Why Do Pianos Cost So Much?

As we all know, pianos are a key part of any happy life. They bring music and music brings joy. So why in the name of all that is holy do we not all have these delightful beings in our homes? The straight and simple answer to this question is because pianos are just so darn expensive! So this has led us to question what makes pianos so costly? Why oh why are they worth so much and is their pricey price-tag justified? Let’s find out.

1. Pianos are made of high quality materials

Why are pianos more expensive than other instruments? The simple answer is because pianos are more expensive to manufacture than lesser quality instruments. Fact: Pianos are mostly made of wood. And not just your run-of-the-mill pine-lumber, but fancy shmancy mahogany and ivory. The finest materials—top grade spruce, wool felt, expensive hard rock maple, veneers, and all the components that go into the making of a piano — will affect the end result. What can you do, top quality and luxury has its price!

I’m so fancy, everybody knows.

2. They are not just instruments!

When you buy a piano, you don’t just buy a piano. You’re buying a piece of furniture, a sculpture, a talking piece, a friend, art! Pianos fill whatever room they are placed in, and even have the power to give the room a whole new purpose. Now we don’t know about you, but when you get about 6 different uses out of an item for the price of one, suddenly a little extra zero at the end of the price tag doesn’t seem so bad. 🙂

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3. They are made by skilled artisans

Grand pianos are handmade by artisans who have been around for a long time. The makers of more expensive instruments take great care in selecting and handling their materials consistent with the quality of that instrument. So unfortunately for our wallet, this fine workmanship comes with a price, but also with bragging rights!

Oh, what’s that you ask? Just a little 3.2 million Heintzman piano made of crystals. Bought it with some spare change I had lying around.

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4. They take a lot of time to make, time=money!

You know the drill folks, time=money! And with all due respect to the guitar, pianos are a bit more complicated to build than just a wooden frame with strings. Piano building is a time-consuming task, and its lengthy assembly is largely due to the fact that there are virtually no robotics involved. That’s right, when you buy a good piano, you are buying a handmade masterpiece that was meticulously crafted and molded to fit and accommodate you. The specialized customized molds and iron dies used to form the harp, the cabinetry, and the pedals, not to mention the ivory keys and shiny chrome finish, are all full-fledged projects in and of themselves. And for that, my friend, we must pay our finest greens.

It’s a lot of hard work to look this pretty!

5. It’s a long term investment

People will look at a nice grand piano and say “Wow, I can buy a car for that!” To that we counter, how much is that car worth when it leaves the lot? And, where is that car in about 10 years?  Unlike cars, most pianos will work well up to their 50^th birthday and very good pianos will live to be 100 and more and actually can appreciate in value a lot. When you buy a piano, you buy it for the long-haul, till death do you part. Like fine-wine, pianos are a long-term investment, a friend for life if you will, and we all know you can’t put a price on friendship :).

Till death do us part.

6. They are a status symbol

If you want to join the ranks of classic legends like Elton John, John Lennon and the magical Beethoven himself, you might want to acquire a piano. Pianos are classy and everyone knows it.  We’ll be gobsmacked if you’ll be able to find a fancy house with a BMW parked outside that doesn’t have a piano parked inside (regardless of whether the home owners even know how to play the piano or not). So if you’re looking for a little something to boost your social class or ranking, the piano’s got your back for just a few thousand buckaroos.

I got swag, I got style, and I got a piano.

So readers, after reading the article do you feel better about the piano’s pricey-ness? Sound off in the comments below!

Sources:

• Source #1
• Source #2