When beginners start shopping for pianos, they quickly discover that used piano prices are about the same as a good new piano from a reputable piano store. This is especially true once moving, tuning, and repair costs are factored in.
The most common requests we get from people shopping for a beginner’s piano are:
- a durable piano
- one that inspires the student to practice
- one that looks nice
- a monthly payment about the same as a cable TV bill
Over the course of every year, we audition and inspect every piano offered by every major manufacturer – even brands we don’t sell – to find the absolute best values available. In this category, we’re looking for pianos that are well-built and well-designed, fit all of the above criteria, and cost about the same as a good used piano.
Top Upright Pianos for 2019
Steinway & Sons 1098 Studio
Noah Adams raved about his 1098 in his book Piano Lessons, in which he told his story about becoming an adult piano beginner at age 52. This workhorse of recording studios, practice rooms, and teaching studios, the legendary Steinway 1098 is built like a grand piano yet takes up the space of a wall-hugging upright.
Featuring a solid Sitka spruce soundboard, low carbon strings, and a sand cast plate, Steinway’s smallest piano boasts all of the features of their famous grand pianos. The touch is intuitive, with a warm, clear sound that is distinctively Steinway.
Steinway & Sons designed Essex EUP-108 Console
By sticking with construction methods similar to their high-end Steinway & Sons piano, they’ve really created something special with the Essex. The all-wood action is noticeably more responsive than similarly-priced pianos by others who all use synthetic plastic parts. And unlike the bright, sometimes harsh sound of competitors in the price range, the Essex is clear yet warm, due to its lower-tension design and tapered soundboard.
Real world experience is showing that these pianos hold up better over the years, too. Steinway & Sons even offers their Steinway Promise – invest in any Essex piano and they’ll guarantee full trade-in toward a Steinway within 10 years.
With a variety of remarkable piano sounds, an innovative hybrid Hammer Action, and an innovative zero maintenance design, Celviano’s GP series earns the distinction of being the first hybrid piano to make our top three.
Unique among digital pianos, the GP500 has the response and feedback of a traditional grand piano – right down to the pedals – while taking up much less space. It even offers silent play (with headphones) at an affordable price. Perfect for active homes and accomplished pianists alike.
This Celviano was three years in the making in collaboration with C. Bechstein in Germany and has been received with rave reviews. It was recognized with as “Excellence in Product Design” by the prestigious iF Design Awards.
One of the keys to success in learning to play the piano is having a good piano. Each of these instruments will set you or your aspiring player up for success.
At Steinway Piano Gallery, we offer a wide range of pianos for every player, song, and budget. Visit us soon to find your perfect piano.
Have you tried any of these pianos? Tell us what you think by replying below…
I find it great that you recommended a list of pianos that a person can invest in for them to use to learn how to play the instrument as a beginner. Among these, I find it cool that you mentioned how Noah Adams used a Steinway & Sons 1098 Studio in order to learn it starting at 52 years old. With that, if I bought the same model to help my son get through with his summer piano lessons this year, I would also look for a local service to keep it maintained regularly.