To buy a new Steinway or not to buy new, that is the question. Or is that the question? The answer is more straightforward than many people understand.
When considering the possibility of buying a brand new grand Steinway piano directly from the factory, or buying a restored or rebuilt Steinway, there really is no comparison.
Of course when you purchase a new Steinway Piano you get the factory warranty and back-up and support of the original Steinway and Sons factory itself. You also know that if there are any serious flaws or problems with the piano that the factory will take care of the problem. Whether you chose an instrument directly from the floors of Steinway in New York, or from a certified Steinway Gallery, you will be choosing an excellent instrument.
However, the question lies not on just on the quality of service that the Steinway factory, dealers and distributors can supply, but whether or not you can you receive the same service and warranty from Steinway resellers. The answer is both yes and no. Some yes, some no. In fact, some rebuilders offer longer guarantees on parts like the soundboard than the Steinway and Sons factory or Steinway Galleries, so there is no loss there. And many of these places have had years of reputable service that is comparable to the best of the Steinway dealers, so there is no problem there either.
There is a caveat, however. And that is that one must know and understand the dealer that they are purchasing the piano from. Unfortunately, in the piano business, like many other industries, there are those that make there living by praying on the ignorance of the masses. There are pianos that have been restored improperly, incorrectly, and will not have the correct sound or touch that the Steinway pianos are so well noted for.
So the easiest method to qualify a reseller that is rebuilding Steinway pianos is to find out if the restoration was done by a certified Steinway Technician, and then find out where the pianos that are restored are going. For example, many of our pianos are restored by the same technician who restored the Steinway Concert D used in the Lincoln Center, New York City. One of the most prestigious concert halls in the world. From here, it is easy to see that one cannot go wrong. But even if they are not of that caliber, be certain to have a qualified technician review and understand the background of the instrument you are considering, as well as the warrantees and guarantees either implicit or explicit with the purchase. After all, a Steinway Piano is not a small purchase for most, and should be done with utmost care.
Now on returning to the issue of price, one will find there is a large difference in price between purchasing a brand new Steinway Model B, for example, and a restored Steinway Model B from one of the most reputable of dealers. At the time of this writing the new Steinway B lists for approximately US $68,000 from most Galleries, but a restored Steinway B, of equal quality and guarantee, can be as low as $45,000 or even less! (Check out
http://american-steinway.com/steinway-b-1917-ebony/ or
http://american-steinway.com/steinway-b-1897-ebony/ ) On the largest of the grand pianos, the Steinway Model D pianos, the difference between the rebuilt and new piano is often $40,000 or more. The latest Steinway D that we listed (
http://american-steinway.com/steinway-d-1929-ebony) is $79,000 as opposed to a new Steinway Model D piano that lists for approximately $120,000. Every Steinway Model D listed is around this price, and everyone of them has been restored to the original sound, color, beauty and touch of the latest Steinway piano off the factory floor. Of course the price differences are not just there for the Model B Steinway Pianos either. In every grand piano model, one will find a significant savings.
But the savings don