Why should I buy a restored piano over a new piano?
Restored Pianos:
Have a superior tone compared to most modern pianos
Have more elegant cabinets, more beautiful veneers - sometimes with intricate engravings
They hold their value better
NOT made with chip-board or 'MDF' board, nor do they have any plastic components
Many have real Ivory-covered keyboards
- They were built by craftsmen using solid, seasoned wood to a high standard and thus have a life expectancy of 80-100 years before the need for restoration.
New Pianos:
- The majority are built in the Far East, but also in the USA, China and Russia/former Eastern bloc countries. A number of smaller manufacturers in Western Europe still build pianos.
- The majority are mass-produced in assembly-line style factories. In order to keep manufacturing costs down, the quality of parts used varies, kilns are used to artificially 'season' wooden parts and even soundboards can be made out of multi-laminated wood!
- Cabinets are usually lacking in character or refinement
- They lose their value quicker, compared to traditional pianos.
- Be wary of cheaply-priced instruments with German-sounding names. They are likely to have been built in China or the former Eastern Bloc. In our experience, they are poorly constructed and have a limited life expectancy.