What Should I Do With My Old Piano?
A common question we get asked is “What should I do with an old piano?” When it comes to modern appliances, devices, clothes, toys we consider something ‘old’ after maybe 7-10 years. (Who still uses the same phone they had 10 years ago?) When it comes to acoustic pianos, old typically means anywhere from 50 - 120 years old!
Many old uprights and grands still exist in people’s homes today that were acquired and passed down from previous generations. These instruments for the most part were wonderful instruments in their time. Many pianos from the early 1900s through the 50’s were made in the USA under many different reputable brands. The fact that so many century old pianos are still around and playable today is a testament to the fine craftsmanship and quality of materials used.
At some point though, every piano has a shelf life. Even the most excellent quality pianos made with the finest materials will need to be refurbished / rebuilt at some point. Strings and hammers typically last anywhere from 25 - 40 years depending on use and environment. Felts will wear out and compress, metal parts will rust and oxidize, and wood will crack and deteriorate over time. Here are some pictures depicting some examples of the wear and tear of lots of use and time on pianos I have worked on:
For many old pianos, the cost to rebuild would far exceed any future financial return a customer would get.Of course there are some older high quality pianos that are worth rebuilding or have already been partially or fully rebuilt. One of the most impressive pianos I have worked on is a fully rebuilt 1924 Steinway A. Unfortunately for most older pianos, it isn’t worth the time or money to rebuild and we would recommend replacement instead.
So what to do with that old piano? Pianos are very heavy and it can be difficult to discard them. It is possible to disassemble a piano completely for the purpose of recycling / reusing some parts, but this is time consuming and can be difficult. You can also call local piano shops or rebuilders to see if they would be interested in taking it for the purpose of rebuilding if you think it has value although the chances are very slim that they would take it. Most have too many offers and already have too many pianos already. You can also list for free on a marketplace for either an aspiring technician to have something to work or for someone to turn into something artistic. Some people have gotten creative and will gut most of the inside of a piano and create a desk, book shelf, or wet bar.
An example of a piano wine bar
An example of one I did for a friend
In conclusion, it is of course a sad reality that a generational instrument with decades of love and joy would eventually need to be retired. The good news is if you invest in a quality acoustic piano made today, with proper maintenance you can still enjoy decades of music and have something to even pass down to children or grandchildren.
