Why You Should Choose An Antique Piano

There are many handmade antique pianos that have been meticulously restored to become unrivaled in style, design, beauty and craftsmanship. Many of the veneers that are found on these extraordinary instruments are actually no longer available, or are prohibitively expensive on a modern piano. Ivory keys have a unique feel and beauty that cannot be imitated by today's synthetics.

In the past, a piano was one of the more important possessions for a home of distinction. And even today this can be true with a fine antique piano. Dedicated craftsmen took meticulous care at each and every stage of the manufacturing process to create these instruments -- a level of care rarely seen in modern times.

The great classical, romantic and impressionist composers of history knew and specifically wrote for the sound of these pianos. As a result, piano makers would build their instruments in order to please these great performers and composers. With a properly tuned and restored antique piano, you will find it much easier to play Brahms without any muddiness, while Mozart's bass lines will perfectly balance with the upper voices. In fact, many players that are used to modern pianos have been known to express tears of joy when they first hear the true sound behind the music they've been playing for years.

Where To Buy Antique Pianos

The easiest place to look for an antique piano is on the Internet. However, make sure the source is a reputable dealer. You definitely won't want to pay antique piano prices just for a replica. Also, you should be well aware of the history of the instrument. It's important to understand if an antique baby grand piano, for example, was refurbished or refinished. You'll also need documentation if the upright antique piano you are after had its soundboard replaced at some point. Become a savvy shopper, and don't worry about asking a dealer a lot of questions. After all, you will want the value of your antique piano to be accurate.

You can reliably date almost any antique piano simply by finding its serial number (which is located inside an instrument), and then looking it up in "The Pierce Piano Atlas." Nevertheless, an assessment by a professional antique piano appraiser is the most accurate method to properly determine the worth of a particular instrument. You may also need to know the true value of your antique piano for insurance purposes or to sell it.

There are some experts can give you an appraisal online or over the phone, but they will need several photos and other documentation. They will compare your photos to other photos from documented antiques and attempt to value your antique piano accordingly. Other may insist on actually seeing the piano in person in order to determine a more accurate value. Appraisals can often be expensive though, so be sure to shop around for the most knowledgeable and reasonable antique piano appraiser.

How Long Can An Antique Piano Last?

Some antique instruments are over 150 years old. There are even pianos that are being cared for that are over 200 years old. They even play well and sound wonderful. A well maintained and restored antique piano can last you for generations to come.

What To Look For When Considering An Antique Piano

You will frequently be able to find an old piano in bad shape, and then put in about a year of work on it and produce something that sounds great and that you can resell for a nice profit. These kinds of old pianos will require about 200 hours of work in order to fully restore them.

Before making a purchase, be sure to do a lot of research into the piano manufacturer and the quality of the pianos from that particular time period. By looking online, you should be able to figure out how much the piano you're interested in will cost, as well as how much you can sell it for.

Many antique pianos have exquisite and decadent veneer work, or distinctive moldings. So if you want to use it as a piece of furniture for the home, try to find something that meshes well with your decor.