2014 Yamaha Baby Grand

6) The last piano in our showcase is a Steinway Model O baby grand for the price of $13,776 and it is for sale at American Samaritan, a donation spot for pianos in the Denver, Colorado area. Do keep in mind that this piano has a crack in the soundboard, which they did note if you’re a local planning on buying a baby grand.5) While this has been sold, it’s another important piano to highlight for readers looking to buy a baby grand. This is a 2005 Otto Altenburg OA-510L in stunning ebony finish for the price of $9,750 that was sold at Freehold Music Center in New Jersey. A South Korean made piano, this is still a stunning piano for its vintage look and its black finish. We also have the matching bench that compliments the ebony finish. We have no scratches to mention nor are the keys fatigued or showing signs of cracks; the finish looks brand new.

Finally, there’s the tuning. If a piano hasn’t been tuned, it will not only sound bad, but it will be an extra cost that you, the buyer, will have to add to your budget if you plan on buying a piano that has yet to be tuned. While that example may have a moderate affect because it is a Yamaha (and a piano can always be restored, although that does cost money), the fact remains that the condition a vintage piano is in matters considerably. Overall, the key factors to consider are the finish, the keys, tone/sound, and the interior mechanisms of the piano. The value of baby grand pianos range from $4,000 to $12,000 for a decent, used baby grand. The worth of a baby grand can vary from the brand, its condition, and its age. Generally, an older piano from an unrecognizable company will be cheaper than a notable brand (like Kawai, for example) from the same year. A company like Kawai is a recognizable company that has been making excellent pianos for decades.3) Our next baby grand in this showcase is a ​​Cristofori “Opus II” OPG58 Ebony Satin for the low price of $6,499 for sale at Jordan Kitt’s Music, specifically their Rockville, MD location. This is a great baby grand for the price and it shows very little war and fatigue in the ebony finish, nor do we see any worn out keys. Brands like Yamaha, Steinway and Sons, Kawai, and Bosendorfer are names that are recognizable and therefore will command higher prices because of their quality and excellence. This is especially true for pianos from decades before, as old as the 1950s or earlier, are higher because they are vintage. Some pianos that don’t have a recognizable name, but are in a high price point are likely generally new, perhaps they are only ten to fifteen years old. In that case, they are still decent pianos because they have a lot of life left in them.Now let’s take a quick look at a handful of baby grand pianos available for sale on the marketplace, and see whether or not it seems they are worth the money (or are over or undervalued).

The pictures do leave a bit to be desired because they’re grainy and low quality. If you’re local, do plan on checking the piano out. If not, contact them and ask if they could send you a few clean pictures. While we don’t have more pictures or a video showing the piano in action, do contact them to test this piano out if you are in the Washington, D.C. area. Brand name can only go so far when it comes to a used baby grand piano price. For example, if we have a Yamaha that has been cosmetically abused or beaten up from years of poor maintenance, this would certainly affect the value of the instrument.

2) Next up we have a 1950 Baldwin M Baby Grand for sale at Stilwell Pianos in Mesa, Arizona for the reasonable price of $7,490. In satin mahogany finish with a wet sand casted plate, this is a prime example of Baldwin at their finest. We not only have a mixture of pictures showing the piano was taken care of in its lifetime and maintained professionally by technicians, but we have a video. Videos, I stress, are important because they show you the piano in action if you’re not a Mesa local or can’t go there in person.When judging the value of baby grand pianos, there are many factors that must be considered in order to know you’re getting your money’s worth. But how best can you tell a baby grand is selling for its true worth? How best can you know whether a baby grand is undervalued or overvalued? 4) From Rick Jones Pianos in Beltsville, MD for sale is a 1993 Kohler & Campbell SKG-50 baby grand in stunning cherry finish for the price of $6,988. Made by Samick in Korea, this is a piano great for buyers with a limited budget, but are seeking a fair balanced piano in sound and touch. With a lifetime upgrade guarantee, ten-year warranty, and free local delivery, this is a steal! Any cracks or damage on the body can hamper the sound and playability. As we have highlighted in the last Steinway piano, while it had a crack on the soundboard, they did tune it. But remember that a soundboard crack can affect the sound and value.Let’s start out with the finish. If there are scratches or faded parts of the paint, then it will affect value. Like a car having rust areas in its paint, so will the piano lose its value because it is an aesthetic factor. While it doesn’t affect the playing, it is a factor to remember when discussing price.

