Once you have managed to sift your way through the array of brands, there are many more important considerations:

Q. Do I buy a smaller piano and upgrade later on or pay once and get a piano for life?

A. Often the answer to this question will be determined by your budget however it is important to realise that the smaller 'more cost effective' upright pianos are designed for beginner to intermediate pianists and are not generally suitable for more advanced performers. Sometimes a student will advance very quickly meaning that you will need to upgrade perhaps within 5 years. This is most definately false economy as you are unlikely to get your money back on the piano.

Q. Where is the piano I am considering actually manufactured?

A. This is a very important question to ask whoever you are purchasing the piano from and many people are hesitatnt to answer or sometimes don't even know the answer.  To make matters worse, often the answer is not straight forward. Quite often these days production facilities are mere assembly plants where different parts from all over the world are brought together and assembled to resemble something that looks like a piano. Most of a piano's production still needs to be done by hand and therefore the quality of the instrument is directly linked to the experience and knowledge of the people making it.

Q. What will my piano be worth in 5, 10 or 15 years time? (assuming it lasts that long)

A. There is no way of accurately predicting the value of pianos over a given timeframe however there are a few things we have learnt having been in business for over 125 years. Firstly pianos go through a unique depreciation/appreciation cycle. Most will dip down in value during the first 5 years of their life but after 10 years you can often get your money back on them if selling privately. From then on they can even appreciate in value but this is entirely dependent on the quality of the piano.

Poor quality pianos will not only die earlier than their better made counterparts but will only ever continue to depreciate in value. European pianos fare the best followed by Japanese pianos. According to Steinway and sons, a Steinway can appreciate in value 300% in 30 years.

Q. I've been told that pianos are like violins and will improve in quality and value as they get older. Is this true?

A. Alas no. Pianos are like people - they get old and die. The strings on a piano place the instrument under 10-25 tonnes of pressure. Pianos therefore need to be incredibly strong to withstand this tension however over a period of time they will all end up as firewood. Once again the better the piano, the stronger its construction and the longer it will last.

A very good quality piano can and should last up to 80 years (and sometimes beyond). Sadly we are seeing many cheaper pianos barely outlasting their warranty period.

In 2003 I was lucky enough to attend the 150th anniversary of Steinway and Sons in New York. Henry Steinway was asked by the media how long a Steinway lasts to which he replied - "Well I don't know; we've only been making them for 150 years"

Q. Is a larger upright better than a smaller grand?

A. There has always been much debate amongst pianists and technicians over this but at the end of the day, with a very few exceptions, Grand Pianos will always win out over upright pianos - even ones which may technically be larger and better.

This is primarily down to two incontevertible facts:

1. The action on an upright piano is what we refer to as a single escapement action whereas a grand piano utilises a double escapement action. Coupled with the fact that the grand piano action is working with gravity whereas the upright action is not means that the grand action will be faster, smoother and more responsive than most upright pianos.

2. The grand piano soundboard is horizontal with clear space above and below to allow for optimum sound transmission. Compare this with the upright which is generally shoved up against a wall with the lid down. Once again the grand will appear to give more sound.

As always there are exceptions. A few years ago we put on a 'duelling piano' promotion using our model A 6' 2" Steinway grand piano and our model K 132cm Steinway upright piano. I made the mistake of taking off the front of the upright in an attempt to balance up what should have been a no contest... to my horror the upright drowned out the grand.

Q. Should I consider second hand as well as new?

A. This is most definately a case of buyer beware. A 30 year old piano will have similar maintenance issues to a 30 year old car. I have never seen a second hand piano that doesn't require some work doing it. This may vary from a basic service to a full rebuild. Furthermore we are seeing an influx of second hand Japanese pianos many of which are coming from high humidity climates. Long term exposure to humidity causes serious problems such as compression of the soundboard and hardening of the hammers.

If you are considering purchasing a second hand piano, the best advice I can give is to either buy one through a 'reputable' retailer who will do any work required to the piano prior to listing it for sale and offer a proper warranty; or get a competent technician to carry out a report on the piano in the same way you would get the AA to appriase a second hand car.

Failure to do so could mean throwing your hard earned money away.

Q. One person has told me one thing and another person has said the opposite. Who do I trust?

A. Well the answer to this is pretty simple. Be guided by those within the industry who have a very long track record, are supported by one of the major piano manufacturers and who you know will stand behind their product.  At Lewis Eady Ltd, if  we don't have the right piano for you, we will tell you where you can find it and we will not sell you a piano that we believe is not suited to your purpose.

For over 125 years we have represented the world's best brands with honesty, integrity and reliability