Have you looked inside? Located a SERIAL NUMBER?
While that may be helpful - some piano manufacturers production records simply didn't survive.
Most of them kept records of course, but then, much European piano documentation was lost or destroyed as a result of a war or two. And so, until I have seen and played Your piano... I have no way of providing reliable answers about its potential "value"!
| |
OzPianoman says:
Some web sites suggest that you can submit details and for a fee you'll receive a written Piano appraisal
Piano "experts" may well be familiar with various makes and models, but can you imagine the difficulty involved in judging "unsighted" any one of 12000 piano names? Among these, many will have been subjected to adverse Atmospheric Conditions, Rough Handling, Neglectand unseen Vermin attacks.
Online pricing methods therefore, are most likely vague and can have little bearing on a piano's true value.
Is it possible to appraise a piano without a personal inspection?
Few guidelines exist to aid in estimating a piano's value and an experienced piano technician's assessment of its worth will be based on many factors, including certain personal preferences.
Owners will sometimes assume their paino is worth a certain amount, perhaps having noticed similar models being offered by dealers, or privately advertised at high prices.
But in order to dispose of them many sellers are unsuccessful and forced to accept trade prices. Seldom is "asking" price what a buyer PAYS for a used piano.
GONE PAST THE USE BY DATE ?
Your old piano may be well constructed, well kept and seems to be working ok ... Its "quality" however, can't really be determined until examined by a piano specialist;
And that usually means someone actively involved in regular sales of older models in your local marketplace.
You'll get piano merchants to call around and make offers ? Most piano shop staff know that's a complete time waste and will politely decline; Unless you're willing to pay for it...
In which case you'll be looking at an "independent" expert's fee of $50-$150(?)for his a written opinion - not on What it's Worth exactly, but what you might get for it by Private Sale.
What is my piano worth? In performing a valuation we consider such things as:
1 The type of piano : 2 Its size : 3 The make or brand name : 4 Age of the piano : 5 General condition : 6 Its Playability : 7 Operation of the more than 4000 action components : 8 Tuning Pin tightness : 9 Condition of the Bridges : 10 The Keyboard - material used & appearance : 11 Clunks, Squeaks and Rattles : 12 Soundboard integrity : 13 String condition : 14 Musical tonality : 15 The instrument's potential for restoration : 16 ( and probably most important of all ) "how we FEEL" about this particular piano.
We also take into account current market conditions, prevailing economic influences and insight into buyer interest levels at any given time.
Whilst you may be reluctant to pay for a valuation, you'll no doubt appreciate the difficulty for sellers to obtain pertinent information by other means* unless you take Dealers piano prices (should they express interest in buying) as a guide to its "rock bottom" value. (see footnote)
Best Piano Course ? More piano advice and a Pianoman midi ...
Piano Servicing Information :-* Footnote:
How To Tune Your Own Piano How To Repair Your Own Piano
How To Rebuild Your Own Piano How To Refinish Your Own Piano
