.00. The price of restoration for |
| would be the best in this category. You should be | | | | a Steinway D (concert grand) is $30,000.00. In my |
| looking at pianos no older than the mid-1970s for | | | | opinion, which is supported by thirty years of |
| Yamaha, and no older than the mid-1980s for the | | | | experience, it is more economical and satisfying to |
| others. | | | | take the next step and get a fully refinished, rebuilt or |
| 6. $3,500.00- $4,500.00: This is a realistic price range at | | | | restored piano. |
| which you can find a piano that an advanced student | | | | 12. $20,000.00 and up. Here are realistic prices for the |
| can use to grow his pianistic abilities. The best pianos | | | | different models of rebuilt and refinished or restored |
| to get in this price range are Yamaha and Kawai 48 in. | | | | Steinway and Mason and Hamlin pianos: |
| to 52 in. upright pianos. These are the instruments that | | | | Steinway S typically rebuilt and refinished with new |
| you find in the practice rooms of universities and music | | | | action $23,000-$25,000 |
| schools. At the low end of the price range you find | | | | Mason T typically rebuilt and refinished with new action |
| older pianos. I can't recommend any piano older than | | | | $19,000.00 -$23,000 |
| 1975. There is also a nice subcategory in this price | | | | Steinway M rebuilt and refinished with new action |
| range. Charles Walter and Sons make a very high | | | | $25,000- $30,000 |
| quality console. This is the best made American upright | | | | Mason A with new restored with new sound board |
| other than Steinway. The case of these pianos is | | | | and new action $25,000.00-$30,000.00 |
| beautifully made. The voice of the piano can be made | | | | Steinway O restored $32,000.00-$38,000.00 |
| satisfactory by an expert technician. | | | | Steinway A restored $35,000.00-$50,000.00 |
| 7. $4,500.00- $5,500.00: The same as above, but the | | | | Mason AA restored $35,000.00 |
| pianos should be from the 90's. There are models of | | | | Steinway B restored $45,000.00- $70,000.00 |
| Yamaha that have posts in the back in the shape of | | | | Mason BB restored $45,000.00- $50,000.00 |
| an X instead of vertical parallel posts. These pianos | | | | Steinway C restored $55,000-$85,000.00 |
| have a superior design. I have included them in this | | | | Steinway D restored $65,000.00-$150,000.00 |
| category because they have a potential for a warmer, | | | | Mason CC $55,000.00- $65,000.00 |
| richer sound. In my opinion this is as much as anyone | | | | Rule #2: Unless you are buying a piano from a well |
| would need to spend for a used upright piano. | | | | know piano restoration house that is giving you a |
| 8. Rule #1: If your budget is lower than $7,500.00 do not | | | | five-year warranty you need a piano professional to |
| even look at grand pianos. Unless you are very lucky | | | | look at the piano for you. |
| you are likely to wind up with a piano that would | | | | Rule #3: A GOOD UPRIGHT IS A MUCH BETTER |
| require unrealistically expensive repairs. Here is a | | | | PIANO THAN A CRUMMY GRAND PIANO... AND |
| common example. John Doe purchases a Knabe | | | | MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE. |
| grand piano for $500.00. He is all excited because his | | | | Do not develop "analysis paralysis" or you will be |
| child will begin lessons and needs a piano on which to | | | | looking for the perfect piano forever. Stick to your |
| practice. He spends a further $300.00 to get the piano | | | | budget, buy from a reputable dealer who gives a |
| moved to his house. Even though John does not know | | | | warranty, and have a piano professional validate your |
| much about pianos he knows that it is out of tune. He | | | | choice. I have been doing this for thirty years. How |
| calls a tuner and finds out that the piano will not hold a | | | | hard can it be? |
| tune because the pin block is too loose. He finds that | | | | Good luck finding a piano! |