by Stephen N. Reed
You’ve decided that you can afford a good, used Steinway. You’ve heard of the “Certified Pre-owned” option, but you wonder if this is primarily a marketing term. But actually, that designation makes a big difference when it comes to a used Steinway.
If each unique, handcrafted Steinway is a little different when it comes out of the Astoria, NY factory, how much more different will they be after they have had several years of playing, exposure to humidity, and the natural effects of aging that any piano has?
Given the range of quality and age in used Steinways, you are well-advised to bring an expert with you to examine a piano you are interested in, much like bringing a mechanic to look into a used car you are considering. Otherwise, your used Steinway purchase could be a lemon.
What could be worse than spending thousands of dollars on a large musical instrument that, in the end, disappoints you? In short, you need to check out your piano and look beneath the hood, so you know what you’re getting.
M. Steinert & Sons has been dealing in new and used Steinways for over 150 years, making us the oldest Authorized Steinway Dealer in the world. The main reason we’ve been around this long is because of thousands of satisfied customers who feel that we helped them find the right piano for them.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of the used Steinway market and the value of a Certified Pre-owned Steinway from an Authorized Steinway Dealer.
What makes a Steinway piano is the design, along with the quality of the material used in its construction and the workers who build it. A used Steinway piano that departs from these essentials can become so different as to no longer have the touch, tone, and musical range of a Steinway.
In short, not all “rebuilt” Steinways are the same and deserve scrutiny as to the parts and labor used.
The Steinway Piano Gallery of Spokane has a helpful list of criteria when looking into the Used Steinway market:
The Steinway Certified Pre-owned piano program addresses all of these tough questions listed above in the affirmative. An Authorized Steinway Dealer has access to genuine Steinway parts and uses only such authentic parts in any needed repairs to a Steinway piano.
A Steinway technician in charge of such repairs has been to the Steinway factory for training within the last five years. In a piano over 20 years old, the action has been completely regulated. Finally, the Certified Pre-owned Steinway has a dynamic range and character similar to a new Steinway.
Essentially, the difference between a Used Steinway and a Certified Pre-owned Steinway is two-fold:
With an investment of thousands of dollars, you want to have peace of mind knowing that your used Steinway is not going to be a problem. While a non-certified used Steinway can be found out in the market, you’re playing roulette. You may luck out and find a well-maintained, used Steinway or just as easily take home a lemon without knowing it until later.
But with a Certified Pre-owned Steinway, you know that it’s a solid, safe, and high-quality purchase, one that an Authorized Steinway Dealer is willing to stake its professional reputation on publicly.
We invite you to read the following articles for more information about used Steinway and the issue of piano construction and the effects of time.
by Stephen N. Reed
Authorized Steinway Dealers are on the front line for the Steinway & Sons company. They have not only played a key role in selling the company’s famous handcrafted pianos to the public. They have also helped to add greatly to the solid reputation of Steinway & Sons.
For example, Henry Z. Steinway, the last member of the Steinway family to be president of Steinway & Sons, had enormous respect for the way the dealer network burnished the company’s reputation among concert pianists. This, in turn, means that Steinway Model D grand pianos were increasingly placed on concert stages everywhere.
How so? Because a performing artist could find a dealer with a Steinway Model D on which to perform almost anywhere in North America and much of Europe.
Today, over 95% of the world’s leading concert pianists choose to perform exclusively on the newest possible Steinways—the world’s most technologically advanced pianos. That achievement could not have occurred without the quality service and product knowledge of the Authorized Steinway Dealers and their staffs.
But what does it mean to be an Authorized Steinway Dealer? What goes into that distinction?
By the end of this article you’ll know the various aspects of being an Authorized Steinway Dealer–and why buying your Steinway piano from such a dealer has significant advantages.
A Steinway dealer is literally unique in his community because there is only one. Steinway studies the market and determines who would best represent their pianos based on the dealer’s integrity, knowledge of the piano, financial stability, and commitment.
Here’s what this means for the Steinway buyer/owner. For over 160 years, Steinway & Sons has become an international brand that has carefully built up its reputation as producing the world’s best pianos. If Steinway has chosen this individual to carry the banner for their company and brand in their region of the country, they must have great trust in them.
As a result, the buyer goes into a discussion with an Authorized Steinway Dealer’s staff knowing that Steinway & Sons believes the dealer to have integrity and a sure knowledge of the piano.
These dealers and their employees are required to attend William Steinway University (WSU) to become educated in all things Steinway. WSU is an ongoing series of week-long seminars conducted at the Steinway factory.
Subjects include the history of the company as well as the history of the piano which continues to evolve with improvements. Steinway devotes much time and effort to these improvements in their quest to build the best possible pianos.
The theme undergirding WSU’s seminars and echoed by artists the world over, is that the best Steinway one can buy is the one that was built today.
Over the company’s 169 history, Steinway & Sons engineers have developed 139 patented engineering improvements in Steinway design–one every 15 months on average.
Because of these ongoing, technical improvements, Steinway is frequently the choice of major symphonies, music conservatories, and leading universities worldwide.