We also have a video showing the piano in action and a slideshow of pictures with immense details. We see a few scuffs in the black keys and a few scratches in the finish, but this piano is in great condition. It’s obvious that this piano has been well kept in its life. There is something special about baby grand pianos, and reasons why they are popular, especially for home use. When I play, I truly enjoy the feel and sound of a baby grand. If you are considering purchasing a new or used baby grand piano, here are some basics that will help with your decision. Unless you have a concert hall in your home, the baby grand piano is probably the largest piano you will ever need. I have never encountered a situation at home where I needed a louder or richer sound than that produced by a baby grand. The tone is also very deep and sonorous, from bass to treble. I recommend a room with hardwood flooring to maximize the sound quality.

This piano is large enough that you will need to dedicate a lot of space for it. There are other considerations, such as how close it is to windows, vents, furnaces, and just about any source of heat, cold or moisture. An interior wall is the best place for your piano, and this will minimize your chances of having to tune the piano frequently. Any big change in temperature or humidity can also cause the wood to warp.The final consideration when researching baby grand pianos is your family. How many family members will be using the piano? How often will they play? Do you have adults and children who will be tickling the ivories? These will help to determine the quality and cost you should invest in your piano.

Keeping your baby grand piano in tune requires some regular maintenance. The sound of each piano is different, and each has its own personality when it comes to tuning. I like to have the same person tune the piano each time, as they should become familiar with the unique nature of each piano. That way, they are able to tune it quickly and correctly. Baby grand pianos are not tuned to exact notes on most of the keys. They are tuned to create a pleasant overall sound, and that may require strings to be slightly flat or slightly sharp, depending on where they are higher or lower than “middle C.” This is where your piano tuner is worth the time and money, because they can create the overall sound your piano is capable of.We live in Gainesville GA and are considering the purchase of a baby grand to replace our old upright. Do you service the Gainesville area with tuning?

As the name implies, the baby grand is smaller than the grand piano. Most baby grand pianos are between 59 inches and 71 inches long, and 5 feet wide. This means you will need a lot of space in your home to place it. The end of the piano opposite the keys is called the tail, and is usually around 3 feet wide. The wider the tail, the better your baby grand will sound. This is because the wider tail allows for longer bass strings, which really enhance the tone and volume of your piano.I didn’t realize that you need to tune a baby grand piano regularly. I always just assumed it stayed tuned, but it makes sense that as a string instrument, it would detune on its own. My wife and I have been considering buying a baby grand piano for our sitting room. We want our kids to learn how to play. I will have to make sure I find somebody who can tune it for me before I purchase one.

The Yamaha “G” series of pianos was renamed to the now-famous “C” series during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. The “G” series was one of Yamaha’s highest-quality pianos, and is not to be confused with some of the similarly-named inferior quality pianos that came later such as the GC, GH, GA, and GBK.

This piano has a magnificent light touch and remarkably mellow tone. At less than half of the cost of a new piano, this instrument must be played to be believed! The GB1/GB1K is made in Indonesia. Yamaha produce pianos all over the world and has factories in China, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, and the United States. For the very best quality you should look for pianos made in Japan as that is where Yamaha make many of their very best pianos such as their CFIIIS concert grand piano and their Yamaha U3 and other high-end upright and grand pianos. “I tried one of these out in-store and thought, wow, not bad. Then moved on to the slightly more expensive Yamaha models, which really show you the difference in sound quality. This is somewhat due to size though in addition to internal features of the piano.”“I have had it for a year and a half. It has just had its 5th tuning, and appears to be fairly stable now, and ready to go to six-monthly tunings… Apart from that, I see no compromises in the sound quality, other than the inherent limitations of the small size.”

