I am looking at a Baldwin Grand Piano "Howard Edition".5.6 ft. I was told it is 25 years old, and the owner is original owner (she is a piano teacher). The piano is well taken care of, and turned regularly. to me, the sound is good, and looks good (no scratch)The owner asked $7,000.00

Is there anyone familiar with Baldwin Grand Piano? Do you think the price is fair? I can not find a lot information about this model.

Thank you very much for any input.

A 25 year old Howard would be a rebranded Samick and should be priced as such. The serial number will start with an S, as I recall.

Sounds like a nice piano, but I'm thinking there is a lot of room for negotiations on the price.

I'd verify the age and have a piano tech check it out before any money changes hands. The piano may well have been taken care of, but using it for piano lessons means a lot of wear too.

Welcome to the PW fourms, and good luck!

Rick

I am looking at another baby grand, which is D.H. Baldwin Piano, C172. it is 5 years old. no scratch, looks nice, sounds good. the seller ask for $6,000. and the price is firm. I am not sure which one I should go for?

Neither am I. Which one do you like better?

Don't know where you are located, but I've seen both those makes and models sell for $3K to $4K from private sellers.

I'm with BDB, buy the one you like the best.

At $7K for the Howard, I'd come up with another $1K or so and look at some of the new baby grands made in China.

Keep in mind, you are the one who needs to be happy with the piano! :-)

Good luck!

Rick

Thanks BDB and Rick! I am in Ottawa, Canada. I think the piano price is higher here than in US.

I have very little experience with piano. So. probably a technician could help.

thanks for the inputs so far.

Remember, Howard and DH Baldwin are products of Baldwin - they do not have the build features or quality of the Baldwin piano. They are average quality instruments at best, and below average at worst. Marketing folks and others like to leave a different impression.

Thanks Bob!

the owner offered the following information of the Howard piano:

Baldwin Co. USA
Howard C171
stamped on the sound board plate number 42253

Does anyone know what year the piano was built? and is it made by Samick or Kawai? It looks like it was made in US.

Thanks.

It was made by Samick. I do not have the age handy.

I have a Howard C171, that was built in the 1980's, and was formerly used in a church. Bought it 14 months ago, paid $4,000 for it, had it delivered and $400 of work done on it (hammers, general action work, leveling, and weight, and tuning). My tech is the best in the local area, doing work all over the state - he evaluated the instrument prior to my purchase, and felt that the price was fair to both seller and buyer.

I enjoy the piano, when tuned after a year it was off a little but not much. I would NOT have paid $7,000 for it.

It is listed as a 5' 8" in information I was able to find on it. Made by Samick in Korea. I was servicing musical electronics in the 1080's and did all the work for the dealer who sold the instrument originally - it is not the equal of the top of line American made Baldwin at the time.

One of the things that affects price is how much product is available. In eastern NC, there are not that many used grands sold that are not either over $10K or PSO (piano shaped objects).

I doubt piano prices are higher in Canada. You are looking at pre-owned pianos and the pricing can be quite idiosyncratic. The sellers (like sellers at dealerships) may try to roll you on the price. BTW, a Howard of that age is indeed a Samick. It would have to be a bit older to be a Kawai-made Howard. I owned one of those. $7,000 is too high, IMO.