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Keys

Pianos

Yamaha B3 TC3 PE
Yamaha B3 TC3 PE
  • Equipped with the TC3 TransAcoustic System from Yamaha
  • Solid spruce soundboard
  • Over 12 different sounds and Bluetooth Midi/Audio function
Kawai K-300 ATX 4 E/P Piano
Kawai K-300 ATX 4 E/P Piano
  • With AnytimeX-4 equipment
  • Millennium III mechanics with ABS carbon parts of unrivalled stability and strength
  • Mahogany hammer cores
Schimmel Piano used black
Schimmel Piano used black
Schimmel piano, used, year of manufacture: 1994, finish: black polished, height: 120 cm, final inspection by our master piano builder...
Kawai K-300 ATX 4 E/P SL Piano
Kawai K-300 ATX 4 E/P SL Piano
  • With AnytimeX-4 equipment
  • Millennium III action with ABS Carbon parts of unrivaled stability and strength
  • Mahogany hammer core
Yamaha B3 SC3 PM
Yamaha B3 SC3 PM
1
  • Solid spruce soundboard
  • Equipped with the SC3 Silent System from Yamaha
  • 12 Different sounds and Bluetooth MIDI/Audio function
Yamaha B3 TC3 PEC
Yamaha B3 TC3 PEC
  • Solid soundboard made of spruce
  • Equipped with the TC3 TransAcoustic System from Yamaha
  • 12 Different sounds and Bluetooth Midi/Audio function
Kawai K-200 ATX 4 WH/P SL Piano
Kawai K-200 ATX 4 WH/P SL Piano
  • 88 Keys
  • 3 Pedals
  • Slow-closing piano key cover system
Yamaha P 121 M PWHC Klavier
Yamaha P 121 M PWHC Klavier
  • Designed in Europe to European preferences, the P121 boasts exquisite cabinetry, European ...
  • Dimensions (W x D x H): 152 x 60 x 121 cm
  • Weight: 215 kg
Kawai K-300 ATX 4 WHP Piano
Kawai K-300 ATX 4 WHP Piano
  • Equipped with AnytimeX-4
  • Millennium III mechanics with ABS carbon parts of unmatched stability and strength
  • Mahogany hammer mouldings
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The prices shown include VAT.

A buyer's guide to pianos for beginners and advanced players

Congratulations! Choosing to buy a traditional piano or an acoustic piano demonstrates a strong appreciation for classic values – a love for quality, culture, and tradition. This keyboard instrument can mark the start of a musical career, an investment in a family heirloom, an acquisition for public concerts, or a stylish addition to a home for sophisticated music-making. While pianos are highly sought after, they face competition from a wide range of acoustic and digital variants, which should also be considered. Budget-conscious buyers are less likely to opt for a traditional or grand piano. A good piano can cost several thousand euros, and used instruments should be analysed with a critical eye.

Pianos are an excellent foundation for virtually all musicians and singers. The repertoire for pianos is extensive, with sheet music available for every genre, from Classical pieces like "Fuer Elise" to Jazz, Pop, and modern classics such as Yiruma's "River Flows in You". You can also improvise freely using chords or learn to play the piano by watching YouTube tutorials.

The best option is to try different pianos in person. A visit to the piano gallery at Thomann is not only an exciting experience but is often the quickest way of finding the right instrument. It can also be worth contacting the dealer before making a final decision. This buyer's guide is designed to help you find the best acoustic piano for private homes or public venues. In addition, the comprehensive Thomann online guide to pianos provides detailed information on everything you need to consider when buying an acoustic keyboard instrument. The Thomann Piano Gallery Department is also on hand to offer advice and support at klaviere@thomann.de or by phone at +49 (0)9546-9223-34.

And because purchasing a musical instrument is always a matter of trust, Thomann offers a 30-Day Money-Back Guar­an­tee to ensure a stress-free, no-risk customer experience. What is more, Thomann also offers a 3-year warranty to make sure that its customers can enjoy their instrument for years to come.

Which is the best piano?

The criteria are the same for both beginners and professionals. There is only one rule of thumb: An instrument must have immediate, personal appeal. The decision to buy should not be dictated by brand or price. It is all about the "feel-good factor": the keyboard should provide a playing experience second to none, the mechanism should respond directly and sensitively to touch, and the sound should be to your own personal taste. If the piano is visually appealing, suits the décor, and fits your budget, then you are on to a winner!

What should you consider before buying a piano?


  • Check that a suitable location is available. The room should measure between 15 and 30 square metres.

  • A consistent indoor climate must be maintained, particularly a humidity level rH of 45% to 65% (more important than temperature).

  • Moving a piano, even within a house, requires professional assistance. Piano transport must be organised and paid for.

  • Ideally, piano tuning (which, on average, costs around 100 euros) should be carried out twice a year (in spring and autumn).