First up is the 4′ 11″ Yamaha GB1K, Yamaha’s only Indonesian-made grand sold in the U.S. It was reviewed in the Chicago area by Kevin A. Brown. Brown found the treble tone on this instrument to be typically Yamaha: bright, crisp, and pleasant, but a bit generic and lacking in tonal color. As one descended into the tenor range, the tone, at first pleasant, gradually became muddier; then, after a rather rough transition not unlike what one might find in a small vertical piano, the bass turned both tubby and thin, lacking in resonance. The action was consistently smooth and controllable, though a bit “spongy” in the bass. Brown noted, “A pianist could play most types of music with some degree of control, but a pianist more skilled than I would not find playing this piano for any length of time satisfying,” in part because of the limited tonal color. The cabinet style is simple and functional, and has a slow-close fallboard, a nice feature designed to protect fingers. On the negative side, however, the music desk is fixed in place — it can be removed for tuning the piano, but cannot slide fore and aft. Despite the criticisms, Brown says that “it was a nice little piano, and seems like a suitable choice for budget-conscious shoppers looking for a small grand for children to learn on. However,” he cautions, “I question the decision to install a fixed-position music desk. Players may not find a comfortable position.”

If you are a serious (or ambitious) musician you may want to look elsewhere. The simple fact is, longer bass strings produce a better tone and you are just not getting that with a GBK1. Are you SURE you can’t fit a C1 in your home? If so, it’s a much better option. And if you can fit a C1 in, are you sure you can’t fit in a C2 or even a C3? Always go for the longest grand that you have space and budget for. If you regret your choice later it can be an expensive exercise upgrading.Scroll to the 50 seconds mark on this video and you’ll hear the GB1 bass notes being demonstrated. The pianists say that they sound better than many baby grands of that size and he is probably correct but have a listen and see what you think

“The place to begin is with the strings in the low bass. Normally among the longest in a piano, these copper-wrapped strings must be made thicker than normal to compensate for the length that the piano’s small size makes impossible. The extra thickness makes them stiffer, causing the harmonics they produce to deviate from their theoretical frequencies, in a phenomenon known as ‘inharmonicity’.”The Yamaha GBK1 is small, compact and looks very nice. If you are a novice of entry-level piano player you may not notice the difference in sound quality between the GBK1 and the models listed above. The piano does look great too so if you are looking for a Baby Grand Piano that is aesthetically pleasing, cheaper on your budget and does not take up an enormous amount of space, this will be a perfectly good choice.

The Yamaha GB1 is just 151cm long and pianos this small have very short bass strings. Small strings can produce a slightly “thuddy” or “tubby” sound in the bottom 2 or 3 octaves. Longer bass strings produce a much better tone, this is why concert grand pianos are soooo loooong.Prices may differ depending on your exact location and the shop you buy from but Yamaha puts the suggested retail price at somewhere between £9,700 and £11,000 depending on the color and finish you buy. If you have £9000-£11,000 to spend on a baby grand piano you might want to pause and see if you can find a little-used or properly reconditioned Japanese baby grand instead. The C1, C2, G1 or G2 are obvious choices that spring to mind. More on that later. If you are looking at a GB1K but are interested in some other Yamaha models that are similar but offer better sound and performance, here are a few to consider. The Yamaha GB1 baby grand piano (now known as the GB1K) is Yamaha’s most basic grand piano model but have Yamaha cut too many corners in order to keep the size and the price down? If you have any technical info or corrections for this article, please email [email protected] showed you that video to encourage you to embrace the fact that longer grand pianos produce a better sound. You may not have space for a C5 but hopefully, this helps persuade you not to go for anything smaller than a GC1 if possible.

“The GC1 is a fantastic piano and I was looking to buy one of them, a GB1 or a C1 a month ago. However… I did like the GC1 better than the C1!!! It is a fantastic piano. The GC1 is 161cm long, 149cm wide and weighs 290kg. This puts it at 10cm longer than the GB1 which will certainly help it produce a good tone in the bass. So if you have already decided against the GB1, well done, you should certainly consider something longer. Remember, longer is always better when it comes to grand pianos. So no, the GC1 isn’t too small to produce a good sound BUT please check if you can fit a C2 or the lush sounds of a C3 in first (no musician ever regrets upgrading to a C3). Please also read on to discover the differences between the GC1 and the C1 (the GC1 is a slightly reduced version of the C1).So the GC1 is the same basic beast as the C1 but with a less refined finish and a couple of corners cut. This helped Yamaha sell the GC1 for around £6000-£8000 less than a C1. It’s up to you to decide if you think that is a good saving.

