Larry fine born 1950 is an american piano technician, consultant, and author. While the main points are still valid some of the prices will have changed. 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. Piano life saver humidity control this is the damppchaser corp. I found the first edition of fine s book at the library the one with the baldwin evaluations, which were later removed from the book. The piano book by larry fine has become one of the most influential references in the. Finally, here is a book to guide you through the process with practical information on every aspect of buying a new or used piano. I found the first edition of fines book at the library the one with the baldwin evaluations, which were later removed from the book. The piano book now known as the released biannulally by larry fine, the blue.
Apr 29, 2005 i have been reading larry fine s the piano book since i purchased our piano in 1990. These pianos include steinway, bluthner, bechstein, schimmel, seiler, haessler, and sauter. Piano buying basics piano buying buyer piano larry fine. Get access to the comprehensive and free piano buying guide. The piano book20072008the piano book 20072008 larry fine 2. Piano buyer current edition by larry fine piano buyer is the definitive guide for buying a new piano. How to determine the value of a used piano piano buyer. Bechstein mint condition for more than two decades, pianomart has been the leading online resource for selling and buying pianos online. This section lists the average resale prices for used pianos. Fine was easily recognized in the stooge features by his hairdo, bald on top with lots of thick, bushy, curly red hair around the sides and back. Much of the information here is from the piano book by larry fine for a great source of additional information.
You will find the tone and action of the perzina vertical and grand piano are comparable to either group 1 or group 2 rated pianos listed in the larry fine piano book. It also has pertinent information on piano pricing and discount information. The piano buyer article has since been revised to include these comments. Attention is given to important considerations such as price, tone. When bob moog called me in january 1986 to ask if i would work with him on a small project, the last thing i needed was another job. It appears that they will sometimes use msrp or wholesale price sheets that are decades old. Piano blue book piano prices manufacturers suggested. Read free online, or purchase the 270page, fullcolor. Nov 01, 2000 if you are buying either a new or used piano with strings as opposed to a purely digital no strings piano, you must buy this book. An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. The price and list, at least on the four different makes i looked at, appears to be an exact copy of the 20072008 supplement to the piano book. What is the current thought on his critiques from savvy piano owners on this board. The guide is compiled by larry fine, who has published a consumer reference on piano. One place that everyone can start and is probably the most trusted of sources is the piano book by larry fine.
Aug 17, 2010 new video of this piano just uploaded to profile page. I was running a piano service business, finishing up work on the piano book, writing a regular monthly magazine column, and doing about ten hours a week of charitable volunteer work. Piano buyer is a semiannual piano buying guide that will help you make a fast informed decision concerning the purchase of a piano or digital piano. The website contains a wealth of free information regarding guides to appraisals and buying new and used pianos. Yet when you shop for a piano youre up against a vast variety of brands, models, and styles, competing claims, and strange terminology. It is vital to understand that piano values are determined by many factors, and a blue book can by its nature only give you a ballpark figure. Fine had just wet his hair in a sink, and it dried oddly as they talked. Used, in excellent condition some of these pianos are worth more than original price. Now you have access to the complete piano pricing that before was only available to piano dealers. But best of all is acoustic and digital piano buyer, edited by larry fine, author of the piano book. I have enjoyed the three preceding editions immensely, but the fourth surpasses them all.
The blue book of pianos website is a great resource for finding the value of a piano. Thinking of buying a new acoustic upright or grand piano. Conversely, a mediumgrade piano in good condition may be the better investment. The good news is the piano is very stable and has a warmer tone than many other yamaha pianos. This is corroborated by piano technicians over the u. This group plays like a band with a soloist at its center, not like a bunch of paid hacks backing up a guitar whiz. Links to the major manufacturers can be found by clicking here.
The bluebook of pianos is an invaluable handbook for anyone who owns or plans to buy a piano. Piano buyer anyone interested in buying or selling a piano should visit this site and buy larry fines book. Piano buying guide the successor to the piano book piano. The new fourth edition of larry fine s piano book is the most informative one yet.
Piano bluebook prices steinway piano gallery of naples. Very close friends of mine once got their childrens deceased piano teachers steinway grand. Ultimately, something is worth only as much as someone will pay for it. Make a fast and informed decision concerning the purchase of an acoustic or digital piano. To me, the most valuable part of larry fine s book is the information on new pianos although he supplies lavish information. I cant recommend piano technician larry fines the piano book highly enough if youre in the market for a piano, new or used. Jan 01, 1995 an excellent resource for someone who wants to be an educated piano buyer. This information should be very useful when trying to find out what your piano is worth.
But still we encourage you to venture out on your own and research for yourself about what a grey market piano is. Here is an excerpt from larry fine, the piano book which explains more about this subject. Please note, this article was written back in 2009. In each case we show the lowest price at retail for each size. Piano buying guide the successor to the piano book. Piano world hosts a number of forums of interest to piano owners. However, according to piano author larry fine, the cost in quality was considerable. I took the link to the blue book and noticed the same thing as did teclado. This gives you a mountain of information for buying and maintaining a piano. The value of a specific piano model may be determined on the basis of the price shown. Other styles with the same specifications sell for more. How to determine the value of a used piano our pastimes. In some cases, the defunct companys design continued to be used, but most of the time, only the name lived on. In particular, there are four good sources that are widely used.
