Why should I choose a restored piano over a new piano?

Choosing a restored piano over a new piano is like comparing Apples and apples.  The first advantage of buying a restored piano is the price. For instance,  a new Steinway model O is double the price of a rebuilt model O from our company. But for some people, they don’t compare Apples to apples. Most often people go into a piano store, and see many new pianos. Overwhelmed with its beauty, buying rebuilt pianos does not come to their minds.

The Advantage of 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 action components.

• Some 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.

What you need to know about new pianos?

In terms of numbers, the vast majority are built in the Far East, 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! Now were not talking about Steinway, Beckstein or Pianos in that class.

It’s not uncommon for someone to go in and buy a brand-new shiny mass-produced piano for the same price.  They could’ve had a rebuilt Steinway. The rebuilt Steinway will be far superior quality to a mass-produced product. You may have a much higher resale value.

Also some of these new pianos have drawbacks like:

• Cabinets are usually lacking in character or refinement

• They lose their value quicker, compared to traditional pianos.

Also, be wary of cheaply-priced instruments with German-sounding names.