Is it more worth it to move a piano or sell it and buy another? (movers, truck)
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We have a Yamaha C3 Grand that was originally built in early 80s (but fully restored) that I paid $11k for in 2017, I’ve been playing piano since I was 4 and have had quite a few uprights, and many digital keyboards in my life but this was the first time that I’ve ever been in a position to own a grand piano and I love it, my boyfriend jokes that he and I and the piano are in a polyamorous relationship.
We’ll be moving out of Texas before the end of the year and I am trying to think about what to do with it. I’ve become accustomed to having a grand piano in my house and I don’t think that I could go back to playing/practicing/composing on a digital keyboard, I could probably live with a nice upright but I would prefer not to. A lot of the advice seems to be that unless it’s a Steinway, Bosendorfer or Fazioli in great condition or something with great historical or sentimental value it’s better to sell and buy another one but at the same time the piano market is weird and I’m afraid that even if I sell it for 20% more than price that I bought it, I will have a hard time finding something without putting down another $10k or something, which just isn’t feasible.
If you really like it, why not go ahead and have it moved?
You don't need special piano movers, those guys are for $80,000 concert grands. Regular movers can do this. Actually, grands especially smallish ones are easier to move than uprights. Take off the pedal assembly and the legs and you've got a compact package, unlike an upright that always wants to fall over on you.
Obviously you'll have to tell the movers you've got a 5 foot grand piano, and they'll probably charge you a specific "piano charge".
IMLE, musical instruments are individuals and quite personal. If you love the action, tone and other qualities of the one you have, why not move it? You might not find another you like as well. If you're sort of neutral about the piano you have now or it's just another big piece of furniture potentially worth $, maybe just the opposite.
I would certainly get a price to move it, and of course make sure you have a place to put it in your new digs - but I would lean towards moving it, as Parnassia noted instruments have some "personality" so it's not like a piece of Ikea furniture that you could replace like for like in your new place.
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I have moved two myself with help, in a 1972 El Camino, but they were just uprights. A grand is really another matter, and requires a bigger truck and more people, or taking it apart even to avoid damaging it.
You might find it hard to sell and take a big hit, costing you more in the end than a piano mover.
We have a Yamaha C3 Grand that was originally built in early 80s (but fully restored) that I paid $11k for in 2017, I’ve been playing piano since I was 4 and have had quite a few uprights, and many digital keyboards in my life but this was the first time that I’ve ever been in a position to own a grand piano and I love it, my boyfriend jokes that he and I and the piano are in a polyamorous relationship.
We’ll be moving out of Texas before the end of the year and I am trying to think about what to do with it. I’ve become accustomed to having a grand piano in my house and I don’t think that I could go back to playing/practicing/composing on a digital keyboard, I could probably live with a nice upright but I would prefer not to. A lot of the advice seems to be that unless it’s a Steinway, Bosendorfer or Fazioli in great condition or something with great historical or sentimental value it’s better to sell and buy another one but at the same time the piano market is weird and I’m afraid that even if I sell it for 20% more than price that I bought it, I will have a hard time finding something without putting down another $10k or something, which just isn’t feasible.
What’s your experience been with this?
My experience has been that my piano goes where I go. Given that after my last move, it came down to a choice of having either a dining room set or the piano in my house, my dining room set now lives at a friend's house while my piano has a place of honor in the dining room.
It'll cost you extra to have it moved as most moving companies won't move a baby grand with fewer than four able-bodied humans (which is b.s. because my dad and a friend of his, who were both in their late fifties at the time, moved it to Pennsylvania from Ohio, but I digress...), but it's worth spending the money to have it moved, in my opinion.
Also, my piano has been messed up every single time it's been moved as movers, while they're primo at getting my piano apart and flipped on its side for the move, suck at putting it back together at the destination end. Since you'll be wanting to have the piano tuned once it's acclimated to its new environment, this might not be an issue so long as your tuner/piano tech knows what's going on with the piano (or not) before their arrival.
For the record: being a chain music store-branded floor model, my baby grand isn't nearly as nice as yours, but my dad gave it to me when I was a senior in high school so it has value as both a musical instrument and a sentimental token of my late father and our shared musicianship.
In short, if you're remotely on the fence about whether or not you should keep or sell your piano, do not sell it as I think that you'll regret it if you do so.
We left our ancient upright in the house when we moved south. Once we were settled here we found a nice apartment size upright which my wife enjoyed playing.
OP~ It sounds as if you have an emotional attachment to the piano. If that's true, then keep it, move it and enjoy it for many years to come. Since you're in Texas, no matter where you go, it won't be "far." Unless you're going outta the USA. This means you can probably get it moved anywhere in the lower 48 for $6500 or less.
You might find it hard to sell and take a big hit, costing you more in the end than a piano mover.
^this
I have had two relatives try to get sell/donate their very nice old pianos. No one wants them.
I would keep it if it means something to you.
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