How much is your piano worth?

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The value of your piano is determined by the following factors:

• Demand in the market: the overall level of demand for pianos during a given time will affect the resell value of your piano. Secondly the demand for a specific brand, such as Yamaha, will affect the resell value of your piano as well. As an example in Vancouver there are many Asian people who are in love with Yamaha because they believe that Yamaha is the best mid range piano. This belief will lead in more demand thus pushing the prices of used pianos up over time. Some technicians believe that Kawai is just as good and in some cases even better than a Yamaha but Kawai generally sells at a lower price because there are less people searching for a used Kawai.
• The internal condition: pianos that haven't been maintained over time require more work to be restored, the moving parts inside the piano should be adjusted and maintained over time, humidity is one of the leading factors in requiring a piano to be maintained over time. Thus the level of work required internally to restore your piano will determine it's value.
• The external condition: pianos are often treated as tables by students, thus causing scratches over time, each move can leave a mark on the exterior body as well. In order to restore a piano, a technician must polish the piano or paint some areas if required to make the exterior look more acceptable to the next owner. The level of work on the exterior body will determine the value of the piano as well.
• It's age and brand: pianos depreciate as they get older so the age is a major factory in determining the value, the brand will determine the rate in which it depreciates. Some people might think that an antique piano is worth more than it should be. This theory is true when there is enough demand for antique pianos. Today in our society there are so many antique pianos from 100 years ago that scoring one would cost as much as $50. Restoring an old piano will cost any where from $1000 to $6000. However there aren't any customer willing to over $1500 for an old piano build 70 years ago, because people don't value them as much as they should.
• How well it was maintained: tuning and maintaining your piano by your piano technician will maintain it's value over time. Concept tuning, voicing, regulating and regular tuning will help keep your piano in a good condition. Imagine not changing the oil on your car for 5 years! Pianos are the same. You have to tune them at least once a year to keep them healthy.

Source: From Yamaha's Corp.

Finding the Age of Your Yamaha Piano

The serial number on YAMAHA GRAND PIANOS is stamped on the gold colored plate located inside the piano as illustrated in the grand piano picture.

The serial number on YAMAHA VERTICAL PIANOS is stamped on the gold colored plate on the inside of the piano as illustrated in the vertical piano picture. The serial number can be seen by opening the toplid of the piano and looking inside.

Yamaha Pianos produced for the North American market have been manufactured in 4 locations:

• Hamamatsu, Japan
• Thomaston, Georgia
• South Haven, Michigan
• Jakarta, Indonesia

As a result, there are four different serial number ranges for Yamaha pianos.

If the serial number begins with a "T", the piano was manufactured in Thomaston, Georgia. If your grand piano is a GH1G, GH1FP, GC1G, or GC1FP, your piano was manufactured in Thomaston, Georgia.

If the serial number begins with a "U", the piano was manufactured in South Haven, Michigan.

If your grand piano is a GA1E, DGA1E, GB1, or DGB1, your piano was manufactured in Jakarta, Indonesia.

If your piano is any other grand piano it was manufactured in Hamamatsu, Japan.

If your upright piano is taller than 45" it was manufactured in Hamamatsu, Japan.

If your upright piano is 45" or shorter and has seven numbers in the serial number, it was manufactured in Hamamatsu, Japan after January, 1970.