After all, such institutions invest only in the latest technically advanced, brand new pianos when piano purchases become necessary. Their consistent Steinway purchases constitute a compelling third-party endorsement of new Steinway grand pianos.
WSU also has programs for hands-on training in the factory for piano technicians. Steinway certifies the technicians assuring the Steinway owner that they get the best when they call for service.
Only Authorized Steinway Dealers have up-to-date, highly-trained piano technicians. With an investment in an instrument as intricate as a Steinway, having a certified Steinway technician working on it gives the owner great peace of mind.
Plus, the fact that Authorized Steinway Dealers have invested in their certified piano technicians and their training indicates long-term financial stability. Thus, the buyer knows that the Authorized Steinway Dealer will be there for them should they need any service in the future for their Steinway piano.
Used Steinway dealers clearly value the Steinway brand—that’s why they sell them. And they would love to sell new ones but can’t. Only an Authorized Steinway Dealer can sell new and certified used Steinways.
Authorized Steinway Dealers are a small group–Steinway only has 60 such dealerships in the entire United States–they are the only showrooms that have exclusive rights to offer new Steinways. As we’ll see below, this is a serious advantage for the Authorized Steinway Dealer.
While used Steinways for sale in good condition certainly exist–like the certified used Steinways sold at Authorized Steinway Dealers–no used or restored Steinway can compare in quality or innovation to a new Steinway.
Used Steinways of any kind, whether “as is” or “rebuilt,” are bested by new Steinways for the following reasons:
1. Wear and tear: Just like automobiles, pianos cannot possibly improve with use. The mechanical action, with some 56 individual parts in each of the 88 keys, inevitably suffers wear and tear, affecting responsiveness, sensitivity, and the ability to control the sound.
Over time, even major structural components such as the soundboard, bridges, and pedals suffer deterioration. This is why there is an entire industry devoted to the restoration of pianos.
2. Design obsolescence: As mentioned above, only new Steinways enjoy all of the engineering improvements of the past 169 years, making pre-owned and older Steinways always outdated to some degree.
Some of the improvements are absolutely crucial to sound and touch, others less so, yet every patent is significant and makes the newest Steinway ever better than before.
3. Investment: The newer the Steinway, the more it is worth; the older the Steinway, the riskier the investment. Every piano eventually wears out–it’s just a matter of time, environment, use, and condition.
4. Warranty: Only new Steinways receive a factory warranty guaranteeing repair or replacement in the event of a manufacturing defect in materials or workmanship. Only Authorized Steinway Dealers can provide customers with a Steinway factory warranty.
Click here for more details on the difference between New and Used Steinways.
The Authorized Steinway Dealer is also closely associated with many of the musical venues, orchestras, schools, universities, and societies within his community.
Through the Steinway Concert and Artist program, the dealer becomes acquainted with international performers as well as some of the finest pianists within the community. The dealer will supply Steinway Artists with Steinway concert grands whenever they come to the dealer’s area.
Most Steinway dealers host a Steinway Society within the community. The Society conducts annual competitions that highlight and encourage musical talent at all ages.
In short, Authorized Steinway Dealers live for the piano. They love the piano and the music it produces, then share that love with their customers.
Morris Steinert understood the value of being formally associated with Steinway & Sons back in the 1860s. In 1869, he secured the distinction of being an Authorized Steinway Dealer. Today, M. Steinert & Sons is the oldest Steinway dealer in the world.
Many of the programs that Steinway implements today were developed at Steinert. In 1988 Steinert was awarded the first-ever “Henry E. Steinway Award,” which was given to the dealer who best exemplifies the vision of Steinway’s founder.
The benefit for the M. Steinert & Sons buyer is that they are working with an Authorized Steinway Dealer that has had a close, working relationship with Steinway and its pianos for 152 years. We have followed every change, every improvement in Steinway pianos and continue to earn the trust of Steinway & Sons as their regional dealer.
Moreover, we are a company that has become the trusted friend of tens of thousands of New England families, the region’s music community and schools, and performing artists.
Having sold Steinway pianos since before Lincoln was president, our roots across New England are deep. We would so enjoy getting to meet you and helping you discover the right Steinway for you.
Why not come into one of our two showrooms in South Boston and Newton to start looking at our various piano models? Learn about them, play them, and then discuss your piano needs with one of our seasoned piano consultants.
Meanwhile, read some more about Steinway & Sons and their handcrafted pianos in the articles below:
by Stephen N. Reed
Ask M. Steinert & Son’s Marketing Director Chuck Johnson what he thinks about the number of old pianos out there that continually change hands. Go on. I dare you.
“They just need to go,” says Chuck. “They have a way of diminishing a young person’s enthusiasm for playing the piano, because they tend to feel and sound terrible. Who wants to practice hard on a musical instrument that can’t even hold its tune? Sometimes they just need to get recycled and not destroy anybody else’s interest in the piano. Chances are, it’s been around far beyond its life expectancy anyway.”
“So what do I do with my old piano?” the customer asks.
This is one of the most common questions we have heard at M. Steinert & Sons over the decades. Every generation has an enormous number of old pianos which, after many years of use, have finally lost their musical value. At M. Steinert, we’ve been successfully helping our customers solve this sometimes knotty dilemma.