“The GC series is fine for typical home use. I’ve had a GC1 for a year now, and no issues whatsoever, a very high-quality product for an entry-level Yamaha.”The GC1 is made in Hamamatsu, Japan which is Yamaha’s premier facility where they make many of their very best pianos such as the CFX concert grand piano and the famous Yamaha U3 uprights and other similar high-end uprights. In my opinion the GC1 is better than a Yamaha GB1 (10cm shorter than a GC1) or any other baby grand made in China or Indonesia both in terms of build quality, tonal production and definitely in terms of holding its value for many years. Japanese-made pianos represent a really strong combination of high build quality and sensible price. Avoid the temptation to go for the Chinese piano made “in collaboration with a German designer using German parts”. The 2021 RRP is somewhere around the £14,000 mark depending on the colour and finish that you buy. You should expect to save at least 30-40% off that price by buying a little-used or properly reconditioned used version. Most baby grands are well-cared for and little-used so looking at used or reconditioned options is a great idea.The GC1 is a very good baby grand piano and is definitely a step up from a GB1 and almost all other baby grands. As noted, the customers who have bought this model from us are always happy. If you are looking for the best performance possible and you don’t mind paying extra, the size and money however, there are some similar models, as we have mentioned, that will do the job better. If you are looking to sell your Yamaha GC1 baby grand piano, please email details to [email protected] and we will either make a cash offer or perhaps we can sell it on your behalf in our showroom. OUR QUICK OPINION: The Yamaha GC1 is a better piano than the Yamaha GB1 and better than the vast majority of baby grand pianos out there. If you don’t have the space for a Yamaha C3 or C5, then the GC1 could be a perfect option for you. If you have any technical info or corrections for this article, please email [email protected] Yamaha reputation rests on a century-long tradition of uncompromising care and craftsmanship, supported by an unmatched range of integrated expertise, top-of-the-line production facilities, and an exceptionally skilled, knowledgeable and dedicated workforce. Our strength in the full range of relevant technologies allows us to produce virtually every part of every piano ourselves – an approach that has helped us initiate significant advances and set what has long been recognized as the industry standard in quality control.

Balancing cutting-edge technology and innovation with the timeless skills of expert artisans, Yamaha pianos have come to represent an unsurpassed standard of affordable excellence. It is a standard that continues to generate ever-higher acclaim and make Yamaha grand pianos the first choice of many of the world’s most discriminating pianists.The beautiful GC Series combines the duplex scaling and rich tonal character of the coveted C Series grand with cost-saving advantages in materials and production to create an instrument that’s both exceptionally expressive and uncommonly affordable.

Unparalleled in their beauty and musical range, grand pianos are the ultimate expression of the piano maker’s art. Yamaha is proud to present a comprehensive line of incomparable grands, reflecting the very latest in Yamaha acoustic and technological advances.An open dialog with professional musicians generates invaluable input that, in conjunction with sophisticated research facilities, has led to continual advances in each new generation of Yamaha pianos. Our global network offers Yamaha customers additional advantages, from cost-efficient regional manufacturing to the ready availability of sales and support throughout most of the world.

PianoMart’s extensive inventory includes literally hundreds of new and second-hand pianos crafted by piano makers large and small, from A.B. Chase to Zimmerman and everything in between.

This beautiful used Yamaha isn’t just a typical used baby grand piano. It’s built with Yamaha’s trademark quality and attention to detail. Finished in a sleek polished ebony, this 1993 piano is in excellent shape! Select this piano now – before it’s gone!With their gravity hammer actions and open air soundboards, there’s no question that good grand pianos are more satisfying to play than uprights. Unfortunately, some have neither the space nor the budget for a good instrument. That’s where the GH1 Yamaha baby grand piano comes in. Its solid spruce soundboard, custom hammers and all wood action are rare for pianos in the entry-level price range. The GH1 Yamaha baby grand piano is the perfect embodiment of Yamaha’s philosophy to “build the best piano possible and then make it available to as many people as possible.” These instruments epitomize the quality, performance and value for which Yamaha has long been renowned.Sound – Well, a baby grand piano is still larger than upright pianos, with longer strings… Longer strings produce more overtones, and therefore they sound fuller and richer. Another important note is that longer strings in a piano vibrate more accurately than the shorter ones.To give you an idea of how a baby grand piano looks like, here is a CFX Yamaha concert piano, and that is a GB1 Yamaha baby grand piano (look how shorter it is).

