Should I buy a new Steinway? This is a question that many parents, pianists, and artists ask themselves as they walk through the Steinway showroom.
Pressure to Buy Brand New
On the one hand, buying new seemingly offers the Steinway buyer the feeling of no risk; the buyer often thinks “it’s brand new, so we KNOW it’s good”. That type of thinking is understandable. Steinway buyers often worry that they don’t understand enough to make a qualified decision, so they believe this is the “safe” decision. And often, sales agents, seeking to sell new Steinways to meet sales goals, not only reinforce these natural concerns, but also amplify them to the point of a encouraging a “new” purchase out of fear.
The Secondary Market Price Drop
We don’t advocate fear based purchasing. We believe in inspiring pianists, musicians, families, and communities to find that perfect Steinway, one which will draw them to the piano on a daily basis and make their life richer. And the great thing is that an educated Steinway buyer can find a lightly used Steinway for a fraction of the cost of a new one — we are talking absolutely pristine, like-new condition, with a full soulful sound and character that brings you back to the instrument to create gorgeous sounds day after day.
A pristine, lightly used 2005 Steinway Model M Grand Piano
Always remember, when a brand “new” Steinway comes home, that very moment, it immediately becomes a “used” Steinway and is subject to pricing on the secondary market. Once the piano hits the secondary market, there is competition. With competition, prices come down to earth. We often find that pianos 10 years old, 15 years old, to 20 years old are lovingly taken care of, lightly used, and in essentially new condition. With just a lit bit of effort, you can buy these pristine new condition Steinways for a fair price.
A Preference for the Older Steinway Piano Models
In addition to lightly used Steinways, what we call “off the lot” Steinways, many pianists prefer even older Steinways, rebuilt with all Steinway parts. At the Juilliard School, all the Steinways in the practice rooms are from 1900-1950s, rebuilt with Steinway parts. The pianists at Juilliard chose these pianos because of the warmth, character, and history. Our bottom line is buy a pristine Steinway that inspires you, with character, soul, and passion.
