Used Pianos

Information About Used & Reconditioned Pianos

Not All Used Pianos are a Bargain!

There are many aspects of used pianos, many known only by piano technicians, that determine whether that used instrument you found online or in the newspaper will provide years of enjoyment, or become a wallet-eating disaster in your own living room.

Jordan Kitt's Music has a used piano restoration center staffed by professional piano technicians who make a complete checklist of every piano before we offer it for sale. Any worn or problem parts are refurbished or replaced so that our customers have the peace of mind that comes with a certified used piano, complete with a warranty.

Find out more about what makes a good used piano! Get a copy of our Free Piano Buyer's Guide.

Buying a Used Piano – Factors to Consider

When purchasing a used piano, consider that the materials in even the best older pianos are subject to wear, humidity changes and inconsistent service or neglect. Better modern pianos are improvements over the older counterparts in materials and design. It is prudent to keep in mind that while the cost of a new piano is generally a fair prediction of quality, the price of a used piano is dependent upon an individual's assessment of condition. Be very cautious when considering the purchase of a used piano from a private owner. Oftentimes the outside appearance of a piano does not reflect the condition of the interior mechanisms. Used pianos sold by a retailer are more likely to have been inspected by a Registered Tuner-Technician.

When choosing a used piano, take careful note of the following definitions provided by the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc. to categorize the level of repairs on a piano: "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. 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." A rebuilt piano should be purchased because of its merits, rather than an attempt to economize.

For more tips on what to look for when buying a used piano, read our Free Piano Buyer's Guide.

Beware of "Gray Market" Used Pianos!

A "gray market" piano is a used Yamaha or Kawai piano originally made for the Japanese market and sold to families and schools in Japan. Some years later, the instruments are discarded in favor of new instruments. Since there is little market for used pianos in Japan, presumably as a result of a cultural bias against buying used goods, these used pianos are purchased and exported to the United States and other countries, where they are sold by dealers of used pianos at a fraction of the price of a new Yamaha or Kawai. The following excerpts are from an article by Larry Fine, author of "The Piano Book".

"Yamaha has taken a public stand warning against the purchase of these pianos. According to the company, the wood used in Yamaha pianos is seasoned for destination: the highest moisture content for Japan, which is relatively humid; the lowest for the U.S., which has areas that are extremely dry; and in between for Europe. According to Yamaha, gray market Yamahas, having been manufactured for a humid climate, may develop loose tuning pins, cracked soundboards, glue joint failure, and other serious problems when relocated to the United States. Yamaha also points out that there is no Yamaha warranty on the gray market pianos, and that it cannot provide technical support or sell parts for these pianos because the models are often different from those sold in the U.S." "In addition, Yamaha says that some actual new Yamaha pianos are now being imported on the gray market through non-authorized dealers. You should know that these pianos, though new, do not come with a manufacturer's warranty."

"Kawai has made no public pronouncements about the risks of purchasing gray market Kawais. In private, however, Kawai representatives say that for some years now, the wood for all Kawai pianos has been seasoned for the dry areas of the U.S., regardless of destination. There is no manufacturer's warranty in the U.S. on Kawai pianos originally sold in Japan, but the company says it will provide technical information and parts if it is able to. Parts for pianos not originally sold in the U.S., however, may require a special order from Japan, with a long wait time. Kawai America also says it occasionally imports used Kawais itself. The pianos come from its music schools in Japan and are sold primarily to authorized Kawai dealers in Canada, to help them compete with other dealers of these pianos."

A Yamaha spokesperson added that "... indoor humidity can be low even in some so-called mild climates (the humid ones) due to air conditioning, which dries the air in order to cool it. In general, indoor humidity is lower in North American households, regardless of climate, than in households in other parts of the world due to the types of heating and cooling systems employed. Yamaha learned this the hard way when it first entered the U.S. market in the early 1960s with pianos seasoned much like the gray market pianos are today." "The reported problems are most severe and numerous in the Midwest and Northeast."

Used Piano Quality Assurance

At Jordan Kitt's Music, we guarantee that the piano you receive is a quality piano made to exacting standards, not questionable, gray market goods. So, enjoy the piece of mind of knowing that the piano you purchase today will provide you years of musical enjoyment.