The Piano Book
Don't Even Consider Buying a Piano
Until You Read This Book!
The Piano Book®
Buying & Owning a New or Used Piano
by Larry Fine
Foreword by Keith Jarrett
How to buy and care for a piano — for 20 years the piano consumer's "bible." For more information, see the Table of Contents below and the Reviews and Excerpts at left.
ISBN 978-1929145010
244 pages
8-1/2 x 11 in.
Fourth Edition published January, 2001
How does the Fourth Edition differ from the Third Edition (1995)?
Important Note: The most recent edition of The Piano Book was published in 2001, and is no longer a reliable source of information about new-piano brands, models, and prices. For that information, see Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer, the semiannual supplement to The Piano Book, in the main part of this web site.
How does The Piano Book differ from Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer?
Table of ContentsForeword by Keith Jarrett Preface Preface to the Fourth Edition How to Use This Book CHAPTER 1: How the Piano Works [Pictorial Description of How Pianos Work] The Action How the Action Works in a Vertical Piano CHAPTER 2: Buying a Piano: An Orientation Initial Considerations Proficiency Level Furniture Should I Buy a Grand or a Vertical Piano? Looking For a Piano, or Zen and the Art of Piano Buying CHAPTER 3: Buying a New Piano Marketing How Pianos Differ in Quality and Features Case and Cabinet Construction, Styling, and Finish Shopping For a New Piano The Approach CHAPTER 4: A Consumer Guide to New and Recently Made Pianos The New Piano Survey The Myth of Objectivity Ratings Summary of Brands and Ratings in Alphabetical Order The Piano Industry Today: An Overview Index to Trade Names Stencil Pianos Brand-by-Brand Listings and Reviews Electronic Player Piano Systems and Hybrid Acoustic/Digital Pianos Commentary and Comparisons CHAPTER 5: Buying a Used Piano What's Out There A Brief History of the Piano How to Find a Used Piano Contacting Technicians and Rebuilding Shops Checking Out the Piano Looks, Styling, and Finish How Much Is It Worth? Depreciation Schedule for Pianos After the Sale Moving Selling Your Piano Addendum: Buying a Used Steinway or Mason & Hamlin Soundboard CHAPTER 6: Piano Moving and Storage Why Not to Move a Piano Yourself CHAPTER 7: A Beginner's Guide to Piano Care Tuning What Is Tuning? Humidity and Pianos Relative Humidity Other Kinds of Piano Service Cleaning and Polishing Room Acoustics The Piano Technician The Long-Range Outlook Additional Resources Quiet Keys Glossary/Index |
Links: The Piano Book Excerpts Reviews