There are many quality pianos that are 50, 75, and even 100 years old. In fact, pianos manufactured during the “Golden Age of Piano Making” (those from 1875-1932) were and are STILL far superior in both their materials and their craftsmanship. These instruments can more readily be restored than modern pianos, because of the extra time invested in seasoning of the old-growth lumber, which was also of greater quality. As trends tended toward the bottom line of efficiency and away from those old-world artisans and hand-craft masters, the industry saw its products living shorter and shorter useful lives. When well taken care of, these early twentieth-century models outlast the original owners, and usually the next 3 generations!
We take care to check our older pianos for irreversible damage, so we don’t pass on problems to our customers. We stand by our pianos because we want to earn your trust. If we can earn your trust, you’ll be more loyal to us…and loyalty yields more recommendations than ANY advertisement can yield!
For two hundred years, the piano has been a staple of the home, strengthening families with the power of music.
HEALTH BENEFITS PIANOS PROVIDE THE HOME
Playing and learning music has long been recognized for its physical and mental benefits. Bringing music into your home reduces stress and anxiety, as well as heart and respiratory rates, and also lowers blood pressure.
Time spent with the piano improves mental health. People who engage in musical activities experience less anxiety, loneliness, and depression. Playing the piano bolsters self-esteem. It is also an effective form of therapy for Attention Deficit Disorder.
Playing music can reverse memory loss and reverse the decline of brain processing, as well as inner ear hearing loss.
COGNITIVE BENEFITS
Multiple areas of the brain are strengthened when playing music, including the ability to concentrate, focus and apply knowledge. Learning to play the piano helps develop patience and discipline in other areas of your life, as well.
BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN
There isn’t enough space here to address all the benefits children enjoy through learning and playing the piano. Here is a list of a few:
Better school performance.
Children who study music fare better on standardized testing and in school, overall. They recall an average of 20% more vocabulary words than their peers. Learning new languages is enhanced in those who play music. Reading and comprehension skills are improved. Music, math and art are closely intertwined .
Improved self-discipline.
Learning to read music and scheduled daily practice sessions teaches discipline, perseverance and time-management, resulting in lifelong skills.
Improved confidence and self-esteem
In learning to play the piano, a child learns to accept constructive criticism, thus building self-confidence. Kids also feel good about themselves when they can do something special like playing the piano. Participating in piano recitals and concerts helps kids feel less self-conscious. Interacting with adults in this process gives kids self-assurance in society.
In providing an avenue for learning to play the piano, you will be giving your child a gift that will last a lifetime!
CULTURAL BENEFITS
Playing the piano opens your home to the worlds of Beethoven and Bach, Mozart and Chopin, as well as Scott Joplin and Andrew Lloyd Weber. The list of wonderful composers and performers is endless. As you learn to play the music of these great minds, you’ll want to know more about their lives and their works. In learning about their lives, your family will learn of the history of their time and other artists of that era.
Having a piano in your home is truly and obviously an investment in your family’s future.
When buying a used piano, prioritize the structural integrity of the soundboard, the condition of the pinblock (for tuning stability), and the responsiveness of the action. High-quality brands like Steinway, Yamaha, Baldwin and Kawai tend to retain their value and mechanical reliability better than mass-produced entry-level models.
In 2026, a high-quality used upright piano typically costs between $2,500 and $7,000, while used grand pianos range from $8,000 to over $35,000. Prices vary based on brand prestige, age, and whether the instrument has undergone professional restoration or reconditioning.
Yes, All Keyed Up provides references for professional, climate-controlled piano moving services for all purchases. Proper delivery is essential to protect the instrument’s delicate internal alignment and exterior finish.
The quick answer is No. DO NOT gamble with your piano purchase, shopping online with Craigslist, LetGo, OfferUp, etc. Our technicians have seen hundreds of these horrifying piano ownership experiences. Worst of these are the notorious “great deals” or “bargains” that all sound too good to be true, and they all seem to follow the same script: ”FREE PIANO….must move yourself”. (Oh. My. Goodness.)
Dear friends, please….PLEASE…….P L E A S E ! ! !
This is a trap: “FREE PIANO”, -“you move it, it’s yours”, -“need it gone, ASAP”,
-“Come get it out of my basement or garage and you can have it”.
We have had to deliver the bad news to WAY too many of our friends about what these piano “deals” potentially cost.
PLEASE talk with us about owning one of our guaranteed serviceable used pianos! We stand behind every instrument we sell, and we will be happy to help you avoid this losing gamble.
A Free piano is most often the worst purchase you could make. Without a professional appraisal of the piano’s condition, hidden costs like moving, repairing, and tuning can add up fast. They often require more work than they are worth. Worn-out parts and neglect mean poor tone and frustration. They usually have a low, or even no resale value. If the free piano offer held any real value, it probably wouldn’t be free.
Yes, but so much more! A tuner may be able to get the strings of a piano sounding ok, but as experienced technicians, the extremely high level of product knowledge for what we sell is what sets us apart from other retail piano operations. We have the experience and know-how to diagnose and repair problems anywhere in the piano! We can help you get your piano in the best shape possible, so just imagine how the pianos we are selling will perform!
All Keyed Up Piano Shop stands behind their pianos with trusted expertise and dependable service you can feel confident about. We offer a 10 Year Guaranteed Serviceable Warranty on every piano we sell.
These questions will help you determine the piano’s condition and avoid costly repairs.
We encourage you to contact us with any and all questions about purchasing a used piano.
On average, a full piano restoration in 2026 ranges from $2,000 to $22,000. The total cost depends on the piano’s size and condition: uprights typically range from $4,000 to $17,000, while grand pianos can range from $6,000 to over $22,000 for comprehensive rebuilding and refinishing.
A piano is worth restoring if it is a high-quality brand (like Steinway, Mason & Hamlin, Yamaha or Baldwin) or holds significant sentimental value. Professional restoration can add 50 to 70 years of life to an instrument, often making it a more cost-effective investment than purchasing a new handmade piano of comparable quality.
Piano refinishing focuses strictly on the aesthetic exterior, including stripping and reapplying the wood finish. Piano restoration is a comprehensive process that includes refinishing plus structural and mechanical overhauls, such as repairing the soundboard, restringing, and rebuilding the internal action for optimal playability.
A high-quality piano restoration typically takes 3 to 6 months. This timeline includes the meticulous process of stripping the old finish, sourcing authentic replacement parts, restringing, and performing multiple “voicings” and “tunings” to ensure the instrument’s stability and sound quality are fully revived.