The GB1 is the smallest Yamaha grand piano – 4’11” (149 cm) length. It actually falls under the category of Petite Grand which are the smallest grand pianos. Price: $11,000-14,000.Basically, it is a smaller version of a grand piano. While a concert grand piano can reach 9′ 0.3″ in length (275 cm) a baby grand piano is 5′ 0 – 5′ 6″(152-168cm) long. The first baby grand was built by Ernest Kaps in the 1860’s, although only in 1884 was it first patented by Hugo Sohmer, founder of Sohmer & Company.”Your entire site is simply fantastic. I really loved it. Now I am learning the basics of piano by myself, with your really great help. Thank you very much!”Yamaha baby grand pianos are also available in a silent version. It has a special button which when pushed silences the strings, allowing only you to hear the piano when connected to headphones. It is very handy for practicing without disturbing other people who may be around. “I only started to play about six weeks ago but the last hour of watching your videos about chord progressions has been something of a revelation. You’re brilliant!!!!” The GC1 or GC1M – Length: 5′ 3″ (161 cm) is built similarly to the C1, having duplex scaling and a rich and warm tonal character. It is a much affordable piano than the C1 because Yamaha uses cost-saving materials for its production. Price: $18,000-21,000.

“I’m a beginning keyboard player and your video’s are an excellent guide. You’re absolute not in a hurry, and take time to explain. I’m sure I’ll follow all your lessons to get the hang of playing the piano/keyboard!”Only when you put a baby grand piano in a room or in an average salon can you appreciate the advantages of a grand piano. The baby grand can not be used as a concert piano since it is much smaller, producing sound that is non effective in concert halls. As the closeout center for the Steinway Piano Gallery, we get lot of pianos traded in for great new Steinway pianos. We thoroughly inspect every trade-in to make sure the instrument meets our high standards. Price comparison is based on the Yamaha DGC1 piano price $39,549 published on their website as of August 5, 2015. There are a few differences between these pianos. First, the new version is built in China, while our used piano was built at the main factory in Japan, where Yamaha builds their larger pianos. The new one also has recording as well as playback. Recording can easily be added to this piano for an additional charge. After playing both pianos, our opinion is that they sound and play the same.Yamaha pianos first gained notice in the United States in the late 1960’s. Their popularity increased in the mid 1970’s as they were seen as cheaper alternatives to American built pianos at that time. While some feel their quality has too far of a range from low to high and today their pianos cost several times what they did in their earlier years, a good condition used Yamaha grand piano can be a great value.

Our family was once a new Yamaha Piano Dealer; today we are not a new Yamaha Piano Dealer in Naples, Bonita Springs, or Ft Myers. We offer a fantastic selection of used Yamaha baby grand pianos, used Yamaha grand pianos, and used Yamaha Disklavier player pianos.

Seasoned for the US market, this piano features a permanent crown, solid spruce soundboard, full length ribs, extruded aluminum action rails, and spruce keys.

Prices for high-quality new baby grands start within this $40,001–$85,000 range and go beyond it, too. Within this range, a Bechstein 160 costs $73,900. A Mason Hamlin B is $86,035. A Model S from Steinway costs $86,600. The cost for other new baby grands can go well beyond $85,000, as with the Fazioli F-156, which costs $135,100.

But what does a baby grand cost? That depends on whether it’s new or used, what brand it is, how old it is, and what condition it’s in. We’ve seen many baby grands at M. Steinert & Sons. We have been helping customers for 160 years to find the best piano for their needs.

Certified Pre-owned pianos offered by authorized dealers are typically not older than 30 years and in good condition, having been checked by a professional piano technician. Certified Pre-owned pianos can run into the $20,000-$60,000 range and more for newer reputable brands and models.