A piano is one of the largest consumer purchases most people will ever make. Helping you determine the value of a piano continued page 2 please note, this article was written back in 2009. As always, before you purchase, have the piano inspected by a piano technician, who can give you inside information on the make and model you are considering. The piano book evaluates and compares every brand and style of piano sold in the united states. If there is to be a piano in your future, the single indispensable reference is the piano book by larry fine. Bluebook of pianos piano information and appraisal.
You should also look at the blue book of pianos, which lists new piano prices and will appraise your used piano for a fee. This is a list current used piano prices of these models made after 1985. It is an incredible source for how to buy and care for a piano. To me, the most valuable part of larry fines book is the information on new pianos although he supplies lavish information. The piano book by larry fine, 9781929145010, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Since there is no used piano price directory or blue book as there is for other.
Much of the information here is from the piano book by larry fine for a great source of additional information check out our piano forums today. The purpose of this article is to comment on and clarify the information in piano buyer on determining the value of a used piano. It is used extensively as a source book in the piano business by both consumers and members of the trade. His trademark hair had its origin, according to rumor, from his first meeting with healy. These brand names listed here accounted for over 97% of all grand pianos sold in the united states during the last 20 years. For 20 years, the piano book has acted as a textbook on how to buy a piano, but. Larry fine has 33 books on goodreads with 20 ratings. Larry fine is a registered piano technician member of the piano technicians guild.
We have had our technicians go through with full regulation, voicing and fine tuning. Helping you determine the value of a piano please note, this article was written back in 2009. However, according to the blue book of pianos, this manufacturer was winter and company. But, i did also note that the blue book doesnt list the pianos from the sejung line. In my learning process i purchased a book, called the piano book,by larry fine i got it through. And since it is a yamaha piano, if your life situation ever changes, these. The book part consists of a collection of howto articles on the many aspects. According to piano historian arthur loesser 1954, the first spinet piano was offered to the public in may 1935, by an american manufacturer loesser does not identify. Piano buyer the definitive guide to buying new, used, and. Lindeblad piano restoration specializing in the sale and restoration of steinway pianos. Noah adams, host of nprs all things considered the piano book is a musthave resource, no matter what kind of music you play, or what kind of piano you own or intend to buy. Tips, guide for buying a new upright or grand piano. If you are buying either a new or used piano with strings as opposed to a purely digital no strings piano, you must buy this book. I have been reading larry fines the piano book since i purchased our piano in 1990.
Seasoning a new piano classical piano music piano street. Featuring a large band with a complete horn section, reese wynans on b3, matt rollings on rhodes piano, terry mcmillan on piano, and others, carlton is in fine, even understated form here. For a great source of additional information check out our piano forums today. Blue book of pianos publishes current list prices for new pianos. A guide to buying a new or used piano by larry fine a copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition.
Fine gives lots of advice about the sales process at piano shops, and how to deal with the salespeople on an equal footing. Larry fine in his publication, the piano book, notes that there are no more problems with restored yamaha and kawai pianos than new ones. Piano blue book find your pianos age and other information about buying and selling. If you are buying a new piano, you also need to buy the yearly supplement book current version is 20012002 annual supplement to the piano book, also by larry fine. Well, nobody knows and the piano blue book sites wont say. Larry fine has 18 books on goodreads with 290 ratings.
A good piano in poor condition is still a poor piano. Larry fine is a registered piano technician member of the piano technicians guild and has been involved in the field of piano technology for over 20 years. The bottom line is we are completely confident in any piano that we sell. A great addition to the library of professional musicians and amateurs alike. If you are buying a new piano, you also need to buy the yearly supplement book current version is 20012002. 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. The steinway i almost got to call my own this discussion reminds me of the steinway i almost got to call my own. Used, in excellent condition some are worth more than original price. After an illustrated discussion of piano structure that explains the workings of both grand and upright pianos, the book gives careful advice for purchasing a new or used piano. If we did see the problems that are emphasized by dealers and the companies. A piano is one of the most expensive purchases a household will ever make, and buying a piano can be difficult, confusing, and time consuming. Piano buyers guide hollywood piano a guide to the new piano. This book offers an uptodate list of prices of current pianos that are both new and used. The reason 1930 is the cutoff point is that during the great depression many piano makers, both good and bad, went bankrupt, and their names were bought up by the surviving companies.
According to larry fines piano book yamaha pianos are in the high performance category with their s series grands, in the better quality consumer grade pianos with their c series grands and japanese built uprights, and in the consumer grade pianos with their gb1, gc1, etc. The best book of this sort, a practical, downtoearth price guide, workable, easy to follow guidelines. Quality quality of a piano is determined both by the internal and external features of the piano, as well as the manufacturer, when it was made, and the care it received yet if you head online, youll find all kinds of sites that offer you bluebook value of a piano, charge you a small fee for coaching to tell you what you should pay. Larry fines most popular book is swinging from a to z. Free piano prices guide new or used fair market value. Sep 20, 2012 piano book quality comparo larry fine 1. A blue book of pianos is a compilation of prices of new and used pianos, which can be used to give you an estimate of a pianos value. If you are buying a new piano, you also need to buy the yearly supplement book current version is 20012002 annual supplement to the piano book, also. Piano blue book piano prices manufacturers suggested list.
A registered piano technician, fine has been involved in the piano industry for more than 35 years. Mark stivers piano tuning and repair a piano service. An excellent wealth of information can be found in larry fine s the piano book. 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.