I had been wanting to get a piano for awhile, so I would randomly check craigslist from time to time to see if anything ever caught my eye. I was inspired with Rachel’s piano find and DIY, but I am definitely not ambitious enough for that. Ben and I have to love something the way it is because we never get around to painting or refinishing something. We’ve already have so many projects going on, that refinishing furniture is something we would never get to.
One weekend, I suddenly got really serious (obsessed is more like it), about looking for a piano. I think it’s because I came across one at this shop and loved the style of it (and the restoration process Rafael, the shop owner, does to the pianos!). If you know Ben and me, we’re notorious for researching everything (we can spend hours!), especially big purchases. I originally thought I would find a used, pretty piano, buy it, then have someone come over and tune it, and that’s that. After much deliberating over the piano I originally wanted, and how to be sure it was a good buy and brand, I started talking to people who are part of the Piano Technician Guild to get advice on pianos.
I really wanted a spinet, but then after talking to lots of professionals, they said the only spinet they would ever recommend getting is a Baldwin Acrosonic. Other than that, everyone said to get an upright or studio piano. I also used my brother (and his friends) as a resource; he’s a musician and so are all his friends, and they all said to get a Yamaha or Kawai. Everyone saying not to get a spinet due to tone quality kind of bursted my bubble, and then everyone recommending brands that we’re not in the budget really was a Debbie downer too. That weekend I was emailing and speaking with 4 different piano technicians. I seriously got obsessed with pianos and was reading everything I could about buying a used piano.
Then my research became much more specific, and since I really wanted a spinet, I started craigslisting the spinet everyone recommended… the Baldwin Acrosonic. That’s when I came across this particularly pretty one with sexy, slanted legs on craigslist. It looked so different and it was a Baldwin Acrosonic! Ben and I really loved the simple design of it. My only worry was that it didn’t have a keyboard cover and didn’t know if that was a big deal to me or not.
It was only one of its kind in my search, whereas, there were a lot of similar style Baldwin Acrosonics (like this) that I was coming across. I think I spoke to 7 different Baldwin Acrosonic sellers, but only one had this particular style. Ben and I made time to to go see it that weekend and once we saw it, we were sold. Now, all the piano technicians I spoke to recommend having a professional check out the used piano you’re considering to determine if it’s even worth the cost because sometimes there will be numerous things wrong with it that might not be noticeable to the untrained eye (and ear). The seller of this particular piano had a piano teacher look at it to aid in pricing it to sell and when I saw it and tinkered with it, we felt comfortable enough not to spend the additional hundred to have a piano techinician look at it before we bought it, so we kind of took a chance.
We had piano movers come a few days later to pick it up from the seller and bring it to our house. We didn’t want to take the chance to move it ourselves (to save our backs and the hassle of renting something to fit it), so we let the professionals do it. Then after about a month, we had a piano technician come and check it out to determine if anything needed fixing and tuning. We waited a month because the technician recommended that the piano needs to be given a chance to acclimate to its new home. Who knew pianos needed that much care?! I certainly didn’t. The verdict of the piano technician was that all our piano needed was a tuning! The sound tone and quality is fabulous, but he does want to keep an eye on a couple pins in the pin block, but other than that, he said it was a fantastic instrument. He too was in love with the style of the piano. He said he had never seen an Acrosonic in that design before!
All in all, we stayed within our piano budget which was a little under a thousand (all the piano technicians and musicians were telling me a good piano would be way more!), though it was more than my initial thinking of $200 for a used piano, we got a quality instrument that was recommended by professionals, so we were okay dishing out a little bit more money. Plus, it was a style Ben and I both loved. That piano is definitely a looker! The girls started piano lessons with my brother, who just graduated with his Bachelors in Jazz and Music Composition, so if anyone in the L.A., O.C., and Inland Empire want piano lessons, I highly recommend him! Not only does he teach piano, but also guitar, ukulele, and drums! I believe he can also do banjo and saxophone lessons too. Sometimes I wish I got his musical talent, but my piano skills are very basic and though I can hold a tune, that’s all I can do.
Buying a piano the way we did was a bit of an investment, but it’s something we definitely knew we wanted to invest in for the girls. I’m not letting them quit for sure and I think they would thank me later, at least I hope. I quit sometime right before middle school and tried to pick it up again by taking lessons in high school, but it still never became natural to me. I wish I never quit in the first place. My sister who quit early too (she even wrote my parents a one page essay on the reasons they should let her quit), wish that she didn’t. I’m excited to see how the girls do with piano and I’d like my brother to eventually teach them guitar too. We had a little wannabe family band growing up, so maybe it’s time the Bratcher girls started one too!
don’t let them quit!!! I took for 12 years and there were plenty of times my mom had to talk some sense into me not to quit! even when I hated practicing! hehe! beautiful piano!
Wow what a beautiful piano. Jealous! I took lessons for about nine years. I eventually just got so bad about practicing and too busy with ballet, so I quit, but I still try to play every day. I’m currently teaching myself the main theme from the movie Amelie and though I was never an amazing player I’m proud of my progress! 🙂 Your girls will definitely thank you one day!