Others with less money look at “for sale by owner” types of pianos, including baby grands. These are not certified and typically are sold “as is,” as the individual seller is usually not interested in making repairs. They want to get rid of the piano, so they are willing to offer it for a low price.This is not to say that decent used baby grand pianos don’t exist. They do. But they are more likely to be found at an authorized piano dealer that provides some warranty coverage.

The used piano market is enormous. Some buyers will try out different used pianos at other piano stores, hoping to find a great deal while securing a piano with most of its life still ahead.The quality advantage of getting a Certified Pre-owned model comes from knowing that all Steinway parts have been used in any repairs. Steinway Authorized Dealers only certify pianos that are 30 years old or less.Steinway & Sons also offers a trade-up policy for any new Steinway, Boston, or Essex piano purchase. When you purchase any new or Pre-owned Steinway, you will receive 100% of the original purchase price in trade toward a new Steinway or Steinway-Designed piano of greater value for the lifetime of the instrument.

The term “baby grand” has been prevalent for decades but without universal agreement about the exact size of this kind of piano. The consensus is that a grand piano under 6′ in length is in the baby grand category.

By the of this article, we will give you a better idea of what kind of baby grand piano you can buy across a range of prices. It’s worth noting that in 2022-2023, the piano world experienced increased costs across the board, resulting in price increases ranging from 5% to 10%.You’d really like to buy a grand piano, but your space is limited. What to do? A baby grand can be the perfect piano for the buyer who has a room in their home that is too small for a full grand but which can accommodate a piano that is a little bit smaller.

Once the range is between $40,001–$85,000, much higher quality baby grand pianos are possible. For example, a Steinway Certified Pre-owned baby grand piano under 6′ falls into this range at different places depending on the age and condition.This upper range of cost yields several advantages to the buyer who is in a position to pay more for a new baby grand. A new baby grand has a longer life, as it is freshly made. Plus, many piano companies offer a warranty with a new piano.

The Yamaha GB1 2014 Baby Grand Piano is a great piano for a beginner or professional. The Polished White finish makes it a unique style baby grand and with it being built in 2014 the Yamaha has a long life left . Come give this Yamaha a try today!Complete package qualifies for financing and includes a piano bench. Delivery and/or service fees vary and are based on location and logistics. For more information on delivery and service fees, please contact Alamo Music Center for a quote. Delivery and service promotions are applicable at times. Extended warranty plans are also available. Please note that the online shipping calculator is not applicable.

The Most Affordable Yamaha Grand Piano Ever! The GB1K, Yamaha’s most compact and affordable grand, is a popular choice for locations where space is somewhat limited, with full resonant tone comparable to that of many substantially larger models. Unparalleled in their beauty and musical range, grand pianos are the ultimate expression of the piano maker’s art. Embodying over 100 years of accumulated expertise, these instruments epitomize the quality, performance and value for which Yamaha has long been renowned, as we enter the second century of Yamaha grand pianos.

This item is sold As-Described and cannot be returned unless it arrives in a condition different from how it was described or photographed. Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging.Learn More.We understand the importance of online privacy and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. To reflect our commitment, we updated our terms and conditions. By continuing to use Reverb, you agree to these updates, and to our cookie policy. Learn More

The company mentioned earlier that guarantees their pianos appreciate in value is right, but if you purchase one of their grands today for $90k, you’re going to be reselling it 3 years for now for well under $70k. It takes a few decades for the “appreciation” to take place.Baby grand pianos provide sonorous, concert-quality sound without taking up as much space as grand pianos or concert grand pianos. As with all grand pianos, the horizontal action of the hammers on the piano strings make baby grand pianos a superior option to uprights, because notes are repeated more reliably and with more consistent tone.

