As with new acoustic pianos, the cost of a used acoustic piano is also related to its original quality of manufacture, its size and its furniture style.

Primary Factors affecting price:

• the reputation of the manufacturer
• the current condition of the piano
• a substantial warranty to the purchaser

Brand name
Some manufacturers are known for producing pianos using quality materials and hand workmanship which means that over time the piano will retain fine tone and touch with minimum maintenance costs. These pianos hold their value well. The brand name on the front of the piano is of utmost importance.

How has the piano been treated
Nevertheless, even a fine quality piano can be ruined by such problems as inappropriate storage, infrequent tuning, water damage, rodent infestation, or improper "restoration" by a poor piano technician. All of these problems are very common, unfortunately.

Buy from an established dealer with a good reputation
Your best defense against wasting your money on a piano that will require huge outlays of cash for repair work before it will even hold a tune (much less ever have a decent tone or touch) is to buy a piano from a long-established dealer who provides a warranty on your piano.

If that piano dealer also offers a 100% trade-up (all your purchase price applied to the purchase of a more expensive piano at a later time), you can be assured that you are making a wise purchase.

Don't the piano by it's cover
No matter how ornate the wood carving on the case, don't even consider buying a piano that will not hold a tuning at any price. A complete restoration of the interior alone will cost you between $5000.00 to $10,000.00 (furniture refinishing can add thousands more). A piano is a musical instrument and has a monetary value based on it's quality as a musical instrument, not primarily on it's attractiveness as a piece of furniture.

Year it was manufactured
Also, keep in mind that if a piano was manufactured prior to the 1930's, it is near the end of its usable life as a musical instrument. In addition, these pianos were built to an entirely different tuning scale than modern pianos and as such were never designed to be able to hold what we now consider "tune". You need a piano with good tone, good touch, low maintenance costs, and a long remaining usable life. To be assured that you are getting a good deal, you need a warranty on your piano from a long-established piano store that carries a wide selection of pianos.