How to Determine the Value of a Used Piano

The purpose of this article is to comment on and clarify the information in Piano Buyer on determining the value of a used piano. (The Piano Buyer article has since been revised to include these comments.)

Fair Market Value

Fair market value is the price at which an item would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither of whom is compelled to buy or sell, and each of whom has reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts.

Appraisers of used pianos and other consumer goods typically use three different

Piano Brand Ratings

From time to time I receive an e-mail or phone call inquiring why a particular piano brand is not rated higher or lower in Piano Buyer. Usually the caller has recently played or serviced a piano, been either smitten with or disappointed by it, and disagrees with the rating I’ve given it. Sometimes the questioner simply wants to better understand how I arrived at that rating, or at the ratings in general.