Buying a pre-owned Steinway is one of the most financially and musically rewarding decisions a serious pianist can make — and one of the easiest to get wrong if you don't know what you're looking for.
Why Buy Pre-Owned?
A new Steinway Model B retails for approximately $115,000. A 2010 Model B in excellent condition costs $65,000–$75,000. That $40,000 difference is not a quality gap — it's depreciation. The instrument's musical value hasn't declined; only its accounting value has.
Better still: a well-maintained Steinway from the 1970s–1990s often has a tonal complexity that newer instruments don't match. The soundboard has had decades to settle and develop its voice. The action has been played and regulated by skilled technicians rather than factory robots.
We've sold hundreds of pre-owned Steinways over three decades. The buyers who are happiest are invariably those who spent 20% less than the cost of a new instrument and ended up with something musically equal or superior. The buyers who have regrets are typically those who bought on impulse without proper inspection.
"We've never sold a piano we wouldn't be comfortable playing ourselves. Every instrument in our collection has been personally evaluated."
Understanding the Models
Steinway makes six grand models, ranging from the 5'1" Model S to the 8'11¾" Model D. Each occupies a specific acoustic and spatial niche:
Smallest grand. Apartments, small rooms. Real Steinway tone in the most compact package. Best for rooms under 200 sq ft.
Most popular home Steinway. Excellent balance of size and sound. Fits comfortably in most living rooms.
Discontinued 1983. Vintage models only — excellent if well-maintained. A hidden gem of the line.
Mid-range. More bass than the M, fits spaces where a B is too large. Underappreciated model.
Our recommendation for serious home use. The finest home grand Steinway makes. Transforms any room acoustically.
Professional instrument. Recital halls, large studios, serious collectors with appropriate space.
Concert grand. Institutions and serious collectors only. A commitment of space as much as money.
We consistently recommend the Model B to buyers with a suitable room — it's the instrument where Steinway's engineering is most fully expressed without the logistical demands of the D. If you're measuring your room and a B fits, buy the B.
What to Inspect
When you visit an instrument, work through these areas methodically. Don't let beautiful casework distract you from the mechanical and acoustic components that actually determine value.
The Soundboard
Look for cracks running along the grain. Minor cracks don't always affect tone, but major ones do. Check the crown — the slight upward bow of the soundboard. Press gently on the surface between ribs: you should feel springiness, not flatness. A crowned soundboard is a healthy soundboard.
The Action
Play every note slowly. Listen for ciphers — notes that don't stop sounding when the key is released. Check repetition speed: play each key rapidly five or six times and feel whether the hammer returns cleanly. Feel for consistency of touch weight across the entire keyboard. Inconsistency suggests deferred regulation.
The Strings
Open the lid and look along the strings at an angle. You're looking for surface rust on treble strings (acceptable in small amounts) versus deep pitting rust (unacceptable). Examine bass strings closely where the copper winding meets the steel core — this junction is where corrosion concentrates. Pluck a few bass strings with your fingernail; they should ring clearly, not sound muffled.
The Tuning Pins
Ask when it was last tuned and how long it held pitch. A piano in good condition should hold tune for 6–8 weeks minimum under normal conditions. Loose pins indicate a worn or cracked pinblock — the laminated maple block that the pins are driven into. The pinblock is not visible without removing the plate, but tuning stability is a reliable proxy.
The Case
Check veneer lifting, particularly around the legs and case seams. Look at the leg joints — they should be solid, not wobbly. Examine the lid hinge and prop stick. Cosmetic repairs are relatively inexpensive and shouldn't influence your assessment significantly. Structural issues are another matter.
The Pedals
All three pedals should operate smoothly without squeaking or sticking. The sustain pedal should produce a clean, gradual increase in sustain. The sostenuto pedal should selectively sustain only the notes held at the moment of depression. The una corda pedal should shift the action slightly to the right.
Understanding Condition Ratings
Condition descriptions in the piano market are subjective and often optimistic. Sellers use "excellent" for what RPTs would call "good." At UsedSteinways, we follow the Registered Piano Technician (RPT) standard, and we describe condition honestly even when it might work against a sale.
Plays and looks like new. All components original or recently professionally replaced. No deferred maintenance. Ready for professional use without qualification.
Minor cosmetic wear only. Plays well with no significant mechanical issues. May benefit from routine regulation or voicing, but nothing that affects playability.
Plays well but shows age. Some maintenance needed — regulation, voicing, possibly tuning stability work. Cosmetic imperfections present. Price should reflect deferred maintenance costs.
Plays but requires significant work to reach its potential. Best for buyers who understand restoration costs and are comfortable with the investment. Can be extraordinary value if priced accordingly.
Always ask for a written condition report from the seller. If they can't provide one, that tells you something.
Price Expectations
Pricing varies significantly by model, year, condition, and origin (Hamburg vs. New York). Hamburg instruments typically command a 10–15% premium due to perceived quality consistency. As a rough guide for Model B:
| Era | Condition | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–present | Excellent | $75,000–$95,000 |
| 2000–2009 | Excellent | $55,000–$70,000 |
| 1990–1999 | Very Good | $38,000–$52,000 |
| 1970–1989 | Rebuilt | $45,000–$65,000 |
| 1970–1989 | Good (unrestored) | $22,000–$35,000 |
Prices are illustrative market ranges as of early 2026. Contact us for current specific pricing. See our full Steinway pricing guide for all models.
Questions to Ask Any Seller
These aren't trick questions — they're reasonable due diligence for any transaction over $20,000. A reputable seller will welcome them.
- ◆When was it last tuned, and how long did it hold pitch?
- ◆Has it ever had a soundboard repair, crack, or replacement?
- ◆What work has been done to the action — regulation, restringing, hammer replacement?
- ◆Has it been moved recently, and how many times? Moving is genuinely traumatic for pianos.
- ◆Can I see maintenance records or receipts from a piano technician?
- ◆Is the serial number consistent with the claimed year of manufacture? Steinway serial numbers are publicly documented — verify them.
- ◆Has it been kept in a climate-controlled environment? What are the humidity conditions of the room?
- ◆Will you allow a pre-purchase inspection by my technician?
- ◆Is the sale price negotiable based on the condition report?
- ◆What is the delivery arrangement, and is the piano insured during transport?
The Pre-Purchase Inspection
For any piano over $20,000, a pre-purchase inspection by a Registered Piano Technician (RPT) is non-negotiable. The inspection costs $150–$300 and can save you $10,000 in unwanted repairs. This is the single most important advice in this guide.
A thorough RPT inspection will evaluate: soundboard condition and crown, string and tuning pin condition, action regulation and hammer condition, structural integrity of the rim and plate, pedal and trap work function, and provide a written assessment of what work is needed, in what priority, and at what approximate cost.
Find a Registered Piano Technician through the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG) website. Look for someone with experience specifically with concert-level instruments — not every qualified technician has worked extensively on nine-foot Steinways, but for a Model B or C, you want someone who has.
Any reputable dealer — including us — will welcome your technician without hesitation. If a seller refuses an independent inspection, that refusal tells you everything you need to know. Walk away.