The website contains a wealth of free information regarding guides to appraisals and buying new and used pianos. Chickering pianos for sale buy a chickering piano at. I am teaching myself with occasional input from a neighbor who is an accomplished pianist and preferred to explore the traditional routine via schaum, the one my children used when they were learning, instead of the methods typically used for adult courses. We believe that our work is important for piano owners and lovers. Piano blue book prices used piano value piano pricing service. Kawai piano prices and value upright, grand new, used. Have an old piano and are wondering about its value. If the serial number is not in this location, but you find a 3 or 4digit number elsewhere on the piano, it is likely the serial number. While the appraiser may be an expert in rendering the valuation, the information supplied is what we must base our piano appraisal on. Much of the information here is from the piano book by larry fine.
Our piano price guide will help you compare prices across brands so you can compare. Log on to the orion musical instrument blue book website to find the value of a musical instrument. Kawai, japans second largest piano manufacturer next to yamaha, was established in 1927 by koichi kawai and his partners in hamamatsu, japan. It is vital to understand that piano values are determined by many factors, and a blue book can by its nature only give you a ballpark figure. Please note, this article was written back in 2009.
Now you have access to the complete piano pricing that before was only available to piano dealers. A pianos selling price may not reflect its musical value. Comparing the piano with final selling prices of similar pianos of the same age, brand name, model, condition and market location. Piano bluebook prices steinway piano gallery of naples. Bluebook of pianos piano information and appraisal. Fair market value is the price at which an item would change hands between a. With more than 150 years in the industry, kimball has produced a range of pianos that can be appreciated by players of any ability. If you have an old book that you would like us to research, or if you have any other questions regarding old. For this very reason, we can help you determine the accurate. Your pianos age is one of the most significant factors in determining your pianos value. True blue book values are based on how much something like a car is sold for. The bluebook of pianos is an invaluable handbook for anyone who owns or plans to buy a piano. Piano appraisal service piano appraisal piano values. Helping you determine the value of a piano continued page 2 please note, this article was written back in 2009.
Brougher restorations the value of a pneumatic player piano read this very common inquiry hello my name is jim and i reside in london, ohio just east of dayton. Pianos, particularly instruments more than a few years old, really have no default base value like the blue book valuati. A blue book of pianos is a compilation of prices of new and used pianos, which can be used to give you an estimate of a pianos value. He started in the piano business as a teenager, worked at yamaha, and became the first in japan to completely.
This section lists the average resale prices for used pianos. Many people looking to buy or sell a seek to appraise its value by means of a so called blue book of pianos. Find the kelley blue book value of your suzuki motorcycle with our easy to use pricing tool. Baldwin pianos for sale buy a baldwin piano at pianomart. While the main points are still valid some of the prices will have changed. Age, history and value of your piano, fast and easy online appraisal service. Since there is no used piano price directory or blue book as there is for other merchandise, like cars for example, piano pricing can be very confusing for most people. Chickering quickly became one of the largest and most successful piano manufacturers of all time. A grand guide to buying a used steinway piano is designed to assist you in your journey in selecting a genuine used steinway pianofrom learning about how a steinway is built and rebuilt, to what makes a steinway a genuine steinway and what factors to consider when shopping the usedsteinway market. Kimball is a wellknown brand, and several of its antique pianos are considered highly collectible.
The purpose of this article is to comment on and clarify the information in piano buyer on determining the value of a used piano. Big blue book of intermediate piano solos volume 2. Fair market value is the price at which an item would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither of whom is compelled to buy or sell. Each calculation accesses unique valuation data from your pianos specific model, age and condition criteria. How to determine the value of a used piano our pastimes. Current fair market value is the amount someone might receive when selling their item to a dealer or at auction.
The piano buyer article has since been revised to include these comments. The age of a kimball piano with the serial number 36415 is 119 years old. Big blue book of intermediate piano solos volume 2 hal leonard corp. This book and the accompanying website enabled me to make an informed value estimate of the used piano i just bought, and to be an intelligent and careful shopper.
