Buying a piano

There are a host of factors to consider when buying a piano, either new or secondhand, and the multitude of choices out there can make the whole task rather daunting.  For many families this will be a first piano for the kids, or a return to the days of learning piano for the parents (usually a mixture of both!).  Naturally, spending so much money on something that may simply end up gathering dust is a worry, but we hope to allay some of those fears by providing a broad and realistic guide to buying a piano.


How much should I spend? 

This is a very subjective question - it stands to reason, for example, that a concert pianist is likely to have a larger budget than a beginner.  However, as a general guide you should look at spending at least £1500 in order to have a full-size instrument that is in perfect working order with a good tone.

What is the best make of piano to go for?

Again, a subjective question, as some people prefer different piano manufacturers for different reasons, just as manufacturers have different strengths and weaknesses.  In the past - that is to say before WWII, the top makes were generally considered to be German or Austrian, with Steinweg (Steinway), Bechstein, Bosendorfer, Bluthner and iBach being the major players.  However, these days companies like Yamaha and Kawai are also well-respected names in piano making, although a lot of the German names still exist in one form or another.  In the end, though, it is more important to try, compare and select the piano that looks, sounds and feels right to you, rather than simply rely on the strength of a brand name.

How quickly does a piano lose its value?

Pianos have the advantage of a long lifespan - usually at least 50 years - so they hold their value relatively well, as compared to digital pianos for example, which have a high technology turnover and are rendered "obsolete" very quickly.  There will usually be a steep fall in the value of a new piano once it leaves the shop, and will tend to stabilise at about 60% of purchase value within the first five years.  From here the value should level out for a fairly long time.