View our selection of reconditioned, used baby grand pianos ranging in length from 5′ to 5′ 6″ and in price from $3,500 to $16,500 by brands like Steinway, Kawai, Yamaha, and Weber. Baby grand pianos are ideal for professional and advanced piano players who have space available, because the action supports a more skillful, practiced touch than a petite baby grand piano.Though I’ve established the difficulty of estimating the numeric “mileage” on a piano, the effects of wear on a piano can be both felt and seen if you know how to look for it. Of course, the best way to know for sure just how worn a piano is would be to have the piano evaluated by an experienced piano technician. This is highly recommended for major purchases of used pianos, especially from private sellers. But a moderately experienced pianist can get a good general idea of the state of wear on a piano just through playing and basic inspection of the instrument.Pianos tend to live very long musically useful lifespans, typically offering 75 to 125 years of quality musical life when bought brand new. Of course, there are many variables involved in how long a piano can last such as quality of construction, quality of materials, brand and model, amount of playing it receives, level of maintenance received throughout its life, physical placement, how many times it has been moved, etc.This guide is meant to describe the typical aging process of a piano that has been properly stored and maintained throughout its life with typical home usage. That is, a new piano that has not been rebuilt (which entails significant parts replacement, greatly extending a piano’s lifespan).

Higher quality instruments will feel properly “broken in” at this age. Amount of usage piano has experienced begins to make a major difference around this time with heavily used or lower quality instruments feeling comfortably worn with somewhat decreased expressive ability. Lightly used higher quality instruments will feel more like 20-40 years old around this age. String oxidation will begin to take effect around this age, slowly brightening and thinning the sound quality, though not yet to a significant degree. Replacement of strings or hammers is recommended around this age to keep the piano sounding almost like new.That being said, just how long do pianos last? Of course, the most accurate answer to that is “it depends”, but a useful general answer would be slightly longer than an average human lifespan. One common explanation we use is that 10 years on a piano is like 1 to 2 years on a used car. Under this analogy, purchasing a 40-year-old used piano is akin to purchasing a four- to eight-year-old car. Just like with cars, the age, initial build quality of the piano, its “mileage” (amount of actual play received during its life), and level of maintenance received are the most important variables impacting the aging process on a piano.

A worn piano will feel “looser” with reduced expressive and dynamic capability. The major noticeable difference between natural age-induced decomposition and wear from playing will be the consistency in feel across the keyboard. Piano keys are weighted on a gradient with the low bass notes being the heaviest and gets lighter as you run up the keyboard to the high treble notes on the far right side of the keyboard. A piano worn from heavy usage will have the vast majority of wear concentrated in the middle octaves of the keyboard while the outer octave-and-a-half on each side of the keyboard or so will feel noticeably less worn due to their much less frequent use of these notes across all styles of music. The greater disparity in feeling between the midsection of the piano and the outer sections, the more “mileage” you can bet this piano has seen.Similar to cars, a piano’s “mileage” is often the most important variable in the wearing down of a piano though understanding, quantifying, and qualifying the mileage on a piano is much trickier than considering a car’s mileage. Fortunately, cars have accurate odometers, and city vs. highway miles is just about the only other important distinction to make. While it would be fantastic if pianos had some sort of odometer-like device to measure playing time, even a rough estimate of average hours played per week on a piano wouldn’t tell the full story of a piano’s mileage, nor would an exact number of notes played during its lifetime.

A used piano will be considered no longer “useful” to high-level players much sooner than to beginner- and intermediate-level players. This is due to the intense musical demands upper-level players require from their instruments. A piano that is no longer “useful” to an advanced student may still have decades of acceptable-quality life in the home of a beginner student.

Playing piano is a complex art form. The amount of wear resulting from an hour of playing is drastically impacted by factors like the intensity of the music played, the style of music played, and even the individual technique of the pianist. A concert pianist ripping through a virtuosic piano concerto will incur much more wear on a piano in an hour than a beginner student would in the same time. One hour of advanced playing in a smooth, lyrical style will put less wear on a piano than one hour of an equally advanced but punchy, percussive, and highly dynamic playing style. A high-level concert pianist will wear their piano down many times faster than would a piano seeing typical home use (which I’ll loosely define as 30 minutes to 2 hours a day of low to medium intensity playing, though many pianos receive much less). They are also much more likely have their pianos maintained to much higher standards than a typical household. Practice-room pianos in high-level conservatories can easily receive more than 12 hours of advanced playing a day, enough to significantly wear them down within ten to twenty years!Inconsistent key spacing and wear patterns on the keys are good visual indicators that this piano has seen its fair share of usage over the years. This key-wear is centralized to the most commonly used octaves of the keyboard.

