Buying a Grand Piano? Read These 4 Tips First
- Buy the Biggest Grand Piano You Can Fit (and Afford): Did you know that the strings of the piano do not make its sound? The vibration of the wooden soundboard actually makes the sound you hear from your piano. Every extra inch adds more impact to your piano’s sound. It’s recommended that you purchase the largest grand piano that you can comfortable afford for your space. You are unlikely to regret going bigger on your grand piano, but may regret going for too small a grand piano such as a baby grand. Keep in mind that most people who purchase a grand piano will have the instrument for generations and are unlikely to ever purchase another grand piano.
- Purchase from a Known Grand Piano Brand: Steinway, Yamaha, and Knabe grand pianos are well known for a reason. These brands are most likely to retain their value in case you ever need to resell. Most “off” brand grand pianos may look beautiful, but are often meant to be more attractive looking than sounding.
- If Buying a Used Grand Piano, Ask for Its History: What year was the grand piano manufactured? Was the grand piano made in Japan, Indonesia, or other? Was the piano regularly tuned?
- Play Several Grand Pianos Before Choosing Yours: If you have the luxury, be sure to play several grand pianos before buying one. Avoid buying a grand piano without paying (such as online). Every grand piano will have a slightly different sound and some may need costly repairs. See the video below for a great example of how three different Yamaha C3 grand pianos compare in sound.