Buying New, Used, or Restored
Acoustic Pianos and Digital Pianos
A piano is one of the most expensive purchases a household will ever make, and buying a piano can be difficult, confusing, and time consuming. Piano Buyer is a free, 288-page, semiannual piano buying guide that will help you make a fast informed decision concerning the purchase of a piano or digital piano.
Editorially independent of any manufacturer or dealer.
QUICK LINKS
First Reads
FAQs
New Pianos
Models & Prices (tables)
Models & Prices (searchable database)
Used Pianos
Classified Ads (searchable database)
Digital Pianos
Models & Prices (tables)
Models & Prices (searchable database)
Electronic Player Pianos
Feature Articles (current)
Are "Hand-Built" Pianos Becoming Obsolete?
Feature Articles (archive)
Specialty Basic Knowledge Articles
Buying Pianos For an Institution
Piano Maintenance in Institutions
Larry’s Blog Articles
How to Determine the Value of a Used Piano
Local Services Directory
Order Books
The Piano Sale
by Lucille Rains
It was unusual for anyone to shop for a piano on a Friday night, much less expect to have it delivered and tuned that same night, but this was a special occasion. Istvan (pronounced ISHT-von) was getting married over the weekend, and he wanted to surprise his bride. He looked at the beautiful, high-polish ebony Kawai console that I had for sale in my home/shop and, in his thick Hungarian accent, said, "LOO-sil, I like, but must have valnut."
Need a piano-related service?
Find one easily in our new directory, conveniently grouped into five categories: piano tuners and technicians, rebuilders, dealers, teachers, and movers.
Search new piano models by brand, size, price range, furniture style & more!
Search digital piano models by brand, price, popular features, and specifications!
Search for thousands of used pianos!
Read additional articles
by Larry Fine ...
Find all the feature articles from past issues of Piano Buyer
on our Archive page.
Find information about Piano Buying/Selling and
Piano Maintenance on our FAQs pages.
Piano Ratings and Piano Quality • New Piano Prices, Models, and Specifications
Used Piano Blue Book Values • Piano Rebuilding • Piano Dealers, Piano Manufacturers
New Pianos, Used Pianos, Upright Pianos, Grand Pianos, Player Pianos, Hybrid Pianos
Acoustic vs. Digital • Digital Piano Reviews • Piano Benches, Lamps, and Accessories
and Receive:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Message from the Publisher (p. 1)
The Prodigious Power of Piano Playing (p. 6)
Acoustic or Digital: What’s Best For Me? (p. 10)
FEATURE ARTICLES
Review: Yamaha's NU1 Hybrid (p. 51)
Are "Hand-Built" Pianos Becoming Obsolete? (p. 75)
ACOUSTIC PIANOS
Piano Buying Basics (p. 12)
The New-Piano Market Today (p. 35)
A Map of the Market for New Pianos (Ratings) (p. 44)
Buying a Used or Restored Piano (p. 55)
Buying a High-End Piano (p. 71)
Buying Pianos For an Institution (p. 83)
Piano Maintenance in Institutions (p. 98)
How to Make a Piano Room Sound Grand (p. 100)
Caring For Your Piano (p. 105)
DIGITAL PIANOS
Buying a Digital Piano (p. 115)
Digital Piano Basics, Part 1: Imitating the Acoustic Piano (p. 122)
Digital Piano Basics, Part 2: Beyond the Acoustic Piano (p. 128)
My Other Piano is a Computer: An Introduction to Software Pianos (p. 138)
HYBRID & PLAYER PIANOS
Hybrid Pianos (p. 140)
Buying an Electronic Player-Piano System (p. 144)
NEW-PIANO BUYERS’ REFERENCE
Acoustic Pianos
Brand & Company Profiles (p. 158)
Model & Pricing Guide (p. 204)
Digital Pianos
Brands & Models (p. 263)
Specifications & Prices (p. 269)
Advertiser Index/Photo Credits (p. 288)