Higher quality instruments that have been well maintained with only essential parts replaced as needed will be approaching the end of their quality musical life around this age, though may still be appropriate for beginners to intermediate players for a while longer. Well-restored or rebuilt pianos may have many more decades of quality playing left ahead of them at this point!There are visual ways to infer wear on a piano as well. A worn piano is likely to have more inconsistent-looking gaps between keys, especially in the middlemost worn section. Every piano key should have a small amount of “wiggle” when you move it side-to-side, but overtime, felts in the keys wear out, so there is increasing side-to-side motion and decreasing precision when you play. Pianos with ivory keys (and to a lesser extent, pianos with plastic keys) with major “yellowing” in an inconsistent pattern (again, focused on the midsection) also suggest a high level of use as oil from fingers contributes to this yellowing process. Chips in both ivory keys and plastic keyed pianos can also be an indicator of high-intensity use. Hammer felts are also highly revealing. Hammer felts harden over time as well as develop “teeth” indents as a result of being repeatedly and forcefully smashed against the piano’s strings. Inspecting hammer felts is most indicative of recent usage, as hammer felts should be—but often aren’t—softened and reshaped several times throughout a piano’s life to maintain a full-bodied tone. Worn-out hammers can give a piano a harsh, brassy, or muddled, murky tone.

When is a piano ready to be disposed of? The “end” of a piano’s life typically comes once it has incurred enough natural decomposition along with wear and tear that it is no longer practical to use as an instrument without prohibitively expensive repairs. Similar to a car, at a certain point, it just makes much more sense to purchase a new or newer piano than to continue on with pricey and often time-consuming major repairs. Common indicators that your piano is ready to be disposed of include no longer being able to hold its tune, major damage to the soundboard, iron plate, and mechanical action. Though nearly all piano problems are ultimately repairable if you’re willing to spend the money on a full rebuilding of your piano, this typically isn’t a practical option unless it’s a unique piano or has strong sentimental value. Please note that due to the hundreds of dollars it typically costs to dispose of a piano, many owners of functionally “dead” pianos will post them for “free” on the internet, only for the new owner to discover all of the problems after they’ve paid for the piano to be moved. Sometimes, they’ll then repost it as a free piano themselves! This is one of the reasons we wrote an article detailing the problems of getting a free piano.

The modern piano is an absolute engineering marvel; easily the most complex non-electronic machine that makes regular appearances in people’s day-to-day life. With over 12,000 individual parts—many of which are made of organic materials that must be kept in exact alignment in order to provide a consistent playing experience that sounds and feels good—it’s endlessly fascinating just how long the useful lives of pianos can be. In an age where your smartphone and most everything else is made to be replaced every few years, pianos are true relics of the “built to last” mindset modernity gave up on some time ago.

Lower quality unrefurbished pianos will feel the effects of wear as the keys “loosen up” and finer musical details and expressions become more difficult to achieve. If strings have not been replaced, the cumulative string oxidation around this age will be definitely noticeable, typically resulting in thinner, brighter sound qualities. Higher quality instruments this age receiving proper maintenance and moderate usage may feel and sound more like 40-60-year-old pianos.Refinements in copper-wound string specifications deliver purer, more perfectly pitched and harmonious bass. • Barrel-shaped treble hammer shanks, similar to those of the concert grand, improve dynamic and tonal response. •Bridges crafted from choice, finely grained woods, selected to complement each scale design, provide superior sound transmission. • Rim specifications attuned to the characteristics of each model optimize strength, stability and resonance. •Model-specific production enables more-focused tuning, voicing and regulation, for optimal long-term performance. • Precise note-by-note strike point alignment produces crisper, clearer tones. • Heightened precision in damper installation offers superior pedaling and expressive control.

The elite assembly of Yamaha C Series grand pianos has always been recognised for their pure, rich tonality and exceptional range of emotional expression. With the redesign and incorporation of numerous new advancements, these instruments of superior clarity, responsiveness and expressive control are sought after by established and emerging pianists at all levels.

This piano is in perfect condition and has no scratches or dents. It also has a great touch and tone. Hammers have no sign of normal wear. The Yamaha C1 was made in Japan in Yamaha’s premier factory in Hamamatsu which is where all of Yamaha’s finest pianos are made including their monstrous CFIIIS (sometimes called CF3S and now replaced by the CFX) concert grand piano.