| Over the years I've discovered that there can often | | | | excellent investment, always going up in value. |
| be quite a bit of confusion on the part of prospective | | | | Models and some pricing of new Steinways |
| piano owners regarding the price at which to purchase | | | | Model S is 5'1". |
| a Steinway Vintage Piano. I have also found that many | | | | Model M, 5' 7" comes in Mahogany, Walnut, Ebony and |
| owners are unclear regarding how much cash they | | | | Satin Finish and the price range for new runs from |
| should ask as for when selling their heirloom. Before I | | | | about 53K to 56 K. |
| proceed, I would first like to conjecture as to the | | | | Model O, 5'11" come in mahogany, Walnut, Ebony and |
| meaning of the term, "vintage" piano. | | | | Satin, and cost from 53K to 66K. |
| What does the term Vintage imply? | | | | Model A, 6'2", Mahogany, Walnut, Ebony, 60K to 75K. |
| For me, the term vintage implies that the piano is not a | | | | Model B, 6'11", Mahogany, Ebony, Walnut, Satin, 67K to |
| new piano but that it is a piano (as a special grape | | | | 84K and |
| would be off the grapevine) that has been attended to | | | | Model D, 9', Mahogany, Ebony, Walnut Satin, 99K to |
| and cared for over the years and due to its age and | | | | 120K. |
| history, has perhaps some additional value beyond that | | | | The Pitfalls of Shopping for a Steinway |
| which can be shown or represented, through the | | | | Given all the encouraging statistics and benchmarks |
| standard retail pricing scales. Pianos as a consumer | | | | for purchasing a Steinway Piano, the average |
| item lend themselves to this kind of colorful "vintage" | | | | consumer may think "what is there not to like or I can't |
| characterization more that most other consumer items | | | | go wrong purchasing a Steinway. That may be the |
| that I can think of except for furniture antiques and | | | | case if you are purchasing from an reputable and |
| cars. | | | | ethical dealer, however I have seen many people get |
| Steinway Facts | | | | burned in purchasing used Steinways fromfrom other |
| The following facts, examples and rules of thumb are | | | | private individuals and especially on EBAY. |
| intended to give you a feel for the approximate values | | | | The key to not getting burned is to work with an |
| of varying vintage Steinway piano models. | | | | experienced piano tuner, (Piano Technician) in order to |
| 1. Steinways are the benchmark of value and the | | | | determine the degree and extent of restoration |
| ultimate name and manufacturer of consequence for | | | | needed to bring it back into new condition. In this |
| all the pianos ever manufactured, past and present. | | | | manner, you can calculate how much the piano is really |
| 2. The theory is that a completely re manufactured | | | | worth by allowing for the money you will have to put |
| standard model of Steinway Grand should be worth or | | | | out. If the seller is reasonable, he/she will work with you |
| cost about 80% of what a comparable or identical | | | | in this process. If the seller is not reasonable, then it is |
| new model, cabinet finish, wood type, etc would cost. | | | | probably for the best that you continue look for your |
| 3. The theory is that Steinways are always an | | | | future used Steinway elsewhere. |