technicians believe that these instruments, when rebuilt, sound and play better than new pianos. However, no one knows for sure why this should be so, since most of the components in the piano are replaced during rebuilding. Some point to the fact that Steinway operated its own plate foundry until about World War II, afterward using a commercial plate foundry (which it now owns). Because this radical change in the manufacture of such an important component roughly corresponds with the end of the vintage era, and because the plate is one of the few original parts to survive the rebuilding process, some speculate that it holds the key to the difference. Others say it has to do with changes in the quality of the wood available to Steinway and
other companies. Still others say it wasn’t any single thing, but rather a combination of many fortuitous factors, including extremely skilled and talented craftsmen, that enabled these companies to make such special pianos during that period, but allegedly not afterward (though that doesn’t explain why the rebuilt ones from that period should be better). Steinway & Sons, for its part, disputes the entire idea that older Steinways are better, dismissing it as a romantic notion spread by purveyors of those pianos in their own financial interest. The company says it has done extensive testing of both plates and woods, and the idea that the older plates and woods were better has no scientific basis. It says it has also carefully inspected hundreds of older Steinways at its factory rebuilding
facility, which is the largest Steinway rebuilding facility in the world, and finds no evidence that the older pianos were built better than today’s—in fact, it believes that just the opposite is true. Steinway acknowledges that some pianists may prefer the sound of specific older pianos for subjective artistic reasons, but says that those considering the purchase of a restored, older instrument should do so to save money, not to seek better quality. For more discussion of this topic, and of specific technical issues appli cable to the rebuilding of a Steinway or Mason & Hamlin, please see The Piano Book.
How Much Is It Worth? The valuation of used pianos is dif ficult. Prices of used pianos vary
PRICES OF USED PIANOS (US$)
Private Seller
Worse
Average
Dealer
Better Reconditioned Rebuilt
Vertical, pre-1950, average brand Vertical, pre-1950, better brand Vertical, pre-1950, best brand
0–300 0–500 500–2,000
0–600 300–1,200 1,000–3,500
300–1,000 700–1,200 2,000–5,000
1,000–1,500 1,200–2,000 3,000–6,000
N/A N/A N/A
Vertical, 1950–1985, average brand Vertical, 1950–1985, better brand Vertical, 1950–1985, best brand
0–600 0–800 700–2,000
400–1,000 700–1,500 1,500–4,000
1,000–2,000 1,000–2,500 2,000–5,000
1,200–2,500 2,000–4,500 4,000–7,000
N/A N/A N/A
Vertical, 1985– Use Depreciation Schedule Grand, pre-1950, average brand, 5' Grand, pre-1950, average brand, 6' Grand, pre-1950, average brand, 7'
0–500 500–1,200 800–1,500
700–1,500 1,500–2,000 1,500–3,500
1,000–2,500 2,000–3,000 3,000–5,000
1,500–3,500 3,000–4,500 4,000–7,000
N/A N/A N/A
500–1,000 1,000–2,500 1,800–3,500
2,000–3,000 2,000–4,000 3,500–7,000
2,500–4,000 3,000–6,000 5,000–10,000
5,000–8,000 7,000–10,000 8,000–15,000
N/A 15,000–25,000 18,000–30,000
3,000–6,000 6,000–8,000 7,000–10,000
6,000–9,000 7,000–15,000 12,000–18,000
8,000–18,000 12,000–20,000 22,000–35,000
15,000–23,000 15,000–28,000 20,000–40,000
18,000–35,000 28,000–50,000 35,000–65,000
Grand, 1950–1985, average brand, 5' Grand, 1950–1985, average brand, 6' Grand, 1950–1985, average brand, 7'
500–1,200 500–2,000 1,500–3,000
1,000–2,500 2,000–3,000 2,500–4,000
1,500–3,000 3,000–5,000 4,000–6,000
3,000–5,000 3,500–6,000 4,000–8,000
Grand, 1950–1985, better brand, 5' Grand, 1950–1985, better brand, 6' Grand, 1950–1985, better brand, 7'
800–2,000 1,500–3,000 2,500–5,000
2,000–4,000 2,500–5,000 5,000–9,000
2,000–6,000 4,000–8,000 8,000–13,000
5,000–9,000 8,000–12,000 10,000–20,000
N/A 12,000–22,000 15,000–30,000
4,000–9,000 6,000–10,000 8,000–12,000
7,000–14,000 8,000–15,000 14,000–22,000
9,000–18,000 12,000–20,000 18,000–28,000
15,000–21,000 20,000–28,000 20,000–40,000
20,000–35,000 28,000–50,000 35,000–65,000
Grand, pre-1950, better brand, 5' Grand, pre-1950, better brand, 6' Grand, pre-1950, better brand, 7' Grand, pre-1950, best brand, 5' Grand, pre-1950, best brand, 6' Grand, pre-1950, best brand, 7'
Grand, 1950–1985, best brand, 5' Grand, 1950–1985, best brand, 6' Grand, 1950–1985, best brand, 7'
N/A N/A N/A
Grand, 1985– Use Depreciation Schedule
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