Sometimes, an older piano’s terminus can be forestalled, as some older pianos can be rebuilt. However, the cost of restoring a piano can oftentimes be more expensive than buying a new piano, one with its full life ahead of it.
If a piano still has good tone but is merely being replaced by a newer, better model, then it may still have some trade-in value. But for the large, wooden hulk sitting idly in a corner in your home, disposing or repurposing it is the only way to go.
But how? This article will explore a variety of solutions to getting an old piano out of your home and out of your hair. By the end of this article, you will have a much better idea of your options when disposing of an old piano.
If your piano is still in basic working condition and can still hold a tune, you may be able to get something out of it. However, unless grandmother willed you a recent vintage Steinway (less than 30 years old), don’t expect much from a sale of an old piano. The market is flooded with them.
On average, you may be looking at somewhere between $50–$100 on eBay or Craig’s List. Perhaps a local piano company like M. Steinert will give you something for it as part of a trade-in but just remember: some pianos aren’t worth anyone taking.
Some older pianos might be without value to a serious musician. Yet, when a piano is beyond its prime, but still has an acceptable tone and touch, a donation can be a win-win. Students, looking for their first trial piano, often look for a serviceable piano at a charity-sponsored Thrift shop. Such shops may pick up the piano for you for free–a serious bonus.
You might get a tax deduction and the satisfaction of knowing that your piano is still being put to good use. Plus, the beginning student has an instrument that can at least help them learn the basics of piano playing. However, before donating we recommend you (and your donee) read our article Four questions to ask before accepting a free piano.
When a musical instrument is no longer able to create music would seem to have lost its reason for being. However, clever interior designers have found other uses for piano cases, whether from grands or uprights.
A quick search of craft website Etsy shows a number of creative solutions to repurposing part or all of a piano.
Another example is this video of how to make a piano bar out of a vertical piano.
One popular repurposing is to make the old piano case into a curvy bookshelf. Others use the same idea to hold objets d’art. Certainly, such a new use for an old piano can give one an instant conversation piece when visitors come to your home.
We really like the ideas in 12 Creative Ways to Repurpose Piano Parts.
While the landfill may seem like the last resort for disposing of your old piano, it is the likely and the rightful final place of rest for most old pianos. One disadvantage is that this option may cost you a few hundred dollars, especially if you pay the landfill authority or a third party to come and retrieve it from you.
Steinert & Sons President Emeritus Paul Murphy recounts one incident involving an old piano that was not laid to rest properly.
“In the Mid-Eighties, there was a popular restaurant/bar on our block on Boylston called Remington’s,“ notes Paul. “The sous chef was originally from Queens, NY, where earlier he worked in another restaurant. He owned a high-speed motorboat that he used to take out on Long Island Sound after his day shift.
“One evening he hit something that threw him from the boat and knocked him cold. Fortunately, he was wearing a life jacket which saved his unconscious self. It was determined that the object he hit was a piano. Today we are far more aware of the possibility of polluting the planet.”
So whatever you decide, give your old piano a proper burial. Then celebrate the new piano you’re bringing home, with decades of life yet to be lived!
Steinert & Sons has been helping people enjoy the difference between their old piano and a new one for 160 years. We enjoy helping our customers bring good music into their homes for years to come.
Come into M. Steinert & Sons to see some of those new pianos. Meantime, read some of our articles about buying a new piano:
by Stephen N. Reed
Free pianos have been gifted to many friends and family members over the years, often when the owner of the piano is moving or has passed away.
While the offer of a free piano is often intended to be a generous one, on the other hand, this can be a perfect example of “You get what you pay for.”
So how can one determine whether such a gift is worth accepting?
Phil Schoonmaker, a veteran piano consultant for M. Steinert & Sons has been in the piano business for four decades and has seen plenty of free pianos.
We’ll review the Top Four questions he thinks people should ask before accepting a free, used piano.
Care and maintenance of a piano is like that of a vehicle. More regular use of a car requires more servicing. More occasional use can allow you to spread out the times between servicing. A piano that can’t be tuned, is like a car that won’t drive straight.
Still, if you leave a car sitting in a garage idle for a few months, then it will need to be serviced, too, in order to prevent the internal mechanics from becoming damaged.
So, too, with a piano. A piano that has not been well-maintained over the years is likely to be the piano equivalent of a “lemon”–unable to hold tune.
Many used pianos have not received proper care and maintenance, i.e. tuned at least annually and periodically regulated.
Lack of maintenance can result in structural damage and serious defects such as cracked bridges and soundboards, loose pinblocks, center pin issues, worn hammers and dampers, and rusty strings and tuning pins.
Any of these parts being repaired or replaced can become an expensive proposition.
Only an experienced piano technician can judge the structural and mechanical condition of a piano—even an accomplished pianist may not be aware of important flaws.
As a result, a professional piano technician is needed to evaluate any used piano before accepting it.
Pianos should not be subjected to very dry air for extended periods of time. The relative humidity of the piano environment is best kept above 35%. 40% to 60% is better. Historically the National Piano Technicians Guild has settled on 42% relative humidity as a good standard.
