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Piano Cost


How Much Does a Piano Cost?

 
low costLow: Half-size Electronic Keyboards Average $200-$250; Full-Size run $550-$2,000average costMedium: Upright Pianos $900-$1,800; Console Models $2,000-$8,000high costHigh: Grand Pianos $4,000-$24,000+

A piano is a major purchase. Research before buying can help you find the best piano for your needs and your budget.

Typical costs:

  • A half-size keyboard with training software averages $200-$250. Expect to pay $550-$2,000 or more for a full (88 keys) digital piano keyboard with touch-sensitive keys and a damper pedal. Digital pianos can be played silently (using headphones), don't need tuning, can make non-piano sounds and are easy to move -- but they don't have the depth and finger action of a traditional acoustic piano. ConcertPitchPiano.com lists digital pros and cons.
  • Beat-up traditional pianos are often available for $250-$500. These may have problems such as rusty strings or cracked pin blocks, but if an old piano is in reasonably good playing shape and still tunable, it can be a "starter" instrument.
  • Upright pianos with a vertical sounding board start with the spinet at about 36 inches tall for $900-$1,800 and up; console and studio models are taller (40-60 inches) and sell for $2,000-$8,000 or more.
  • Grand pianos, which have a horizontal sounding board, come in three basic sizes. A baby grand (less than 6 feet long) starts around $4,000-$8,000 from little-known manufacturers but can run $10,000-$24,000 or more for a high-end brand like Steinway; a grand piano (6-9 feet) is $10,000-$40,000 or more; and a concert grand (9 feet or longer) costs $30,000-$80,000 and up.
  • A piano does wear out eventually (if not rebuilt or restored), so the age of a used instrument is important. Find the manufacturer's name and the piano's serial number (inside the piano), then check BlueBookOfPianos.com[1] . Get more detailed searches done for $5-$15 at PianoAtlas.com[2] .
  • Many experts recommend The Piano Book: Buying & Owning a New or Used Piano[3] at $24.95 (it might be in your local library).
Related articles: Piano Lessons, Violin, Cello, Acoustic Guitar

What should be included:
  • A piano's distinctive sound is made by small hammers striking the strings. Traditional acoustic pianos have 5,000-10,000 or more moving parts. These include the back, the sounding board, the plate and bridges, strings, hammers, keys, pedals and more; PianoWorld.com provides an overview of the basic parts of a piano[4] .
  • If buying from a dealer, ask if the piano will be tuned and thoroughly cleaned before delivery. A typical warranty on a new piano covers 5-10 years under one owner, and does not include tuning or action regulation.
Additional costs:
  • A piano bench may be included, or might add $50-$500; some grand-piano benches can be $2,000 or more.
  • If you've narrowed your search to a specific used piano, having it evaluated by a qualified piano tuner-technician costs about $70-$150.
  • Don't buy a piano that won't stay tuned; restoring it can cost $5,000-$10,000.
  • A piano should be tuned a minimum of once a year; twice a year is better. Tuning a piano takes about two hours and costs $75-$125. Most pianos need action regulation (leveling the keyboard, filing the hammers and more) every 5-10 years, at a cost of $1,000-$3,000.
  • Check if delivery is included. Plus, owning a piano can increase your moving expenses if you hire a professional piano mover.
Discounts:
  • Some dealers offer 100 percent trade-up; if you buy a piano and later purchase a more expensive model, they'll take the old one back and apply its price to the cost of the next piano.
Shopping for a piano:
  • Most experts recommend buying a piano of slightly higher quality than your playing ability. It's also good to see (and play) as many pianos as possible before making a decision. With a used piano, look inside for rust or other signs of problems.
  • MusicWithEase.com lists the major piano brands[5] for both traditional and digital models; the nonprofit PianoEducation.org gives piano buying tips[6] ; and the Piano Technicians Guild talks about what to expect when buying from a dealer or from a private individual[7] .
  • PianoStores.com lists piano stores by state[8] . Pianos are sold on eBay.com[9] and Amazon[10] , but shipping costs can be high.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
Need Help to sell a Panio
Amount: $2,124.68
Posted by: John Beedle in Carson, CA.Posted: July 7th, 2013 12:07PM
Type: Console PianoBrand: Schafer & Sons
New or Used: used
Need to sell a console piano. Needs tuning. Bench needs to be reupholstered
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Amount: $2,800.00
Posted by: Cathyan in Seattle, WA.Posted: September 1st, 2011 11:09AM
Type: BS-40Brand: Kawai
New or Used: used
The black gloss Kawai. 52" height.BS-40. Year made 1987. Normal in condition. Is it suitabe and valuable with this price.
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External Resources:
  1.  www.bluebookofpianos.com/ages/
  2.  pianoatlas.com/howold.html
  3.  www.pianobuyer.com/pianobook.html
  4.  www.pianoworld.com/buypiano3.htm
  5.  www.musicwithease.com/piano-brands.html
  6.  pianoeducation.org/pnobuyng.html#Purchase%20Tips
  7.  www.ptg.org/resources-buyingAPiano.php
  8.  www.pianostoresusa.com/
  9.  www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=piano
  10.  www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html?node=11970071&no=11091801/qid=sr=53-1/qid=1201571487...
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