From the outside, most used Steinway pianos look the same. Don’t be fooled by a pretty exterior. Make sure you know what is going on “under the hood.”
Like any other product that utilizes high quality materials and expert craftsmanship, new Steinway & Sons pianos are quite expensive (As of publication, new Steinway vertical pianos start at $46,000.00 and new Steinway grand pianos start at $80,000.00). So, it has become quite common for piano shoppers to seek out a used Steinway piano. This can be a huge challenge, however. As pianos age, their wood begins to deteriorate. There are many factors that contribute to the deterioration besides just age, including excessive usage, lack of maintenance, environmental conditions, drying out of glues, excessive moving, and more. As such, used Steinway pianos (like all pianos) will exhibit problems as they get older. I like to say that pianos have a lifespan just like people do. Even with expert care, after a period of time, they require some maintenance and even replacement parts to keep them in good condition. …and all of that costs money. Once a piano reaches a certain age (or – if it’s had heavy use, abuse, etc.), it will require an expensive procedure called a “rebuild.” This loosely-defined term can mean anything from replacing strings to refinishing the piano to completely replacing the soundboard and action. That’s why used Steinway pianos can vary so much in price. Their value is determined by their age, condition and the care they have received over the years. It takes a keen, experienced eye to evaluate a Steinway’s condition and market value. …and most piano owners don’t know any of this… so they always assume their piano is “in good shape.”
So. Knowing all of this, should you consider purchasing a used Steinway piano?
A Brief History of Steinway & Sons Pianos:
Mixing wood and plastic parts in a piano’s key action has always been a recipe for disaster – as Steinway discovered in the 1970s and 80s.
Steinway Pianos have been made since 1853, making them one of the oldest continuously operating piano manufacturers in the world. (The oldest is Bösendorfer which started in 1828.) Like most piano manufacturers, Steinway has been through good times (Many consider the early 20th Century as the “Golden Age” for Steinway manufacturing.) and rocky times (From 1962-1982, Steinway made the disastrous decision to utilize Teflon in their key actions, which created a myriad of problems including unwanted clicking sounds since the plastic didn’t expand and contract with the wood surrounding it. Eventually, Steinway returned to the all-wood designs we see today.). Also, like most of the older manufacturers, Steinway has had several different owners – especially in the last fifty years. The Steinway family owned the company until 1972 when it was sold to CBS Inc., who held the company until 1985, when it was sold to a Boston investment group. Then, in 1995 the Boston company was sold to a different investment group. In 2015, the company was sold again to John Paulson, a hedge fund investor, who owns it today. With each new owner came a new direction for the company and new designs for Steinway pianos, as well as the introduction of two mass-produced piano lines, Boston (made by Kawai in Japan and Indonesia) and Essex (made by Pearl River in China).
Used Steinway Piano vs. New Steinway Piano
The Steinway Heirloom Collection includes used pianos that have been rebuilt by the Steinway-owned shop in Iowa. They are the only legitimately “certified” used Steinway pianos in existence.
In all that time, the biggest factor inhibiting the growth of new Steinway piano sales has been used Steinway pianos. …and Steinway knows this. That’s why they work so hard to control used Steinway parts, sales and distribution. They also work hard to control the narrative surrounding used Steinway pianos as they are direct competition for new Steinway & Sons pianos. For example, Steinway refuses to sell their soundboards, bridges, pinblocks or any other major structural parts to anyone. They do sell “Steinway” action parts through Renner (a Steinway subsidiary), but Steinway has no interest in helping piano technicians “restore” or “rebuild” old Steinway pianos. In recent years, Steinway has tried to further control the used Steinway market by purchasing a piano rebuilding shop in Iowa. Steinway now ships old pianos there to be “professionally rebuilt” (This is another term that means very little. Remember that new Steinways are built in the New York Factory and these rebuilt pianos come from a third-party company in Iowa that Steinway purchased to do this work for them.). These pianos come with a certificate verifying their authenticity and that Steinway has used only Steinway-approved parts in the rebuilding process. These pianos are part of the so-called the Steinway Heirloom Collection and they will be the among the most expensive used Steinways on the market (These used Steinway pianos are often sold to and through Steinway dealers or through Steinway’s factory-owned stores.). If you want to buy a used Steinway piano for almost the same price as a new one (Don’t think Steinway didn’t do this on purpose.), then the Steinway Heirloom Collection might be perfect for you.