Extreme dryness is not good for a keyboard though some technicians recommend a higher humidity, yet not excessive. Indeed, many pianos can function quite happily over a broad range of ambient relative humidity.
What can kill a piano is frequent and rapid cycling between low and high relative humidity.
Consider the distortion of a wet sponge by the kitchen sink as it dries from the edges toward the center on a winter day. Applied to a piano soundboard, that same rapid drying process is guaranteed to crack first the finish, then the wood itself.
So it when this rapid cycling or extreme dryness occurs that a wooden stringed instrument can suffer damage. Air conditioning is good for a piano when the outside humidity is quite high.
During the cold winter months with central heating, humidification of dry household air is recommended. If your “free” piano needs a humidifier, that will be an additional cost.
Constant exposure to too much heat or cold over time can cause the strings or other piano parts to move from their optimum position. This affects the tension and the tone of the instrument.
Other things like dust and dirt can gather inside the casing which will affect the sound quality, as can large, sustained weather events. Older pianos are more likely to have these issues as the internal parts are simply worn with age.
A given piano may have had several different owners, each placing the piano in different environments. As much as possible, find out as much as you can about the different owners.
In addition to any maintenance record, the brand of the piano can help to identify its original quality, and a serial number of the piano can help to determine its year. . It establishes the year of manufacture according to the Pierce Piano Atlas.
More obscure piano brands are listed in this publication, and there is no other accessible way to determine the age of any brand. The Pierce Piano Atlas serves piano buyers in the same way that an automobile manufacturer atlas serves car buyers.
Of course, certain names have more value than others due to their reputation and, consequently, their desirability. If the brand is not currently being manufactured, it will usually have less significance and value.
Pianos have been manufactured for well over 300 years, and there are over 7,500 piano brand names in the Atlas. Nearly all of these brands are defunct and have no market value.
A quick look at our article “What is my piano worth?” has some specifics on brands and their value and musical potential.
Each of these questions need to be assessed before accepting a free piano. Such a gift may cost more to repair than a new one that has a warranty and no issues.
In short, a “free” piano may be free in name only.
A friend who offers you a free piano no doubt has the best of intentions. However, you are within your rights to ask the above four questions to determine whether the piano in question is worth accepting. Chances are, a new or certified used piano will have far less repairs than any free piano.
M. Steinert & Sons Marketing Manager Chuck Johnson notes another, more serious consideration when considering whether to accept a free piano.
Johnson has seen free pianos being traded around by well-meaning parents, with the best of intentions. But ultimately, the poorer examples of these free pianos can extinguish the musical interest in a child that might have existed otherwise.
Read more about the differences between New and Used pianos, both of which M. Steinert & Sons has sold since 1860.
Plus, read more about M. Steinert’s rental, entry-level acoustic, and digital pianos.
by Stephen N. Reed
Veteran piano consultants at M. Steinert & Sons have seen too many potential customers ripped off by irresponsible used piano dealers who offered non-certified, used Steinways.
Told that the used pianos were from a “Golden Age” of Steinways (an age that is often vaguely dated sometime in the past), the buyer is attracted both by the lower price and the novel notion that their used Steinway is somehow better than a newer, more expensive one.
Despite occasional rumors, there was no “Golden Age” for Steinway pianos. Their engineering and craftsmanship get better each year.
“The truth is, there was no “Golden Age,” when the wood and craftsmanship going into a Steinway were better than today’s newer model,” says Phil Schoonmaker, who has been selling Steinways for M. Steinert & Sons for four decades.
“Each generation of Steinways was good, but time takes its toll, even on Steinways,” notes Phil. “If the customers don’t know this, they are susceptible to an unscrupulous salesperson’s skills.”
Clearly, potential piano buyers owe it to themselves to learn about the difference between a used and new Steinway and also between two used Steinways. Steinert & Sons will only certify used pianos less than 30 years of age.
But according to Phil, if one can afford it, the new Steinway is always the better route. The fact that you’re getting the most state-of-the-art Steinway & Sons’ piano from their world class engineers and craftspeople is the key.
Phil also notes that concert pianists, who make their living as professional musicians, want the newest version. Because they make their livelihood playing the piano and want to sound their best, the vast majority of concert pianists prefer to play a new Steinway.
Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of both new and used Steinways.
A new Steinway represents the latest, state-of-the-art version of the Steinway & Sons piano.
A Used Steinway can have good value but only if it is certified by an official Steinway & Sons distributor.
Spending ten to forty thousand dollars for any used piano is a lot of money and yields considerable uncertainty. So if buying a new Steinway is financially possible for you, it’s almost always worth the peace of mind in the long run.
A used piano is tempting, but you need to get to know the piano very well before making any investment. Plus, if it isn’t certified, to the buyer beware.
In the end, a used Steinway can have value if its certified and in good condition. However, in terms of quality and lifespan, a new Steinway piano is always the best deal.
“The ongoing research and development, along with the best materials and craftsmanship that makes each new Steinway a masterpiece can’t be underestimated,” says Phil. “The used piano dealer who tells you otherwise is telling on himself.”