While the kimball piano value makes it more accessible to beginners, you can buy highend pianos suitable for wellseasoned players. Since there is no used piano price directory or blue book as there is for other merchandise, like cars for example, piano pricing can be very confusing for most. Locating your serial number chickering foundation home. A percentage of the price of a new piano of the same make and model, or one of similar quality and description. What is the age and maximum value of a kimball organ. Find out what your car is worth at, the trusted resource for used car values. A blue book of pianos is a compilation of prices of new and used pianos, which can be used to give you an estimate of a piano s value. Because local market forces have a huge influence on piano prices, it is. I can tell you that there are a lot more cases of people getting ripped off by unethical technicians with unneeded repairs than from honest piano dealers.
Fine gives lots of advice about the sales process at piano shops, and how to. Look in an piano blue book to see what your piano is worth. His older title the piano book has a wealth of information, but regarding used instruments, only broad, sweeping generalizations are discussed about pricingdepreciation. Prices of used pianos vary wildly, depending on local economies, supply and. The blue book of pianos website values of automatic pianos and organs by arthur reblitz response to question about value by john tuttle. This guide contains price information of new piano that is distributed in the united states of america. A blue book of pianos is a compilation of prices of. The kimball piano company, based in chicago, was one of the largest piano manufacturers in the world. You dont have to be a musician to enjoy collecting vintage sheet music. This online piano appraisal takes you step by step through the piano assessment process. Get the kelley blue book value for your used car or tradein vehicle, find tools to help you with buying or. The piano forums are an online community of piano lovers including piano industry professionals, concert artists, recording artists, technicians, dealers, manufacturers, and thousands of enthusiastic amateur pianist.
To understand your pianos value, you must first figure out what it is, who built it, how old it is and what condition it is in. If youre going about this on your own, your best resource is an updated version of the piano book. Acrosonic was a line of spinets and consoles produced by baldwin between around 1935 1965, i believe, maybe a bit later. Depreciation schedule a percentage of the price of a new piano of the same make and model, or one of similar quality and description. From the late 19th century through the early part of the 20th century, sheet music was widely distributed. Piano values thus depend in part on whos buying and playing them. If you find our application useful, please support our work with a donation. In addition to the values of almost 3,000 piano brands and models, this book is a goldmine of information for any piano owner or enthusiast. The best book of this sort, a practical, downtoearth price guide, workable, easy to follow guidelines. Each piano is manufactured with a unique serial number that is recorded for future reference of not only when it was made but also where. Kelley blue book assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.
The bluebook of pianos has been published for over 50 years. Used piano prices e book of pianos fair market value. The bluebook of pianos is a helpful handbook for anyone who plans to buy a piano. If youre selling a piano on the other hand, value refers more to what the piano is really worth, its intrinsic value. Whether you have your piano completely restored or choose to use it as display, an antique piano is an eyecatching addition to any home. Bent was one of the most well known piano and organ makers of the late 19th century in america. Kimball piano values vary based on age and condition. The value of a specific piano model may be determined on the basis of the price shown.
To determine the true market value of a book, or any other collectible item, an appraisal may be necessary. Koichi kawai was always mechanically minded, inventing early on in life. Your piano s age is one of the most significant factors in determining your piano s value. Chickering did not begin applying case numbers until after this period. Pianomarts extensive inventory includes literally hundreds of new and secondhand pianos crafted by piano makers large and small, from a. Did you recently inherit a piano and wonder if its worth restoring to enhance its value. A good piano in poor condition is still a poor piano. Be wary of the guy who pulls out a book or tip sheet to give you the low down on a piano, especially the other guys piano. The bluebook of pianos the guide to new piano prices. Piano blue book piano prices manufacturers suggested. Used piano consumer guides the official bluebook of.
How to determine the value of a used piano pianobuyer. Piano buyer has guidance and pricing for new instruments. After an illustrated discussion of piano structure that explains the workings of both grand and upright pianos, the book gives careful advice for purchasing a new or used piano. You will need the serial number, the date and the manufacturer name. This modern valuation calculator is designed for uprights made after 1970 but also provides results for pianos manufactured as far back as 1950. The schaum piano piano series is a very professional, methodical, yet uncomplicated way to learn piano. The problem with these sites is that, unlike with automobiles, boats, motorcycles, and homes, pianos do not have titles that have to be registered. How to determine the value of a musical instrument our. Free piano prices guide new or used fair market value. These brand names listed here accounted for over 95% of all grand pianos sold in the united states during the last 35 years. This is not the best method, but many use it to get a value.