How Can You Tell How Old A Piano Is
Pianos also have other numbers printed on them such as part numbers and many other pianos do not have a serial number at all. Many pianos will have a 4, 5 or 6 digit serial number to identify the age of the piano. Using this number, along with the manufacturer, the age of the piano can sometimes be determined.
Daddy How Does It Play By Itself
Restoration is not cheap, but it is necessary to make any instrument worth top dollar. If your instrument was an antique automobile sitting on blocks, full of rust and ruining due to neglect, you wouldnt expect it to fetch a very high price.
If you invested in having the automobile restored to make it a show car, you could then expect it to sell for a tidy sum likely at a nice profit after your investment. Pianos and organs are the same way. Restored instruments sell for high dollars original, unrestored instruments simply do not.
Over the past two decades, we have seen the value of antique pianos and organs nearly double across the board. Much of the credit goes to education folks are now able to go to the internet and learn about what they have, often encouraged to invest and preserve their instruments. The best way to get a general sense of what instruments are worth is by comparing them against what similar instruments are selling for in the real market. It may be helpful if you go to our online showroom. Here you can see what different types and styles of instruments have been selling for over the past few years.
Will it cost more to restore my instrument than it will be worth?
Baldwin Howard Piano Weight
The Baldwin Howard Piano is one of the most popular pianos on the market. It is known for its high quality and its unique sound. The Baldwin Howard Piano is also known for its weight. It is one of the heaviest pianos on the market, and it can be a challenge to move it around.
With the Baldwin Piano, artists from around the world have a chance to perform in front of a world-class audience. A Baldwin piano weighs around 1,300 pounds on average, but grand pianos typically weigh 500 to 1,500 pounds. In terms of size, the Baby Grand is the smallest, while the Grand is the largest. The Model M has a height of 52 and a weight of 564 pounds, the Model R has a height of 58 and a weight of 625 pounds, the Model L has a height of 63 and a weight of 680 pounds, and the Model R has a The size of the instrument and the year it was constructed are two of the factors that differ.
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Steinway As The Sum Of Its Parts
Youre telling me that if one felt covering is a different brand, the entire piano is not a Steinway? An inch of felt is all it takes to undo the magic of your craftsmanship?
Thats really selling your brand short. Steinway used to be considered greater than the sum of its parts.
Screenshot from Official Steinway Site. : http://www.usedsteinwaypiano.com/
How To Find The Value Of Your Old Piano

Is a piano worth anything? A piano or organ can be valued at anywhere from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. It is critical that sellers make certain that they understand the true significance of a restored instrument and one that has been unrestored. How can I get a sense of the worth of a piano? Using several sources, such as the classified sites Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, is best for determining the FMV, which youll almost certainly end up listing your piano on. You can find out what the fair market value is of your piano by visiting Alamo Music.
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How Much Can You Sell A Piano For
If you are thinking about selling youracoustic piano, you can of course try advertising to sell your piano privately online.
You may have already considered uploading adverts onto online classifieds like Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and Preloved, or you may know of some dealers orpiano storesthat you wish to contact first for some advice.
But first, consider whether your piano is suitable for resale. You can do this by looking at its brand, condition and appearance before advertising to sell online.
Brand
Well-known brands with good reputations will generally generate more interest and be valued higher than brands that lack name and/or quality recognition.
Some of the most saleable current market brands includeKawai, Steinway & Sons, Bechstein, BösendorferandYamaha. Do get in touch with us if you’d like to find out more about which piano brands are popular, and more importantly, saleable.
Condition
A pianos age alone tells us very little about its actual condition how much it has been played or how well it has been maintained. A potential buyer will be interested in the pianos use and maintenance history, so make this available.
Older pianos that are likely to attract most interest include:
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Used pianos that have been completely renovated using only genuine and authentic materials and parts.
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Instruments that, due to low use and favourable environmental conditions are still in exceptional condition.
Appearance
How Old Is My Kimball
The age of your Kimball piano can be determined by locating the serial number. The serial number can be located in a variety of places, such as the back edge of the keybed. Finding your pianos serial number may require the use of a flashlight as you search around on the instrument.
Once you have located the number, you can look it up on Bluebook of Pianos. While it is not possible to determine the pianos age down to the month, Bluebook of Pianos can help you narrow it down to the year it was manufactured.
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What Is The Purpose Of A Piano Appraisal Or Estimate
At times you may need an appraisal, or an estimate, to prove the valueof your piano under certain conditions. A piano appraisal can preventyou from selling your piano for too little or paying too much for a newpiano. It can also prevent you from investing money into a piano that may need repair, rebuilding, or restoration that exceeds the value of the piano itself, at present.