  • Reselling a piano is not as easy as reselling a digital piano.

What are the disadvantages of buying a used piano?

  • Effort: The classified ads market is predominantly populated by private listings. You will have to organise the transport and will not be entitled to a warranty or receipt.

  • Quality: Many older used pianos are inferior to modern, affordable digital ones.

  • Luck: A good used piano comes at a price; bargains are few and far between.

  • Expertise: Only a specialist can accurately assess the actual condition of a piano.

  • Additional costs: The cost of subsequent repairs or restoration work can often exceed the instrument's value.

Is renting a piano a good alternative?

Renting can be an appealing option for beginners looking for an acoustic piano. Leasing a piano from a reputable source at a cost far below the price of a new purchase is possible. However, this can still prove to be an expensive option: If you are simply trying to decide whether piano playing is for you, you could purchase a digital piano outright for the cost of a two-year rental, with no contractual commitment, and the option to resell, making a digital piano a lower-risk and more cost-effective option overall.

What are the practical differences between an upright, grand, and digital piano?

A piano (from the Italian "pianoforte") is essentially an upright piano. A digital piano, especially the compact stage piano, offers distinct advantages over the acoustic original: It is less expensive, more portable, can be connected to a PC via MDI/USB, can be played silently with headphones, and does not require tuning. With digital pianos, neighbours do not have to tolerate frequent noise-inducing practice sessions at all times of the day. As with grand pianos, additional costs such as regular tuning, voicing, and mechanism regulation must also be factored into the ownership costs for an upright piano. Only upright and grand pianos provide the authentic auditory and tactile experience of a traditional musical instrument. The spatial sound distribution, the resonance of the keys, and the mechanical components or other mechanical subtleties can only be replicated to a rudimentary effect, even by high-quality digital pianos.

Mechanically speaking, the internal workings of a concert grand piano with horizontally aligned strings are quite different, resulting in an enhanced playing experience with faster repetition (key rebound), an overall superior tone quality, and greater sonority, particularly in the bass, compared with the upright piano. When the grand piano lid is open, it can project sound to a large audience, making it the perfect choice for concerts or spacious homes.

How is a piano constructed? What are the features of a piano?

Structure

The piano consists of a body supported by a beam construction, with a cast iron frame ensuring structural stability. Inside are the strings and the hammer mechanism, while the pedals, essential for piano playing, are at the bottom.

Keyboard

The keyboard, with 88 keys, interacts with the hammer mechanism. Perfected in the 19th century, this technology is simple to explain: Pressing a key causes a hammer to strike a string (or three strings, a "string choir" at higher pitches), leading to the vibration of the string. When the key is released, the vibrating piano string is stopped by a felt damper, silencing the sound. The keyboard allows for dynamic expression: The harder a key is struck, the louder and richer the sound becomes.

Pedals

Traditionally, upright and grand pianos have at least two pedals: A sustain pedal (forte pedal) on the right and a soft pedal (una corda pedal) on the left. The right pedal ensures that tones continue to sound even after the keys have been released, allowing numerous individual notes and entire chords to be "held in the pedal". The left pedal, on the other hand, reduces the sound. The mechanical action differs between upright pianos and grand pianos. In a concert grand piano, the entire musical mechanism moves laterally so that the hammer ideally strikes only one string (Italian: "una corda" = one string). In an upright piano, the distance between the hammer and the strings is shortened.

Sound

As with playing characteristics, sound characteristics vary from instrument to instrument. A piano can have an extremely warm sound (for romantic compositions) or a clear, bright sound (for Classical or Pop music). Contemporary Neoclassical musicians also use the middle pedal (damping with felt) as a stylistic sound tool.

What types of pianos are available, and what brands manufacture them?

Pianos are generally divided into traditional and hybrid models. As the names "Silent" (Yamaha), "AnyTime" (Kawai), and "TwinTone" (Schimmel) suggest, the acoustic component of these hybrid instruments can be silenced, meaning that the piano sound can only be heard through headphones. Silent pianos combine the advantages of acoustic and digital pianos. Pianos are not mass-produced. Thomann offers around 100 instruments, providing a good overview of the market. Brands such as Yamaha and Kawai benefit from long-standing expertise, while Seiler, Blüthner, and Steinway & Sons are considered prestigious manufacturers. This reputation is also reflected in the price.

Traditional pianos offer the widest selection and typically the lowest prices, starting at under 4,000 euros for the Kawai K 15 E E/P piano and the top-selling Yamaha b1 PE model.

Silent pianos from Yamaha start at around 6,000 euros for the Yamaha b1 SC2 PW. Higher-priced models offer greater functionality, such as the Yamaha U1 SH2 PE Silent Piano, which comes complete with a USB audio recorder and the sounds of renowned concert grand pianos.