How Will Tariffs Impact Pianos?
The recent tariffs imposed by the United States government have already begun to impact the piano business. Yamaha has announced a price increase on all their products, Roland announced that they will no longer include a bench with their pianos and companies like Casio (who build nearly everything they sell in China and are currently facing a disastrous 145% tariff) have fallen silent. Even American piano makers are being affected!
…but how long will these tariffs last? How will they affect piano prices? Which piano builders are well-positioned to “weather the storm” and which companies could be facing oblivion?
Let’s take a detailed look at what may happen as the trade war rages on and what you can do to protect yourself and your musical family.
Riverton Opens New Scottsdale Piano Store
If you’ve been to our former Scottsdale piano store (across from Fashion Square Mall), you’ve seen how inadequate it was for our needs. The location was good and we definitely packed every piano into that 2200 square foot space that we could fit, but we didn’t have any breathing room. The store felt cramped when we took it over from the Steinway Showroom folks, but – as our business grew – it became more and more inadequate. We simply had to find a bigger space. That’s why – after an extensive search – we are happy to announce our new Scottsdale piano store location!
Yamaha Pianos “Spring Sales Event”
Spring is here and cacti aren’t the only things blooming in The Valley! Students all over Phoenix are discovering the magic of making music with Yamaha pianos. Why not join them?
The Best Way to Play Piano in 2025
Growing up, I always wanted to be in a band. I started piano lessons when I was 6 and, by 10 years old, I was getting pretty darn good! I used to turn up the stereo and try to play along with my favorite songs, but it was really hard because I usually couldn’t keep up (or the song was in a difficult key). I got better at it over time, but it was a slow process. Thankfully, it’s MUCH easier for kids today to “play with a band” whenever they want – thanks to some cool new technology from Hal-Leonard!
The Incredible Story of Yamaha
Mr. Torakusu Yamaha
Today, the word “Yamaha” is a household name around the World. The largest musical instrument company on the planet, Yamaha instruments now account for 25% of the world’s music-making tools. That’s right. One in every four musical instruments on Earth is made by Yamaha. When considering a company of such size and scope, it’s often hard to imagine a time when nobody knew the name “Yamaha.” Granted, today, Yamaha is a music industry icon, but it wasn’t always so. In fact, the name “Yamaha” is the company’s second name – given in honor of it’s visionary founder, Mr. Torakusu Yamaha. A humble watch and medical instrument repair technician from Kii Province, Mr. Yamaha came to the aid of a local elementary school when they asked him to fix their broken reed organ. He identified the problem, made the necessary repairs, and began a journey that would quite literally change the entire world. This is The Incredible Story of Yamaha.
Which Pianos Hold Their Value?
This image is from Page 7 of the former “Steinway Investment Brochure,” which claims Steinway pianos go up in value over time. Click the image to see the entire brochure (PDF). The claims made in this brochure have been heavily disputed by The Hatch Institute’s investigative journalists and past Steinway piano owners.
In 2019, a number of piano buyers sued Steinway & Sons for actively marketing their pianos as “investments” that would increase in value over time. Steinway owners claimed they were shown graphs and factory-authorized marketing literature that indicated Steinway pianos have appreciated consistently over decades when, in reality, most new Steinway & Sons pianos depreciate significantly – some as much as 50% – in the first day of ownership.
Even here in Phoenix, we’ve seen piano salespeople claim that “German Pianos go up in value over time.”
…but do they?
Are pianos a good investment? Do they go up or even hold their value over time? What factors go into determining a piano’s value and how can you know what to expect when you buy one?
With more than 50 years of piano selling experience, we are uniquely qualified to bring you the truth about this hotly-debated topic. We’ll give you the facts and help you set your expectations so you don’t find yourself in the position these Steinway owners did. Let’s get started!
Riverton Piano Company Wins Multiple National Awards
Riverton Piano Company is proud to announce that – thanks to the continued support of our clients, our community partners and piano enthusiasts all over Arizona – our company has achieved a major milestone. This year, Riverton was awarded the “Outstanding Performance and Growth” Award from Yamaha and Bosendorfer. We also received the “Excellence in Sales and Customer Service” award from Yamaha. Baldwin honored us for our “Best in the Nation” sales and support for Baldwin pianos. …and we continue to be the #1 sales outlet for Schumann Pianos all over North America. In short, these awards put us at #1 in the Nation for sales and customer service for:
It’s an incredible honor and we can’t thank you enough for your support! It is incredibly rare for a dealership to reach “Best in the Nation” status for one brand. Imagine our excitement upon reaching that status with every brand we carry!
Where Should I Put My Piano?
One of the first questions piano shoppers have to consider when they decide to buy a piano is “where should I put my piano?”. Should it be upstairs or down? Is it ok in a bedroom or should it be in a family room? Can it sit against an outside wall or near a window?
These are all important questions and, interestingly enough, the answers to some of these questions have changed over the 300+ years people have been buying pianos. So what’s the right answer? Where is the best place to put your piano?
How Important are Piano Warranties?
How important are piano warranties when it comes to buying a piano? Is it safe to just assume you’ll be covered if you have a problem? Artisans have been building pianos since the 18th Century and – with every new design – comes improvements in stability, tone and quality. There have been countless developments over the years and you never hear about a piano “falling apart,” so why should you care about the piano’s warranty?
What Are Pianos Made Of?
Before we even get started, I can hear some of you out there shouting “WOOD” …and – while that’s a partially correct – it’s an absolutely incomplete answer. Also, with no qualifiers, the word “WOOD” is woefully imprecise since not all woods are created equal. Balsa wood, for example is very light, but not very strong. Oak wood is very heavy and very strong. Neither make ideal “WOOD” for an entire piano. Why? Well, to adequately explain this topic, we’re going to have to dig a bit deeper.