A piano appraisal is used for purposes such as:
BUYING
Who Should Use This Service?
Anyone who needs a quick, reliable, and an inexpensive guide to a piano valuation:
– Sellers: You are thinking of selling your piano. Youneed an idea of the piano’s present value in order to determine a realistic, real-world, fair market value selling price.
– Buyers: You are searching for a used piano. You need to know if a piano is priced reasonably, without a warranty, in “as-is” condition.
– Owners: You are curious to know the fair market value ofyour piano. But you don’t want a comprehensive appraisal performed by apiano technician just yet. You are also looking for the current year’s insurance replacement value to report to your insurance company to fully insure your piano against any damages, or a declared total loss.
EXAMPLE: You may have requested your car’s online “Blue Book” value before, whereas you may have had to visit an auto mechanic to get your car’s real status inspected… the oilchanged… a mechanical tune-up… or to get your tires and brakes inspected and changed out.
ACOUSTIC & PLAYER PIANOS:
What Can I Do With My Old Piano
Heres how you can properly get rid of your old piano:Determine is your broken piano is beyond repair if it can be fixed, it may have more value being donated.Check to see if your local trash or junk removal service, charities, and recycling facility accepts pianos or offers piano disposal service.More items
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Youve Tried A Few Steinway Grand Pianos
Maybe visited the Steinway Piano Gallery, or snuck on stage after a concert of a well-known pianist at your local university. You have tasted the rich, exquisite, iconic, Steinway sound, sweeter and finer than your favorite glass of Cabernet. You know the data, youve tasted the goods, you just want what every thoughtful, fair-minded, diligent person wants.
Steinway Artists are not paid to play a Steinway, nor do they receive a Free Steinway for personal use. Steinway Artists choose to perform on Steinway pianos.
How To Sell A Piano: The Complete Guide
There may be many reasons why you want tosell your pianoand not simply give it away. Perhaps its time to upgrade or downsize, or maybe you have inherited a piano but are not making good use of it.
It can be difficult to find an interested buyer for your piano given the complexity of the instrument and perhaps you lack of confidence as the seller that you are getting a fair price, while from the buyers perspective they may lack confidence that they are getting a quality piano.
Despite the difficulties, there are many people searching forgrand, baby grand orupright pianoson the second-hand market.Pianosare built to out-live us and whilst they may need restoring after 40 years or so, in the main, they need never be retired. The used piano market is therefore a popular one.
So, to answer the question How to sell a piano?, there are two main options:
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Sell your piano privately
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Sell to a dealer – who will service, regulate, and carry out any repair works both internally and externally before warrantying and selling through their showrooms.
A piano will become easier to sell if you follow a few tips from this article.
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Kimball Pianos: A Brief History
Finally, I thought it would be fun to dive a little bit into the history of Kimball pianos, in order for you to have better context into why these pianos, in some cases, are able to hold onto a decent amount of their value given their age.
In 1857, William Wallace Kimball founded W.W. Kimball and Company, which was a piano and organ dealer. Kimball sold several brands of pianos, and started making reed organs in 1877. As the piano grew in popularity as the instrument of choice for domestic music-making at the end of the nineteenth century, Kimball and Company began making their own pianos, opening a five-story warehouse to accomplish the goal in 1887.
While Kimballs initial forays into making pianos were of low quality, the company was smart enough to seek expert advice from people who worked at companies like Steinway & Sons to give suggestions for quality improvement. Kimball pianos were quite popular in the Midwest, utilizing door-to-door salesmen to sell their instruments. At one time the best-selling piano company in the country, Kimball fell into decline due to poor business decisions.
A new piano factory, built in the 1950s in Melrose Park, Illinois, faced issues of high costs and poor performance.
Related Questions And Buyer Tips

Is a baby grand piano worth it? Baby grand pianos are a cost-effective option compared to larger grand pianos. However, baby grand pianos are not considered a significant upgrade over upright pianos. These pianos, however, provide the kind of hammer action needed for advanced piano playing.
Should you buy a 25-year-old piano? It is not recommended to purchase pianos older than 25 years old without a proper inspection. Pianos older than 25 years tend to have more wear and tear and repair history. A new piano will always perform better than an older one. Pianos 25 years or newer are considered to be in their best playing condition.
How to inspect a used piano? Used pianos should be inspected for broken or missing parts, rusting, and genuine parts. A piano technician is skilled enough to verify the instrument is in playing condition. Technicians can also alert buyers of any potential problems the instrument may have in the future.
