How Much Does It Cost To Repair A Player Piano?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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These services can run anywhere

between $750 and $3500

depending on the extent of the work. In other cases such as basic interior rebuilding which includes, restringing, damper work, hammer replacement, regulation, tuning and voicing, the prices can range between $3500 and $9500.

Are player pianos worth any money?


The Average Value of a regular, unrestored Upright Player Piano varies from about $200-$2000

, depending on the type/quality of the cabinet and the reputation of the manufacture. Non-name brand units with all straight lines are the most common and the least valuable.

What is an old player piano worth?

Piano Type Age Approximate Value Range Steinway & Sons 5-10 years Around 80% of new

$60,000 to $90,000
Steinway & Sons 10-20 years 60-70 % of new $45,000 to $70,000 Steinway & Sons 20-30 years 50% of new $40,000 – $60,000 Yamaha/Kawai/Samick

Is it worth repairing a piano?


In many cases, a new(er) piano will play better than the antique piano will, even when rebuilt

. Ultimately, the answer for whether to rebuild or replace an antique or a family heirloom piano depends on the severity of the rebuilding needed and the emotional attachment of the owner.

Is it worth restoring an old piano?

That said, the life of a piano is relative to its use, but

adding 50-70 years of playability and beauty is a worthwhile investment to keep a valuable, handmade piano alive

. Additionally, a new piano drops in value like a brand new car would. Restored pianos hold their value longer than brand new pianos.

How much does it cost to fix a dead key on a piano?

The cost of doing this procedure is about

$475.00 for upright pianos and $575.00 for grand pianos

. The other way to solve the problems is by removing the old leads and replacing them with new ones. Replacing key leads is about $900.00.

What can I do with an old player piano?

One way to dispose of an old piano is to

donate it

. However, the size of your piano and the condition that it is in plays a large role in whether or not an organizations will accept your donation. There are many places that accept piano donations, including: Nonprofit organizations.

Do they still make player pianos?

Steinway & Sons, manufacturer of the world’s finest pianos, today announced the company’s most significant product innovation in over 70 years:

Steinway Spirio, the world’s finest player piano system, available exclusively on select Steinway grand pianos

.

Is there a market for old player pianos?

Unlike real estate or cars,

piano sales are not regulated

, and there is no major service that tracks the actual sale prices of used pianos. Even if there were, pianos can vary so much in age and condition that finding one or more instruments that are exact matches to yours would be unlikely.

What is an Aeolian player piano worth?

Year Details Price
1925


Antique self player piano


$3,495
1981 Rare Aeolian Cable Model $1,100 1984 selling piano $5,000 Unknown Gently Used Upright Piano for Sale (or best offer) $400

What does a player piano look like?

Who invented player piano?

Inventors

Can very old pianos be tuned?

While improvement is possible with many older pianos, unfortunately

not all neglected pianos can be tuned

. If your piano’s pitch is lower than 10 cents* below concert pitch, then it may be possible for us to organise a pitch adjustment as part of bringing it up to concert pitch level.

Can a piano be tuned after 50 years?

A piano can be restored. Both of these involve a great deal of expense and new parts. Unfortunately, the common scenario with a piano that I see most often is that it was purchased, then

tuned maybe once or twice over the course of several decades

and that’s about it.

Can I restore a piano myself?

Restoring a piano is labor-intensive, but

you can do it yourself with a few tools and furniture restoration supplies

. It is not advisable to restore your piano by yourself if it is a valuable antique; that is better left to a professional with a high degree of expertise.

Can a piano be tuned after 20 years?


A new piano, or a piano 10, 15 or 20 years old that has never been serviced needs tuning three or four times before stabilizing

. The only exception is when a new piano has been sitting on the showroom floor for several months and has gone through several in-house, or showroom tunings before purchased.

How much does it cost to have piano tuned?

The national average cost for piano tuning ranges

between $100 and $120

, although pricing can be higher or lower depending on your piano and other variables. A frequently played piano requires basic tuning every few months, while a lightly played piano may be able to go a year without tuning.

What is the life of a piano?


The average mass produced piano lasts 30 years

. Hand-crafted pianos last substantially longer, often exceeding 50 years. Over time, the piano will need regular tuning, regulation, rebuilding, and other maintenance. A well-maintained piano can last in excess of 100 years.

Why do you put water in a piano?

Too little water in the air can cause the wood to shrink, drastically changing the way your piano sounds, and in extreme conditions, causing your piano’s soundboard (a critical piece of the instrument) to warp and even crack.

Can broken piano keys be fixed?

Repairing piano keys is sometimes a matter of giving the sticky key a slight wiggle to help everything fall back into place. But

you could risk further damaging your piano by trying to mend a key yourself

. The best course of action is to work with a professional who can identify and address the root of the problem.

How much does it cost to replace a piano hammer?

Replacement hammer costs range from

$1000 to $1,500.00

. When several hammers are removed during action and each is removed in its own way, one usually makes a replacement and handles it individually.

How do you sell a player piano?

  1. Research Your Piano Brand. …
  2. Determine A Fair Price. …
  3. List Your Piano On eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. …
  4. Run Ads To Sell Your Piano. …
  5. Reach Out To Technicians And Piano Tuners. …
  6. Find Local Places That Buy Used Pianos. …
  7. Consider Donating Your Piano.

How do I get rid of a piano for free?

  1. The Beethoven Foundation accepts piano donations depending on condition of the piano. If your donation is accepted, they pick up your piano for free. …
  2. Pianos for Education will pick up a piano in all 50 states for free. …
  3. Check your local options.

Are ivory piano keys worth anything?

Before the laws tightened,

a set of ivory keys could have been worth thousands of dollars

. There is some today who still sell them. You should use caution when dealing with ivory since the laws can be complex.

Can you manually play a player piano?

What do you call someone who plays a piano?

Definition of

pianist

: a person who plays the piano especially : a skilled or professional performer on the piano.

What do you call a piano that plays itself?


A player piano (also known as a pianola)

is a self-playing piano, containing a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism, that operates the piano action via programmed music recorded on perforated paper, or in rare instances, metallic rolls, with more modern implementations using MIDI.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.