Where to Buy a Used Steinway in the UK
If you are looking to buy a used Steinway in the UK, here is an honest guide to your options and how to buy well. We should say plainly that we are Yamaha specialists and do not sell Steinway, so this is guidance, not a pitch.
Specialist Steinway dealers
Steinway has official dealers, and there are respected independent dealers who specialise in used and restored Steinways. You pay more than in a private sale, but you get a piano that has been properly prepared, a warranty, and someone to go back to. For most buyers this is the safest route.
Private sales
You will find used Steinways advertised privately, often cheaper. The saving comes with risk: no warranty, and the condition is whatever it is. Always bring, or pay for, an independent technician before you buy privately.
Auctions
Occasionally cheaper, always riskier. Fees add up, and you may not be able to try the piano properly. Best left to those who know exactly what they are looking at.
What to check wherever you buy
The rebuild history and the parts used, the soundboard and action, and whether it is a New York or Hamburg piano. Our buying guide has the full checklist, and the used price guide tells you what is fair.