Read more about M. Steinert & Sons’ current selection of New and Used Steinways.
TOP 9 PIANO-BUYER QUESTIONS 2023After 160 years in the piano business in greater Boston – we’ve heard just about every piano question imaginable! From “can I trade my car for your piano” to the recurrent “what’s my old piano worth?”
Here’s a look at our top 9 frequently asked piano buyer questions updated for 2023:
While the specifics have changed this year, the general rule remains: You won’t be a beginner for long! The best piano for a beginner is one that can meet the individual’s musical intentions and goals.
Some beginners hope to become advanced pianists, even professional performing pianists; other beginners want to get their feet wet, so to speak, to see if they will like it. Some beginners imagine piano playing as a hobby at most; others devote themselves to becoming the best pianists they can be. The more demanding the goal, the more important the quality of the instrument.
For the serious student, growing into a piano makes sense. Standards for touch and tone are set early in the learning process. For the casual learner without high aspirations, an entry-level vertical or digital piano can be a logical choice. Many stores allow trade-up credit to facilitate easy upgrades over time.
Steinert’s Vivian Handis wrote a fantastic article on this topic.
Steinert Tip: Check out the Roland HP704, Boston UP120s, Essex EGP173
This answer has changed over the years. At one point, Craigslist had a certain ‘ethic’ and a sense of fair play about it, but now it’s largely the last refuge of worn-out pianos. Generally speaking, Craigslist is a very risky place to buy a piano due to the general ignorance of the piano’s true condition by both the buyer and the seller. Without significant technical skills, it is difficult for a non-expert to know whether a piano will hold a tune or play properly. More subtle, but important, is to know whether it’s lost its bearing (a piano technician’s term for the bridge’s height relative to the strings). See Four questions to ask before accepting a free piano
A piano technician, or at the minimum, an experienced pianist, should evaluate a used piano. Consulting with someone who knows what to look for will give you a sense of the remaining musical life (if any!). Where there are no guarantees, there is no recourse if one brings home a clunker.
Steinert Tip: Consider the value of a Trade-in Policy and sufficient Warranty protection.
With advances in technology, this feels like an increasingly relevant question. Yet, digital and acoustic pianos still offer very different piano-playing experiences.
The sound of acoustic pianos is achieved naturally through vibrating steel strings, resonant woods, and natural dampening and friction-absorbing materials such as felt and leather. The feel of an acoustic piano is derived from its often unique combination of key length and action design. Acoustic pianos are the only instruments that offer true traditional piano sound and touch.
The sound of digital pianos is achieved electronically. Digital pianos offer many types of simulated instrumental sounds, as well as recording capability, Bluetooth, MIDI, computer compatibility, educational apps, etc.
Recently, pianos from Roland have incorporated acoustic modeling technology to recreate elements of overtones and harmonics into their piano sound. The key feel of a grand is also replicated through mechanical means in some of these newer Roland models.
They have the advantages of complete silence by means of headphones (great for families, neighbors, and roommates; ( footnote: many acoustic pianos today can also be retrofitted with silent systems), no tuning or action adjustment costs, and smaller physical size for those in smaller homes, or who plan to move the instrument frequently.
However, digital pianos cannot exactly replicate the sound or touch of an acoustic piano–they can only simulate it–and as with most electronic devices, their components deteriorate over time. They tend to be less durable than high-quality acoustic pianos.
If one is a traditional piano purist, only the acoustic piano will do for both touch and tone. Some piano teachers accept only students who are practicing and playing an acoustic piano.
Steinert Tip: Bring in your teacher and a favorite piece of music – and try both types of pianos!
Of course, that depends on age, condition, size, finish, availability, and other factors. In short, the reality is that some used Steinway pianos are essentially worthless (more below), while some rare art-case Steinways have set records (see the Alma Tadema piano at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown purchased for $1.2 million).
If the Steinway has been rebuilt or restored in any way, other factors may apply such as where the work was done and the qualifications/skill level of who did it, whether or not genuine Steinway replacement parts were used, which exact parts were replaced, and which were not replaced, etc. Some liken this process to purchasing a used high-end automobile… who performed the service, and what parts were used?
The open market range of “Used Steinways” is very broad due to the extreme range of quality and age. Generally speaking, one should expect to pay about double for a new Steinway than for a rebuilt Steinway, unless the piano has been completely rebuilt at the Steinway factory, which costs about 20% less than the new model of similar size.
At some point, even a Steinway becomes a non-musical entity with no real value – other than its “shell” value (a term for the wholesale value of the rim/plate). Many are excited to learn about the inheritance or acquisition of a Steinway, only to find out a short time later that it will require a complete restoration to be usable. A Steinway factory restoration costs as much as 80% of new.
New Steinway prices range from the mid $80,000 range to over $200,000 depending upon size, finish, and other criteria. Rebuilt Steinways tend to range from about $30,000 to $100,000–again, depending upon the vintage, size, finish, amount and quality of work done, etc.
Used Steinways of recent vintage are usually worth more than rebuilt old Steinways and are generally valued at roughly 75% of the price of a new Steinway.
