BLUEBOOK OF PIANOS BALLPARK MARKET VALUE GUIDE
PIANO AGE | ARCHIVES | APPRAISALS | PIANO TYPES | BLUEBOOK VALUE | SELL A PIANO
USED PIANO PRICE GUIDELINES
There are a few things you should know before you buy or sell a used piano or even advertise your piano for sale, and some questions you should have the answers to before doing so. Please Visit Our Resources as a starting point.
Spinet Pianos Years old Retail Over 40 30-40 20-30 10-20 $300-$800$300-$1000$500-$1800 $1500-$2000 Value greatly depends on condition and the make of the piano.
Console Pianos Years old Retail Over 40 30-40 20-30 10-20 $300-$1000$500-$2000$500-$3000 $1500-$4000 Value greatly depends on condition and the make of the piano.
Studio Upright Pianos Years old Retail Over 40 30-40 20-30 10-20 $500-$1500$800-$2000$1300-$4000 $1500-$5000 Value greatly depends on condition and the make of the piano.
Upright Pianos Years old Retail Over 50 30-50 20-30 10-20 $0-$2500$500-$2000$3000-$6000 $4000-$8000 Value greatly depends on condition and the make of the piano.
Upright Player Pianos Years old Retail Over 40 30-40 20-30 10-20 $500-$1500+$1000-$2000+$3000-$8000+ $4000-$10000+ Value greatly depends on condition and the make of the piano. DEPRECIATION METHOD
The method of determining the value of a piano is called the "depreciation" method. This method is especially useful for appraising pianos of recent makes when the models are still in production or has been recently discontinued. To use it, one needs to find out how much a new piano of the same or comparable make and model would cost now, and then look up the age of the subject piano on a depreciation schedule.
Depreciation of Used Pianos Less than 10 years old
Age in Years | Worth % of New Price1 Year Old 75% | 2 Years Old 70% | 3 Years Old 65% | 5 Years Old 60% | 8 Years Old 57% | 10 Years Old 55%
The percentage given represents what the piano is worth relative to the cost of a new one. There is no universally agreed-upon depreciation schedule for pianos, but one such schedule is provided below. This method works fairly well for pianos of average quality which have had a normal amount of wear. For better quality pianos, or pianos that have had either very little or far too much use, the values produced this way must be adjusted accordingly.
Replacement value usually refers to the retail price that you would need to pay to buy the nearest new equivalent to the piano you have. If there is a new piano that is similar in size, quality of general construction and description, then this is usually a new piano. If there is not new equivalent, then usually the replacement value is based upon what it would cost to find a used piano that is similar and have it remanufactured to like-new condition. Replacement Value: This is the value you want to insure your piano for replacement value.
BLUEBOOK OF PIANOS AMERICAN STANDARD DEFINITION OF TERMS
The Bluebook of Pianos has adopted the following definitions to help clarify the level of repairs on a piano. 1. "A used piano that has been disassembled, inspected, repaired as necessary with replacement of all worn or deteriorated parts, reassembled, tested and approved to at least the tolerances of a new piano of like manufacture is said to have been rebuilt. 2. A used piano that has been put back in good condition by cleaning, repairing and adjusting for maximum performance with replacement parts where specifically indicated is said to have been reconditioned." The labor-intensive work required to rebuild a piano properly is not inexpensive. Therefore, a rebuilt piano should be purchased because of its merits, not purely as a money-saving measure compared to a new instrument. See: Rebuilding for restoration costs. We have adopted the following designations to identify the condition of an instrument.1. R & R = Rebuilt and Refinished2. Refurbished = Reconditioned3. The age of an instrument is considered as a part of the condition.Excellent Under 10 Years - Good 10 to 20 Years - Fair Over 20 YearsCMV: "CURRENT MARKET VALUE" 1. Reflects the wholesale or current market value of a piano after all repairs have been made. 2. This is not the amount you paid for or the amount allowed in trade. 3. This is the actual amount the instrument is worth, it does not include additional moving or other make ready. FMV LISTS: "FAIR MARKET VALUE" Valuations reflect both wholesale and retail prices paid by dealers at auction and retail prices in retail piano stores. The age of an instrument is not a consideration, prices shown are for vertical pianos made after 1960, pianos older than that should receive additional scrutiny by buyer. In the case of Grand Pianos worth rebuilding, the age could be 100 + years, condition will still determine the value. See piano age. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines to help you determine whether a particular piano you're looking at is priced fairly Actual selling prices may vary widely. These prices are based upon overall quality of a given line of pianos, based on controlled use tests, expert judgments, and experience.
PIANO AGE | ARCHIVES | APPRAISALS | PIANO TYPES | BLUEBOOK VALUE | SELL A PIANO
� 2014 Bluebook of Pianos by The Bluebook of Pianos. This information is provided "as is" without express or implied warranties. While every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this article, the maintainer assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.