Buy Steinway tips
Grand Pianos:
It’s worth the extra time and effort to seek a Steinway grand piano made prior to World War II, and, if it has not been reconditioned/rebuilt, have this done. A rebuilt classic piano is generally substantially cheaper than a new piano and, if properly rebuilt, may well be a better instrument than many new pianos. Rebuilt pianos of name manufacturers like those above have been increasing in value at as much as 50% per year recently, so they represent a good financial, as well as musical, investment.
Smaller pianos: When purchasing any used Steinway piano, it is well worth your while before making any final purchase to get a technician to look at the piano, especially the guts of the instrument: the pinblock, sound board, strings, felts, pedals, etc. A piano that might look like a dream might need some major work done. If you are looking to play it immediately, then you might need to keep looking for a piano in better shape.
Determining the and Value of a Used Piano: To do both of these, you’ll need the Steinway serial number of the piano. The manufacturer’s name is usually readily visible on the outside of the piano just below the keyboard. If not visible there, it can usually be found decaled on the sound board and, often, on the underside of a grand and on the back side of an upright. The serial number on an upright piano can usually be found engraved on the metal plate inside the piano and/or engraved on the pinblock. On grand pianos, the serial number is normally engraved into the portion of the plate nearest the keyboard, on the pinblock, and/or on the front part of the keyframe, though you will probably have to remove the keyslip to access this last location. Once you’ve found the serial number, you can find out the date of manufacture from references like the Pierce Piano Atlas, The Piano Book, or online at How Old Is My Piano? Piano World.
Many factors (date of manufacture, condition, location, method of sale, availability of qualified buyers, etc.) go into a realistic estimate of a piano’s value in a given local market. Your best bet for determining the likely value of a used piano is to hire a qualified piano technician (i.e., a member of the Piano Technicians Guild) to appraise the piano for you, taking into account your local market. The books indicated above also provide useful information on valuing a piano. Your money will be well-spent in acquiring either or both of these books, if you’re planning to buy a used piano in the near future.
Steinway Piano Models
Size: Uses:
S 5′1″ Home, personal
M 5′7″ Home, personal, ensemble
L 5′10″ Home, personal, ensemble
0 5′10″ Home, personal, ensemble
A 6′2-4″ Home, small concert hall
B 6′10″ Home, small concert hall
C 7′5″ Home, medium concert hall
D 8′10″ Home, large concert hall