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Average Antique Piano Prices
$2,000 to $6,500 $22,000 to $28,000
Keep in mind that this instrument was invented in the early 18th century. In other words, the earliest antique piano you could find was about three centuries old.
Unfortunately, age alone wont make this instrument highly valuable. Besides rare, historically important pianos built during WWII, the most pricey ones were those made in the 1920s and earlier.
The most appreciated antique pianos available on the current market were manufactured in the 19th century. Since they come in numerous styles and types, you can quickly pick out the one you like the best.
We Sell Young Original Condition Steinway Pianos
We realized that we cant put customers in such a position, so our primary business is no longer rebuilt Steinways. We only sell recently new off the lot Steinway pianos with all original Steinway parts. We provide the authentication certificate, so that our customers know that if need be, they will be able to resell their piano in the future, thereby protecting their investment.
Screenshot from Official Steinway Site. : http://www.usedsteinwaypiano.com/
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A Pianos Quality Is Not Easily Defined By One Particular Aspect Of A Piano But Rather Several Aspects Combined Individual Pianos Are Commonly Judged On Their Quality Of Tone Touch And Visual Appeal However These Alone Are Variations Between Specific Models Rather Than Brands
Reputation & History
The Reputation & History of a specific Brand is an integral part of a pianos quality rating. Over time a manufacturer will be held to account by the opinions of professional musicians and experienced Piano Technicians. The History of a piano is a testament to its longevity and how a piano performs over time.
Design & Details
Design & Details are the difference between beautiful and bland. Approximately 75% of an average Upright Piano is designed identically, so the variations in quality are made up in the design and detail of the last 25%. High quality Manufacturers ensure every detail is considered and produced to be pleasing to the eyes, ears and to touch. Lesser Quality Pianos tend to be vague on detail and more mass produced.
Numbers & Stats
The amount of pianos made or sold by an individual company may be more relatable to its price point rather than its popularity or quality. With that in mind, the Piano Brand Quality Calculator does take into consideration the average retail price of the manufactures range of pianos. Generally speaking, better quality brands sell at higher price whereas the cheapest pianos are those of lower quality.
Materials & Construction
Is Baldwin A Good Piano
Baldwin Pianos have a long and illustrious history in American music. In the golden period, Baldwin pianos were among the finest-sounding and best-playing instruments in the world, and they are still rated among the best today. Vintage, well-built Baldwins are renowned for their sensitive touch, rich tone, and long-lasting sturdiness, and can be found in concert halls and recording studios all over the world.
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Piano Tuners Estimating Your Pianos’ Value
When placing pianos for sale, another option to determine the value would be to have a piano tuner estimate your piano, but make sure the tuner is a member of thePiano Tuners Association.
Members of the PTA are experienced piano experts, having passed a high-level tuning test and completed general piano repairs. However, a piano tuner will usually charge you for a valuation to sell your piano: the cost can range from £100 to £250, depending on the piano tuners expertise and the area in which you live.
How Much Is My Kimball Piano Worth
Lets begin by outlining the rough estimate of what a Kimball piano is worth, and then after that, we can work backwards a bit by helping you understand the basis behind the pianos estimated value.
So in todays market, some Kimball baby grand pianos are selling for anywhere between $500 and $3,000. Kimball upright pianos typically sell for between $500 and $1,500 on average. Keep in mind, too, that if a piano has been kept in immaculate condition, or perhaps if the instrument has undergone a piano restoration, the value of the piano can increase significantly.
But, of course, these pries are just an average. For example, a retailer like Vincitore is selling a working upright Kimball piano from 1981 for just under $1,000.
Then again, there are cases where a piano might be in such a great condition, it can sell for more than youd immediately expect. Take A440 Pianos, for instance, who is selling an upright Kimball piano from 1946 for $3,495.00.
And then theres Jim Laabs Music, who is selling a Kimball grand piano for just under $4,000.
And a fourth example is Graves Piano Co., who is selling a beautiful Kimball Petite Grand piano in gorgeous satin oak finish for $4,700.
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How Does This Make You Feel
What happens to you, the customer, as you make your way down their website? Its only natural for you to develop fears about buying a pre-owned Steinway. After all, this is the work of a very successful and highly-paid marketing team. Please dont feel like a sucker at being swayed by them. They not only changed your mind, they changed an entire marketplace.
Average Prices Of Popular Piano Brands

Buying a new piano in todays competitive market can be stressful. There is a lot of information to consider before making the purchase. Here is a helpful pricing guide below of the 11 most popular piano brands. This piano price chart shows the average cost for uprights, baby grands, and concert grands from each company.
Brand |
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$215,216 |
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