Are Kemble Pianos Good?

Yes, on the whole, and the later ones especially. Kemble made honest, well-built British pianos for a century, and from 1988 they were built with Yamaha parts, which is high praise.

The short version

A good Kemble, particularly a Yamaha-era one from after 1988, is a reliable, even-toned piano that offers excellent value, because it costs less than the equivalent Yamaha while sharing much of its engineering. For a home or a learner, it is a sensible, low-risk choice.

The honest caveats

Two things. First, older pre-1988 Kembles are decent but do not have the Yamaha parts, so know which era you are looking at. Second, as with any used piano, condition is everything, and a neglected Kemble can need more spending than it is worth. Always have one checked. Our buying guide covers this.

Our view

As Yamaha specialists, we rate a good Yamaha-era Kemble as one of the best-value used pianos in Britain. If you would like to compare one against a reconditioned Japanese Yamaha, we are happy to let you hear both. See Kemble vs Yamaha.