Steinert Tip: Two recent articles on Steinway aging and Pricing:
When faced with the cost of paying for lessons AND buying a piano, many become concerned with the overall cost to even ‘try’ the piano. Sometimes, the instinct is to try and get by with a substandard used piano or cheap portable keyboard. Yet, this early stage is the period where sound and touch quality can really make a difference as interest is being fueled. Great beginnings often make for great outcomes! So, if the budget or the commitment is limited, a rental could be a good option because it will still provide a high-quality piano experience. The key to a successful piano rental experience is to keep a path toward a purchase that doesn’t lose your initial investment in the rental.
At M. Steinert & Sons, with our EZ-Start program, 12 months of rental payments may be applied toward the purchase of the rental piano or any other piano that we sell. At the end of the rental period, the return transportation cost must be paid by the renter. EZ-Start rental fees and the available piano models may be viewed at http://staging-msteinertcom.kinsta.cloud/a-buyers-journey/piano-rental/.
Other pianos can be rented as well. The monthly rent is 3% of the piano’s purchase price. You can rent indefinitely and the minimum period of time is 3 months. The delivery cost and the first month’s rent must be paid upfront with an approved credit check followed by a monthly billing cycle. Six months of rent can be applied towards purchase.
Steinert Tip: We affiliate with many regional teachers and offer special pricing through them – ask your teacher if they’re connected to M. Steinert & Sons.
In general, we do not buy old pianos, but we will consider taking an old piano in trade for a better piano. The old piano must be evaluated by one of our piano technicians or sales staff and a trade value (if any) assigned to it. Our recent article on What Is My Piano Worth is a great way to understand the variables in older pianos.
In some exceptional cases, we will agree to consign newer Steinway pianos that are in excellent condition. A consignment agreement is discussed with the owner if both parties are interested in this arrangement.
For information on the age of your piano visit: http://staging-msteinertcom.kinsta.cloud/a-buyers-journey/how-old-is-my-steinway/
Steinert Tip: Learn more about our Certified Piano Program – if you think your piano might fit here – let’s talk.
Currently, there is no industry-wide accepted used piano “bluebook”, as there is for automobiles. Ultimately, one is pricing the musical art, or musicality, of which a piano is capable, which will vary widely in each case. There is no established or industry-standard valuation formula for used pianos. See What Is My Piano Worth?
Steinert Tip: For more information about what happens to pianos as they age, see: http://staging-msteinertcom.kinsta.cloud/blog/new-vs-used-steinway/
Price should reflect actual value, as the price of anything is established by its true value. Assuming the seller’s honesty, if a piano is discounted, that is its true value at that point in time.
Some piano stores and brands post significantly inflated MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) on their pianos and offer large percentage discounts to give the impression of attractive values (mark it up to mark it down etc.) –but in reality, the price for which the piano is sold is the only thing that determines its true value.
Other piano stores and brands, notably Steinway, and M. Steinert & Sons, do not engage in such strategies. Any price discounts will be done only for legitimate reasons such as length of time in inventory, true current condition, maintenance history, availability, etc.
If there is a discount, it is due to some legitimate reasons such as inventory aging, overstock, musical considerations, a very limited-time promotion, some cosmetic flaw, etc.
Steinert Tip: Call us. If you reside in our market area (Greater Boston/Eastern Massachusetts), we are committed to earning your business.
We’d like to think we have something for everyone, but it ultimately depends upon your particular piano needs, budget and preferences. We also believe that the reputation, stability, and longevity of a dealership are important for piano ownership since every acoustic piano requires basic maintenance.
Some popular piano brands change dealerships every few years. One popular piano brand has seen three different owners/dealers in the last 9 years. M. Steinert & Sons has been in business in the Boston area for over 160 years and has been the sole Authorized Steinway dealer for the region since 1869.
M. Steinert & Sons is the official supplier of pianos to the legendary Boston Symphony Orchestra and nearly all other leading musical institutions and venues throughout New England. We work with private teaching studios, community music schools, and pianists of every level while supporting the local music community and economy. We’ve made a serious commitment to keeping the piano a vibrant force in music-making in our region!
Learn more about us at: http://staging-msteinertcom.kinsta.cloud/about-m-steinert-sons/steinerts-history/
Let us help you find a piano that matches your needs and budget
(by Charles Johnson, Updated November 2021)
Are you looking to purchase a Steinway piano? Or just curious, and aren’t sure whether to buy new or rebuilt? In this article, we explore the pros and cons of new vs. rebuilt Steinway.
When the possibility of Steinway ownership first occurred to me – I focused on the brand – and forgot that I was purchasing an individual instrument. The idea of owning a Steinway, any Steinway, was powerful – it’s what almost every pianist aspires to.
However, I didn’t ultimately inquire about the details of the piano and a pending rebuild which didn’t include certain Steinway parts.
Now, with the sweetness of a lower price forgotten and daily exposure to the touch and tone of new Steinway pianos, I’ve come to realize what I didn’t get. My next piano will be a new Steinway.
