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 (sometimes 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 proffesional pianist is going to be more demanding and dicerning and would need to have a larger budget than a beginner.  However, as a general guide you should look at spending at least £1500  on a real piano in order to have a full-size instrument that is in proper working order, with a good touch and 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 Steinway(German Made), Bechstein, Bosendorfer and Bluthner being historicaly some of major players.  However, these days companies like Yamaha are also very well-respected.  However for the majority, for whom the cost of these famous makes is not a realistic proposition, the most affordable pianos made come from the far east, with countries like China(also now the worlds largest consumer and manufacturer of pianos)  and Indonesia being the most significant.  Makes like Steinmayer having been voted the best selling Chinese piano in the UK are an example of the popularity of this type of piano.  In the end, though, it is more important to try, compare and select the piano that sounds and feels right to you, after all you are the one that is going to play it!

How quickly does a piano lose its value?

Pianos have the advantage of a long lifespan - usually at least 50 to 80 years - so they hold their value relatively well, espsecially as compared to digital pianos for example, which have a "high tech" turnover and are rendered "obsolete" very quickly and are not built to last.  For example a ten year old real piano is viewed by the trade as nearly new which is what you would expect from a product that has such a long lifespan.  Values will always depend, in the end, on the relative price of new pianos and the general health of the market.