There are three grand piano classifications based on size. They are concert grand, regular grand, and baby grand. The concert grand is any grand piano that has a length greater than 7 feet. The baby grand piano is any instrument under 6 feet long. The mid-sized piano is also referred to as classic or regular grand piano.
Price of the baby Grand Piano
The prices of instruments in this class vary widely from $5,000 up to a whopping $110,000. Though it is not wrong to purchase a baby grand at a price higher than the maximum price listed here, it is risky to go for one that costs lower than $5,000. The lowest resale price for any playable baby grand is about $4,500.
Now, why the huge price difference on the baby grand piano? Here are three most important price determinants.
- New Versus Old
As expected, new grand pianos are bound to cost more than a used one of the same type. The base price for the pianos is $8,000. As already outlined, the lowest price for a used one which is still in good shape is $3,500 lower than this.
- Longevity and Quality
Not all baby grand pianos are similar. Some will last for a century or more while others cannot last more than 25 years. The durability of the piano is affected mainly by its structure. To most people, the structure is the same hence easily overlooked. The key component of a piano’s structure is the rim. It is the curved part around the instrument’s edges. The plate is bolted to the rim, and the soundboard is in direct contact with it. Simply put, it is the chassis of the instrument.
The rim thickness and rigidity determines the instrument’s durability, quality of sound and eventually the price. For example, the five foot four Mason Hamlin which has very thick rim is more expensive than its six-foot counterpart that has a less dense rim. It also produces more sound. The high cost of thickly rimmed baby grand is also due to the high density of the wood required to make the rim.
- The quality of wood used to make the soundboard
The soundboard is underneath the rim. It is like a gigantic wooden transducer. Without it, the piano would not be as loud as it is. In fact, the sound produced would be similar to that of unplugged string guitar. The soundboard functions as the speaker box in modern stereos and the bridge as the magnet. Therefore, the quality and the type of wood used for the bridge and the soundboard greatly impact the sustain (how long the sound lasts) and the clarity of the piano.a