Suppose you are considering a rebuilt Steinway. In that case, you will need to consider every rebuild on its own specific merits and history to avoid the investment into a potential’ knock-off.’
First, let’s examine the term “rebuilt.”
Typically an older fine brand piano, acquired by a rebuilder to profitably resell by replacing critical parts to make the piano seem new.
Rebuilding is not to be confused with restoring a piano, meaning repairing existing parts. Rebuilding often includes replacing major structures and significant-finish work to retain aspects of the original instrument.
The piano rebuilding industry is dominated by the Steinway brand purely because Steinway is arguably the most prestigious and widely recognized brand of a fine piano.
Simply put, it is worth it for rebuilders to attempt to rebuild a Steinway piano since the brand name itself confers so much value. Rebuilders can charge a hefty premium for any piano that says Steinway on the fallboard or plate and “looks” like a Steinway.
Other pianos that will get rebuilt include Bechstein, Bosendorfer, Mason and Hamlin.
Typically, Yamaha and the other production pianos are not rebuilt. Their foundation structures are not conducive to this process and don’t have value on the rebuilt market.
There is always at least one rebuilder who will rebuild ANY piano, even if the rebuilding costs more than the piano is worth before or after the rebuild.
Dealers of non-Steinway brands often advertise that they carry used and restored Steinways to attract the Steinway shopper. See our new vs. used article for a deeper look at aged vs. new Steinway.
It still “says” Steinway on it, even if it’s only a label at that point.
As described in the “Cons of Rebuilt” Steinway – the shortcuts and cost-saving techniques employed by rebuilders will tend to reduce the end price. Note: a Steinway Factory Rebuild costs about 80% of new.
Steinway does offer a rebuilding service at their NY Factory – and a properly rebuilt Steinway can approximate all the features and characteristics of their new instruments.
The factory rebuild is a good choice if one has a family heirloom Steinway with sentimental or historic attachment value but wants it rebuilt to the quality of a genuine Steinway.
The expertise and resources needed to properly deconstruct, repair, and reassemble a fine instrument without falling prey to inevitable shortcuts is the province of Steinway alone.
Virtually all rebuilt Steinways are no longer authentic Steinways (except those rebuilt BY Steinway).
The heart of the Steinway sound, the patented Diaphragmatic Soundboard, cannot be made or installed outside of the Steinway factory.
The legendary wood selected for a Steinway soundboard is only available thanks to long-standing relationships with the best Sitka spruce suppliers. Steinway requires Sitka Spruce from trees on a north-facing slope – focusing on the straightness of grain, and 10 to 12 growth rings per inch.
Then, artisans select and match the planks for assembly and utilize a $500,000, custom piece of laser-guided machinery to complete the proprietary soundboard manufacturing process.
Essentially, no matter how hard they try, rebuilders and dealers can not recreate the sound of a Steinway soundboard. They can not manufacture their rebuilt pianos in the same manner or with the same materials. Steinway does not sell its proprietary soundboards or pinblocks to any rebuilding shop, dealer, or distributor.
In addition, the patented Steinway Hexagrip Pinblock is essential to Steinway tuning stability and overall piano tonality. The Steinway pinblock would be nearly impossible to manufacture outside of the Steinway factory – and if someone tried – it would cost as much as Steinway’s.
Rebuilders are forced to use generic substitutes of these critical components from various suppliers or create their own parts, resulting in an inauthentic Steinway piano.
Think of rebuilding a Ferrari, without using a Ferrari engine, and you get the idea.
Rebuilders leverage the likelihood that few buyers of rebuilt Steinways understand or will inquire about the role of these critical components. Buyers are often told they’re ‘no big deal.’ Yet, the unaware buyer is now getting a “Stein-was.”
To attract buyers to generically rebuilt Steinways, used Steinway dealers and rebuilders have perpetuated elaborate myths about a Steinway “Golden Age.”
Rebuilders created and now attempt to perpetuate this myth to suggest that Steinway pianos were somehow better in the past. They infer something mythical or magical about this period to propose that a Golden Age piano is better than a new Steinway. The reality is that there isn’t a “Golden Age” period. The rebuilt Steinway you purchased will not sound or play as well as a new Steinway.
The new Steinway retains old-world building methods where appropriate. Yet, Steinway also embraces new tools and technology where applicable as well. Continual investment in new machinery and ever-refined processes yields a new instrument with a broader range of tonal color and a more consistent touch.
Uninformed and unsuspecting consumers often fall for these romanticized lies. The well-documented fact is that the vast majority of leading concert pianists and professional music institutions worldwide have always performed on and invested in new Steinways for over one and a half centuries.
Only select dealerships can sell a new Steinway piano. Any business can sell a used or rebuilt one – and the golden age myth plays perfectly into our historic sympathies and sense of nostalgia.
The range of expertise among piano dealers and technicians in rebuilding old Steinways is vast, so buyer beware.
Some workmanship is low-grade at best, while others sincerely do the best they can within the limits of parts and materials available to them. Since they cannot obtain all the genuine Steinway parts and equipment they would prefer, there truly is no way a rebuilt Steinway can sound exactly like a new one.
