While we are unable to come to your residence to provide you with an appraisal for your piano, we would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some information that may prove useful for you in determining the value of your piano. This information is not to be taken for industry standard.

During our many years in the piano industry, we have noticed certain factors that have a great bearing on the value of a piano. One of these factors being, of course, age. We have discovered in many situations where a piano pre-dated WWII, there is a significant decrease in the value. Often, we are asked if a piano is valuable because it is fifty years or older and may it possibly be an “Antique?” Unlike a Chippendale writing desk or Tiffany lamp, an old piano is usually just that: an old piano. While restoring a fine piece of furniture usually involves a Craftsman or Artisan restoring the finish, this would only be the starting point with a piano. The piano is a complicated mechanical marvel involving thousands of moving parts, all of which are subject to wear and deterioration. Restoring these many parts to their original condition is a major undertaking for a skilled Craftsman or qualified Registered Piano Technician, requiring many, many hours of labor. Then, even this is sometimes not possible due to the lack of available replacement parts.

Another important thing to consider is the tuning of the piano. The National Piano Manufacturers Association of America recommends that a qualified tuner (not a novice) tune your piano four times during the first year of a new piano, and two times a year thereafter. Any piano will be more fully enjoyed if it is kept in proper tune at A440 pitch at all times. If it has been several years more, you may experience a consequence! (In reality, the cost of servicing the piano will be much higher than normal.) The piano strings may need pre-tension and temperament set to bring it back to pitch of A-440; and then, a “fine” tuning is necessary. That is two processes in tuning the piano. If the piano is very badly out-of-tune and years since the last tuning, it may take more than two times “to get the strings to settle down.” This means additional expense to you! It takes extra work and time, even for the most competent tuner/technician, even with many years of tuning experience. Taking all of this into consideration could mean a lower value of your piano.