How do I sell a piano?

March 7, 2006 8:22 AM

How do I sell a piano that could possibly be worth a bit more than I know?

I currently own a piano with some local (Austin, TX) music history. I realize that I need to get it appraised, but beyond that I really don't know the best way to go about selling it. Any advice?

posted by pfuller to grab bag (8 comments total)

Lots of pianos for sale on Craigslist.
posted by TeamBilly at 8:58 AM on March 7, 2006

I will give you $50 for it.
Email's in the profile.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 9:25 AM on March 7, 2006

I could use a piano and I live in Austin. email me and tell me more.
posted by lockle at 10:02 AM on March 7, 2006

If you can find somebody to take it, either specify up front that they have to use bonded piano movers, or pay for movers yourself out of whatever you're getting. You don't want to be amazed at just how much damage a dropped piano can do.

Don't put too much faith in the appraiser's numbers, unless he's telling you where to sell it. You might want to try calling local music shops or groups associated with it's history and seeing if they're interested.
posted by Orb2069 at 11:17 AM on March 7, 2006

The consensus I've seen is that most pianos, other than really remarkable ones, are not salable, and that if you can talk someone into taking a piano away for free, you have scored a sweet deal.

If you think the piano in question is special for a reason, that reason will suggest a set of people who might be interested enough in obtaining it that they'd be willing to shell out for the several grand it will cost to get it moved appropriately. If you can't think of any person who'd fit that description, you might be out of luck.
posted by ikkyu2 at 2:46 PM on March 7, 2006

A Hard Rock Cafe? One of Jimmy Buffet's restaurants? Some other music club situation with a sense of history?
posted by SuperSquirrel at 5:59 PM on March 7, 2006

I think it's a pretty remarkable piano, it's a 1915 baby grand that was the house piano at the Armadillo World Headquarters.

It has been played by:
Fats Domino
Leon Russell
Commander Cody
Count Basie
Ray Charles
Jerry Lee Lewis
Mose Allison
Herbie Hancock
Dr. John
Tom Waits
Randy Newman
Bobby Nelson
Carol King
M. M. Murphey
Billy Payne (Little Feat)
Barry Manilow (Bette Midler band)
Nicky Hopkins
Mike Melillo (Phil Woods band)
Carla Bley
Taz Gregorio (Chas. Daniels band)
John Allair (Van Morrison band)
Floyd Domino
Marcia Ball
James Polk
Mady Kay
Dude Skiles
Riley Osborne
Bobby Doyle
Charlie Hellpinsteel
Shawn Siegel
Merle Saunders (Legion of Mary w/ Jerry Garcia)

If anyone is still reading this, any more info would be much appreciated.
posted by pfuller at 10:12 PM on March 7, 2006

Wow. Do you have documentation to support this? If so, specialist auction would seem the way to go.
posted by ceri richard at 3:30 AM on March 8, 2006