There is no standard for accountability or consistency in the rebuilding industry, and the results and risks to the consumer vary widely.
New Steinway pianos (manufactured at the New York and Hamburg Factories) reflect all the experience, design refinements, and evolved selection of materials to maintain the reputation of the world’s finest piano and their place on the world’s concert stages.
In a heavily used institutional setting, a properly maintained Steinway & Sons piano has a lifespan of approximately 50 years. In a home with standard usage, that lifespan can often be much longer. The famous rim construction process creates the shell/foundation for a very durable instrument. Contrast this to other brands where a 10 to 30-year life is ordinary.
Only new Steinways have enjoyed the accumulated knowledge, expertise, and legacy of the Steinway factories since 1853. Steinway has produced 139 engineering patents to date, 13 in the last ten years alone.
Since 2016, Spirio technology has revolutionized the way many experience the sound of Steinway.
To maintain the quality standards set by Steinway and demanded by its customers and artists, the company must absorb the price of materials and the costs of skilled labor to produce these remarkable instruments. For this reason, the cost of a new Steinway has generally increased often at a rate greater than the annual inflation rate.
Since its founding in 1853, Steinway & Sons’ mission statement has been simple; “Build the Best Piano Possible.” This mantra is plastered all over their factory. Steinway will not compromise their mission statement to achieve a price point. So, as labor and material costs increase, the Steinway piano price must also increase.
There are only about 2600 Steinway pianos produced worldwide each year. Many of these go to China, where there is a burgeoning demand for them. Only a select group of dealers in the US are authorized to carry new Steinway pianos.
You will need to decide if it is worth the worry and stress to go the rebuild route. Determining whether a given piano is authentic and a technician is experienced and disciplined enough is a daunting task at best. Sometimes techs that at one time were highly disciplined don’t hold to the same standards over time when they realize they can cut corners and costs and still sell their wares.
We remind our new Steinway shoppers that 97 percent of concert pianists worldwide choose new Steinway pianos over rebuilt ones, so why shouldn’t you? As Lang Lang said, “I’ve been playing Steinway pianos exclusively for many years. In my experience, they keep getting better every year, and I have no doubt that the best Steinways ever produced are the ones being built today.”
To learn more, please view our Piano Bits Video about the role of design and time in piano manufacturing featured in our New vs. Used Steinway article.
Are you in the Boston region? Feel free to make an appointment to experience a new Steinway at one of our Boston area locations.
You can also fill out our contact form or piano finder form to assist you in finding the perfect Steinway piano for you.
by Chuck Johnson, Updated February 2022
You’re considering buying a Steinway piano, and have heard differing opinions on the merits of new vs. used. M. Steinert & Sons offers both new and used Steinway pianos, and we are frequently called upon to help our customers make this choice. Having played the piano for 48 years, and worked in the piano industry for 30 of those years, I still find it surprising there are few agreed-upon facts, especially when it comes to new and used Steinway!
Let’s explore when both new AND used Steinways make sense – and admit upfront the answer could be “neither”. Before spending thousands of dollars, you need to make sure that you’re making a sound decision.
Our goal with this article is to teach you what you need to know about buying the right piano for you based on the best information available.
While time takes a toll on all organic materials, the piano’s overall design makes it particularly susceptible to aging. Unlike other stringed instruments, the percussive nature of the piano hastens wear-and-tear. This erosion comes from three things:
There are a lot of myths about old pianos out there – but with very few exceptions (of historic/artistic value), old pianos will become virtually worthless and musically inert in time – EVEN STEINWAY PIANOS.
We’ve developed a way to explain the effects of time on pianos. This explanation is BRAND AGNOSTIC.
Every piano exists on a curve of musical quality over time. This is a highly subjective area! It would be hard to get two people in the piano industry to agree on the curve for a brand, model, or even a specific Steinway piano. However, it doesn’t change the reality that all pianos begin at their best (or very close to it) and then lose tone and touch over time. The severity of the instrument’s decline is determined by the design and factors mentioned above (Tension, Wear, Environment).
This all begs an important question: Where is my piano on the curve??
Each piano will start decaying at some point – but when, where, and how is extraordinarily difficult to determine. Most people find that the only way to assess a used piano’s condition accurately is play it vigorously and to hire an independent and reputable piano technician – one NOT connected to a store or the seller. It is equally vital to understand some technicians will do these evaluations in hopes of offering rebuilding services. This makes it very hard to find an unbiased participant to evaluate the quality of a used piano.
Spending 10 to 40 thousand dollars on any used piano is a lot of money and yields considerable uncertainty. So if buying a new Steinway is financially possible for you, it’s almost always worth the peace of mind in the long run. Used is tempting, but you need to get to know the piano very well before making any investment.
A Used Steinway typically fits those who:
A New Steinway works well if you:
Learn more about new Steinway pianos or visit our used piano department for specific used options.
Footnote on Boston pianos: Many shoppers considering used Steinway learn the nuances of piano design and begin to understand the effects of aging. Steinway designed and built the Boston brand pianos – Steinway’s solution for a mid-priced piano that leverages their experience with design, materials, and workmanship.
