Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Should I buy this old Steinway upright for peanuts?

So there is this old 1918 Steinway upright that costs around 2000 USD. But the condition of the hammers is putting me off a bit as shown by the photos. Should I still buy it?

Thanks,
Thomas
[img]https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/t0wAAOSwGL1hrTCS/s-l640.webp[/img][img]https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5NwAAOSwKKJhrTCT/s-l640.webp[/img]

I'd buy it for peanuts, yes - but certainly not for $2K USD.

At that pricepoint, if exterior is great for furniture purpose, why not?
As a musical instrument standpoint, even it could sound great, personally I am just uncomfortable with that condition.

There are tons of reasons why it is still unsold rather than it is a undiscovered gem by others.

Standard reply would usually be get an independant Technician to check it out.

Let's us know if you buy it. Best wishes.

Should you buy it? If you want it.
Would I buy it? No.

I wouldn’t. Missing/broken strings, some dampers don’t look right, hammers worn out, case finish looks poor.
Taking age into consideration, I would be reluctant to pay even half that.

How is your Schimmel doing Tommyhaha?
Regarding this piano I remember once also seeing an older high end upright piano for $300 in not good condition.(perhaps what technicians would call a core piano) I was with someone who was rather desperate for an accoustic piano and was quite taken with it at first.We looked at the instrument carefully and the hammer alignment was skewed in certain areas.So sometimes the hammers only struck 2 strings instead of three.There was also a dead note.Her technician advised her that the piano would cost a few $K.The dead note however worried him and he said there was perhaps a crack in the pinblock! The cabinet had quite a few scuff marks, scratches etc.
I suppose considering the brand it could have been worth it to a rebuilder for that price?

So yes far too high a price for this piano I would say.

2 cents?
No.

Nope

That piano is a whole lot of hurt to someone looking for a good reliable instrument. It's only for someone willing to spend big. Look for an older Mason upright in good condition for 10% of the price

I've been seeing a few Steinway uprights turn up in my area lately. One looked not too far off in condition from the OP for $500. Another was free, but had been sitting outside for a while and was rusty. The rest were +/- the price with varying condition. All looked turn of the century based on the case design.

Looks like peanuts are expensive in some areas.

Please be aware that Steinway verticals have a terrible reputation for tuning due to friction in the string path.

Of course, there are technicians that can, but admittedly I’m not one of them. You have make sure you have a technician in your area that can do it well or it will never really be in tune. One owner tried every other technician in our area—they either refused or wouldn’t call back. I gave it my best but walked away and didn’t charge them. The bass and middle is usually ok, but from about A4 and up the problem gets worse and worse.

Also realize that, like old S&S grands, these can suffer from verdigris as well. I just serviced one that needed extensive lubrication—-and it wasn’t lubed that long ago. Still seized up. So, it may need extensive parts replacement. My mother’s S&S console is from 1958 and has verdigris.

If you absolutely have to have a piano with that sticker on the front that’s fine, but personally I think if you want a good musical instrument just invest that $ in a U3 or something.

Finally, someone said it.

I would not take a Steinway upright for free, impeccably rebuilt, delivered for free, with lifetime free service.
Seriously.
There is nothing I like about them.
On my short list of worst uprights ever made and refused to touch them last 25 years of my business.

The serial number puts that piano about 1914.

I used to own a K52 from 1906. That piano always kept its tune. It had been rebuilt in the early 1960s. The upper registers were a bit lacking but the base and the middle registers were absolutely beautiful. I decided to let it go since having it restored again would have cost as much as a new K52

Yikes! 😱

Out of all the premium piano brands, which ones make the best uprights? I am hoping to buy an upright with a nice case, whether it is completely rebuilt or newly customized.

Bechstein, Bluthner, Bosendorfer, Forster, Grotrian, Sauter, Schimmel, Steingraeber