Piano Values Page

Piano Values Resources

The plate, or metal frame, of a piano is usually made of cast iron. It is advantageous for the plate to be quite massive. Since the strings are attached to the plate at one end, any vibrations transmitted to the plate will result in loss of energy to the desired (efficient) channel of sound transmission, namely the bridge and the soundboard. Some manufacturers now use cast steel in their plates, for greater strength. The casting of the plate is a delicate art, since the dimensions are crucial and the iron shrinks by about one percent during cooling. The inclusion in a piano of an extremely large piece of metal is potentially an aesthetic handicap. Piano makers overcome this handicap by polishing, painting, and decorating the plate; often plates include the manufacturer's ornamental medallion and can be strikingly attractive. In an effort to make pianos lighter, Alcoa worked with Winter and Company piano manufactuers to make pianos using an aluminum plate during the 1940s. The use of aluminum for piano plates, however, did not become widely accepted and was discontinued.

Since the 1980s, digital pianos have been available, which use digital sampling technology to reproduce the sound of each piano note. The best digital pianos are sophisticated, with features including working pedals, weighted keys, multiple voices, and MIDI interfaces. However, with current technology, it remains difficult to duplicate a crucial aspect of acoustic pianos, namely that when the damper pedal (see below) is depressed, the strings not struck vibrate sympathetically when other strings are struck as well as the unique instrument-specific mathematical non-linearity of partials on any given unison. Since this sympathetic vibration is considered central to a beautiful piano tone, in many experts' estimation digital pianos still do not compete with the best acoustic pianos in tone quality. Progress is being made in this area by including physical models of sympathetic vibration in the synthesis software.

Piano making flourished during the late 18th century in the Viennese school, which included Johann Andreas Stein (who worked in Augsburg, Germany) and the Viennese makers Nannette Stein (daughter of Johann Andreas) and Anton Walter. Viennese-style pianos were built with wooden frames, two strings per note, and had leather-covered hammers. It was for such instruments that Mozart composed his concertos and sonatas, and replicas of them are built today for use in authentic-instrument performance of his music. The pianos of Mozart's day had a softer, clearer tone than today's pianos, with less sustaining power. The term fortepiano is nowadays often used to distinguish the 18th-century instrument from later pianos.

Up to Date Piano Values News

On-Line Piano Appraisal Service - Piano Appraial - Piano Values ...

Acting in the capacity of appraiser, we accurately and expertly appraise vintage and antique ... Acting in the capacity of appraiser, we accurately and expertly appraise vintage and antique pianos.

Read more...

Player Piano Values - General

Player Piano general values, grades, types and other items related to player piano values. ... General Values - ' Cut to the Chase ' Buying or Selling? - Try PianoMart.com. One of THE most difficult ...

Read more...

Riverton Music | Home of Utah's Best Piano Values

pianos of Utah, Steinway pianos, Petrof pianos, Yamaha pianos, Kawai pianos, Pearl River pianos ... West Valley Piano Department . 4700 South & Bangerter. 801-969-4358. Salt Lake Piano Department

Read more...

Riverton Music | Home of Utah's Best Piano Values

pianos of Utah, Steinway pianos, Petrof pianos, Yamaha pianos, Kawai pianos, Pearl River pianos ... West Valley Piano Department . 4700 South & Bangerter. 801-969-4358. Salt Lake Piano Department

Read more...