The Piano Book: Buying & Owning a New or Used Piano

by Larry Fine, Keith Jarrett (Foreword by)

This bible of the piano marketplace is indispensable to buyers and owners of pianos, amateur and professional players alike. Hundreds of thousands of pianos are bought and sold each year, yet most people buy a piano with only the vaguest idea of what to look for as they make this major purchase. The Piano Book evaluates and compares every brand and style of piano sold in the United States. There is information on piano moving and storage, inspecting individual new and used pianos, the special market for Steinways, and sales gimmicks to watch out for. An annual supplement, sold separately, lists current prices for more than 2,500 new piano models.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Reference

244 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[G]

An amazing resource and incredible amount of information. Anyone in the market for a piano must read this cover to cover, and anyone who plays the piano ought to read it too, even if not planning to buy. As a classically trained pianist, I'm now shocked and embarrassed about how little I'd previously known about how my instrument actually works. Thankfully, now I know! It will help my playing, enable me to speak intelligently with my technician, and increase my overall appreciation of this incredibly complicated musical machine.

[La lugubre gondola]

Libro extremadamente necesario si quieres adoptar un piano acústico. Te enseña cómo funcionan en detalle, marcas más famosas, y sobre todo me parece útil si vas a comprarlo de segunda mano ya que tiene información valiosa sobre lo que te puedes esperar de un piano usado que tiene ya unos años.

[Rich]

This book convinced me to not buy a real piano. Glad I bought a digital piano instead.

[Tig]

An excellent resource for someone who wants to be an educated piano buyer. Helps to make sense out of the myriad of new and used pianos that are out there, gives a lot of history about the piano, traces who made what and when, how much a piano is worth, how to figure out when and where it was made, what to look for in a quality instrument, how to avoid lemons, whether a piano is worth paying a technician to rebuild it, etc.

[David Livingston]

Excellent read on how to shop for, acquire, and care for a new or used piano, with background on the workings of pianos that matter in these processes. This book and the accompanying website enabled me to make an informed value estimate of the used piano I just bought, and to be an intelligent and careful shopper. Fine gives lots of advice about the sales process at piano shops, and how to deal with the salespeople on an equal footing.

[Elasha]

As much information as you could need to buy an acoustic piano (there are also updated supplements available). I haven't read the book through, just the applicable sections. I had no idea there was so much to know about pianos. I've learned a ton and we're so excited to upgrade from our digital piano!

[Kara]

Saved us from inevitable disaster when buying our first piano. We were drawn to the "$100 takes it out of our basement!" models when shopping, but this steered us in the proper direction. Invaluable resource, and seems to be the only of its kind.

[Fran]

If you are in the market for a piano (upright, grand, or baby grand), it is a big commitment - read this book first.

[Greg]

Great reference. Used it to find our piano tuner. Will continue to use in the future.

[jeffrey]

Dense, detailed, but useful information for those inclined. Reader can obtain updates separately.

[Nathalie]

Trying to make sure I don't get had or get a clunker. What an awesomely helpful book!

I was able to buy a great used piano thanks to this book.

[David]

A must have if you are ever in the market for a piano.