I’ve been practicing on refining my skills too. I’m so not that good though!
I found your site through pinterest. Your piano is gorgeous. I have been looking for a similar styled one. Would you mind sharing the year it was made and model if you have it. Thank you in advance. Cute blog too!
Thank you! Not sure the year, but I think late 60’s, and as mentioned above, it’s a Baldwin Acrosonic. Good luck!
Oh man!
That piano is beautiful!
I have wanted an plight piano and to paint it red (like the one in Moonrise Kingdom–do you know what I am talking about?)
but you have seriously made me change my mind.
The mid century modern lines on that piano are out of this world.
It is truly an amazing piece.
Thanks for sharing.
Greta
Right?! I love the lines on this piano! It’s what sold us.
Its the most beautiful piano ive ever seen. Congratulations!!
SO cute! I’ve been scanning all the op shops here for one! No luck yet 🙁
that is the prettiest piano i ever did see!
we rescued my piano from storage last year, but still haven’t gotten around to having it tuned =/ i’m afraid it’s going to be really expensive… i quit lessons when i was 15 and regret it to this day (i was a stubborn teenager, apparently, lol), so it’s really cool to see your brother will be teaching your girls – hopefully they’ll stick with it!
thanks for your posts, they always brighten up my mornings =)
For tuning and check up we paid $125 since there was nothing majorly wrong with the piano. Not too bad right?!
you could always sew up a keyboard cover, similar to a table runner??
oh my goodness, I’m in love with this piano!! i too have been scouring craigslist for a good used piano, but just can’t find anything 🙁 it’s so hard to be patient! what a great find!
Hooray! Congrats on the beautiful piano! I’m a piano teacher, and I definitely agree with not letting kids quit. As long as they have solid support at home. If the parents aren’t committed, sometimes the kids won’t be either. So if neither are, then it’s just not going to work. I’m a very laidback teacher, but a little required practice never killed anyone. 🙂
Hi-
Funny, I have had that same piano in my family since my dad bought it new in 1960! Unfortunatly, mine needs a new soundboard after several moves 🙁
Amazing!!!
Do you mind my asking how much you paid for it?
That is the best-looking piano I have ever seen! Saw it first on your Instagram and got jealous! 🙂
I’m maybe going to buy the same exact piano this weekend, except the wood needs refinishing. Did you purchase this piano as it appears, or did you do some refinishing? The wood on yours is gorgeous!
Congratulations! Such a good (and rare) find! We purchase the piano as it appears and the wood was in excellent conditioning so no refinishing was necessary!
Thanks for the reply! Any advice on restoration — the one place I called quoted about $2-3k, which makes me want to try it myself, which is probably insane.
I have no real clue on that! There’s a guy in SoCal who does them (are you local?) and I don’t think he charges as much, maybe 1k? But from what I’ve seen from what he’s done, he does a really good job on the inside and outside of the piano, provided the pinblock isn’t too damaged.
Thanks for the info; I’m actually in the Washington, D.C. area. I went to look at the piano this weekend, and it seems like it needs some (perhaps significant) musical help, but the case looked like it would take a varnish or some other treatment pretty easily to bring out the luster of the wood. It’s an exceptionally beautiful model if you’re trying to fit into a mid-century decorating aesthetic, which is our #1 priority, even though that’s an amusical criteria!
I am looking for this exact piano. I live in northern CA but can always ship from LA. Do you have any particular stores you came across that I could trust and perhaps find one of these through? Thanks!
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment
didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again.
Anyway, just wanted to say superb blog!
I will right away grasp your rss feed as I can’t find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service.
Do you have any? Kindly allow me know so that I
may subscribe. Thanks.
You need targeted visitors for your my used piano buying experience : CAKIES website so why not try some for free? There is a VERY POWERFUL and POPULAR company out there who now lets you try their website traffic service for 7 days free of charge. I am so glad they opened their traffic system back up to the public! Check it out here: http://u.laponta.com/7xr8q
I have one of these pianos for sale!!!! Please send me contact info for details.
I’m in Venice, CA.
[email protected]
Oh…Also, my piano has the stool to match the design!
Thanks to your blog and Bill Dyer’s comment on it, I was able to buy this beautiful piano from Bill. It’s truly a special piece and we will cherish it!!
That’s so cool! Congrats!
Love this piano! My dad worked for Baldwin a long time ago. People don’t know this but this model is actually really rare because it was a Limited Edition Baldwin Anniversary model, produced for a short time in the 1960s.
If anybody is looking for this rare Baldwin Acrosonic piano, I suggest contacting this Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/modjoy
You got a great deal o this piano ! We finally laded one, and are in our “wiring period” while it acclimatizes to its new surroundings. Cant wait to get it tweaked and tuned so I can het back to practicing.
I found this blog when I was trying to find out how much our piano is worth. We have this exact piano with the bench and based on the serial number, ours was made in 1960. We are wanting to sell ours. I don’t want to get ripped off, but also want to be able to sell it. However, reading a lot of these comments, I wonder if we should just hold on to it. We are in Portland, OR.
hi! are you still looking to sell this piano?