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Where can I Buy a Baby Grand Piano?

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

For a number of amateur pianists, owning a full-sized concert grand piano would be impractical and extremely expensive. An upright piano might address a few logistical or economical concerns, but few uprights have the tone and dynamic range of a grand piano. The solution for both musicians and their families may be a baby grand piano. This type of piano is usually compact enough to fit in a large den or living room, but large enough to provide the fuller sounds of a concert grand. Finding a suitable piano can be a challenge without doing a little legwork or research first, however.

Perhaps the most obvious place to buy a baby grand piano is at a local music store. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that not all musical instrument stores are created alike. Many specialize in specific types of instruments, such as guitars, band instruments, or keyboards. If you are searching for a baby grand, it pays to call each store first and ask about their inventory. A store specializing in pianos and organs may be more likely to offer this style than a general music store with electronic keyboards prominently featured.

Estate or yard sales are a good place to look for a baby grand piano.
Estate or yard sales are a good place to look for a baby grand piano.

If a local music store does not offer a suitable instrument, then you could search online for other music stores or even the websites of piano manufacturers. Occasionally, this type of piano may be offered for sale through an online auction, although shipping costs could be prohibitive. A manufacturer's website often lists authorized agents who carry their specific line of instruments. A baby grand piano would be considered a fairly major investment, so any delivery option from an out-of-state dealer should include insurance coverage.

Check your local classified ads for a baby grand so you can avoid shipping costs.
Check your local classified ads for a baby grand so you can avoid shipping costs.

A local church, community theater, or college with a music program will occasionally want to sell its baby grand in order to make room for a larger performance piano. You may want to contact the chairperson of a college music department for details on any upcoming auctions of school equipment. A private sale may also be advertised in local newspapers, either under a specific classified header for musical instruments or as a general sale. Estate sales may also include family heirlooms such as a baby grand piano.

A local school or university may be selling their piano.
A local school or university may be selling their piano.

Since owning a baby grand piano often requires a significant investment in time, money, and logistics, it helps to be sure it will be fully appreciated by the intended recipient. You don't want to own a very expensive dust collector three months after purchase. Make sure you are comfortable with having a performance-level instrument in your home before making such a large investment.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular MusicalExpert contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular MusicalExpert contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

shell4life

@JackWhack – I think the best place to order a baby grand piano is from the manufacturer's website. That way, you know that you are getting the best possible quality.

You might have to pay more for it than you would at some lesser known site, but you will know what you are getting into, and you can trust that you will be able to get a refund if the piano is somehow damaged during shipping. Manufacturers usually offer warranties and insurance on things like this.

JackWhack

The problem with buying something as expensive as a baby grand piano on an auction site is that you can't get a feel for the condition it is in, so you have no way of knowing for sure if you are getting a quality piano. I would have to see it in person and actually sit down to play it in order to know that I wanted to spend that much money on it.

I have looked at several baby grand piano prices online, and many of them are going for $6,000 or $7,000. I would expect used ones to cost considerably less than that.

feasting

Even though a music store might not currently have a baby grand piano for sale, they might be willing to order one for you. This might be a bit cheaper than ordering it yourself, because you might not have to pay the shipping cost. It never hurts to ask them what they would charge you for ordering one and then compare that price to prices online for direct orders.

Perdido

As soon as I heard that the music department at my college had received a huge donation, I asked the department head if they would be selling their old equipment. I told him I was in the market for a used baby grand piano, and since I was a student, he offered it to me at a really good price.

I could not have gotten a better deal anywhere else. Sometimes, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. Pay attention to things that are going on in your neighborhood, and be prepared to pounce on any opportunity like this.

backdraft

Definitely check online on a site like Craigslist before you go out and buy a piano. People are trying to get rid of pianos of all shapes, sizes and qualities all the time and they show up on Craigslist everyday.

If you can't find one there you might also check Ebay or some other online auction site. In general, online is probably your best place to find one. You will save money, especially if you can find one in your area.

artlover3

@vanderson-- I couldn't disagree more. Although baby grands start at a higher price point than uprights do, I think most baby grands will compete well with an upright of a similar price.

When you add in the factor that grand piano action will typically be much better than an upright action, I think a baby grand will be a solid choice for a budget greater than $2000, especially if you buy it used. I would confidently put my Yamaha baby grand piano up against almost any upright at the same price point.

vanderson

Personally, I would much rather go with a larger upright than a baby grand piano. Although the baby grand piano will probably have a better feel since it has a grand piano action, I think that an upright of the same price will typically sound much better.

Baby grand pianos often lack the rich tonal fullness that people expect from a grand piano. In an attempt to make a grand piano more compact, the baby grand gets the size of its soundboard reduced.

Higher-quality baby grands will be manufactured in a way that can almost compete with full-size grand pianos, but you will end up paying dearly for this.

There's no hard and fast rule, but if you want to get a baby grand, either get a high quality one or start looking at larger upright pianos.

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    • Estate or yard sales are a good place to look for a baby grand piano.
      By: JJAVA
      Estate or yard sales are a good place to look for a baby grand piano.
    • Check your local classified ads for a baby grand so you can avoid shipping costs.
      By: PaulPaladin
      Check your local classified ads for a baby grand so you can avoid shipping costs.
    • A local school or university may be selling their piano.
      By: Pavel Losevsky
      A local school or university may be selling their piano.
    • Baby grand pianos fit in a home space much easier than a larger, grand piano.
      By: Andrew Hyde
      Baby grand pianos fit in a home space much easier than a larger, grand piano.