“Rebuilt” Steinway Pianos
Steinway often talks about pianos that are rebuilt with “Genuine Steinway Parts,” but that is only the beginning. It’s important to judge the quality of the labor as well.
Steinway’s not the only company rebuilding Steinway pianos. Piano retailers and technicians know that the name “Steinway & Sons” carries a certain amount of recognition with American consumers. After all, it’s the second most recognized piano brand in the US (after Yamaha.) So, this creates an opportunity for a variety of businesses to “fix up” or “refurbish” an older Steinway and sell it for profit. Because it’s a Steinway piano, it will sell for more than a used Kawai, Mason & Hamlin, or pretty much any other lesser known brand. Unfortunately for piano shoppers, “restoring”, “rebuilding” or “refurbishing” a Steinway can mean a wide variety of things, depending on who you talk to. Because there is no universally accepted definition for these terms, they mean next to nothing. For example, one technician may consider a piano “restored” or “completely rebuilt” after a little hammer filing and a refinish job. To an experienced piano technician, “completely rebuilt” should mean that the soundboard has been replaced or repaired, the pinblock has been replaced, the piano has new tuning pins and strings, new action parts and a refinished cabinet. In short, when someone claims to have “rebuilt” a piano – any piano – it’s vital that you demand a complete list detailing what work was done (including which parts were replaced and what replacement parts were used). It’s also critical to find out who did the work and where (Many piano technicians out-source part or all of their rebuilding work to companies in Mexico and beyond.) It would be a shame to buy a “rebuilt Steinway” only to discover that the technician cut corners or used cheap components during the “rebuild” process and your “Steinway” piano will never perform up to your expectations. Poorly rebuilt Steinway pianos have very little resale value as well. This is why “used Steinways” that seem priced at “too good to be true” levels make me very skeptical. If a new Steinway B costs $125,000.00, then how bad must a piano be for someone to ask only $15,000 – $25,000 for a “rebuilt” one? Before you consider a “rebuilt” piano – especially if it’s an expensive one – make sure you know all about the piano and the person selling it. Hire your own piano expert to evaluate the instrument and determine whether or not it is indeed “a good deal.” A small amount of skepticism and a reasonable consulting fee could save you a ton of frustration – not to mention tens of thousands of dollars!
Should You Buy a Used Steinway Piano?
In most cases, no. Honestly, for the money you’ll spend getting a “good” used Steinway, you could get a very fine new instrument or put a down payment on a truly exceptional handcrafted new piano. …but – if it is a used Steinway you want – I advise you to be very cautious. Absolutely insist that the seller be completely transparent about the history of the piano, its age, any work that was performed on the piano, what kind of parts, who performed the work on the piano, where all of the work was done, and what kind of warranty comes with the instrument. All of this information should be crucial to your decision whether or not to purchase and to how much you’re willing to spend on the piano.
This is the only certificate that “certifies” a used Steinway piano – the Steinway Heirloom Collection certificate. If a seller claims to have a “certified used piano” (from any brand), demand to see the certificate.
Right here in Phoenix, Arizona, we have some piano dealers and “piano technicians” who simply blow the dust out of an old piano, regulate the action, voice the hammers, paint or rub out the finish, and then sell the instrument as “refurbished” or “rebuilt.” Some even go so far as to claim their used pianos are “certified” by Steinway. This is all a lie – a marketing gimmick to mislead good-faith shoppers into believing they are purchasing a higher quality instrument than they are. Remember, the only pianos that have a Certificate of Authenticity from Steinway are the pianos that Steinway restores themselves (These are the pricey “Steinway Heirloom Collection” pianos we discussed earlier). So – unless you want to pay top dollar for a used Steinway piano – you’re going to have to trust the seller, the “rebuilder” and the technician you hire to verify their work.
So, be very careful with used Steinway Pianos. In the vast majority of cases, reasonably priced used Steinways or “rebuilt” Steinways are only priced so low because the seller could not sell them for more. There must be a reason for that… and, unfortunately, it’s up to you to discover what that reason is. Beware anyone offering to give you a Steinway piano – especially if they need you to pay for its relocation. There are so many scams out there. You just have to be very careful. The only way to reliably find a good used Steinway is to purchase one from a dealership with a long and celebrated reputation… but – even then – you should demand absolute transparency and hire your own piano tech to verify the instrument’s quality. As always, should you need advice on a piano you’re considering – even if it’s not one of ours – we are happy to help you. We’ve built our reputation on service. Contact us and you’ll get the help you need to make an informed decision.
