Challen 988

Colour: Mahogany satin

The Challen 988 is a compact British upright standing 104cm tall and just 58cm deep, which makes it one of the easier full-keyboard pianos to place in a modern home. Despite the small cabinet it carries a complete 88-note keyboard, so nothing is missing musically as a player progresses.

Challen was for many years one of the best known names in London piano making, supplying instruments to the BBC and building a reputation for honest, hard-wearing uprights. Priced at £1,495, this example is finished in satin mahogany with the simple cut-away panel detailing used on Challen's later models, and it has been assessed and prepared by our team at The Piano Gallery.

Available to purchase online or to try in person at our Oxfordshire showroom. Contact us to arrange a viewing or to discuss delivery and part-exchange options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Were Challen pianos any good?

Challen was one of the larger and more respected British makers, and the firm supplied pianos to the BBC over a long period. The uprights built from the 1960s onwards, including the 988, are practical instruments rather than concert pianos: solidly made, easy to tune and inclined to hold their tuning well. They are a sensible choice for a learner or a family piano, and they are straightforward for a technician to work on.

Is a 104cm upright tall enough to sound good?

A 104cm upright has shorter strings and a smaller soundboard than a 121cm or 131cm instrument, so it will not give you the same depth of bass or sheer volume. What it does give is an even, controlled tone that suits a normal-sized room, where a large upright can easily overpower the space. For practice, lessons and family playing up to around Grade 5, a piano of this size is perfectly capable.

Does it have a full-size keyboard?

Yes. This piano has the standard 88 notes and full-size keys, which matters because a player moving between this instrument and a school or exam piano will find the layout identical. Some very small uprights from this period were built with shortened keyboards of 72 or 73 notes, so it is always worth checking. This one is complete.

Where should I put a piano like this at home?

Against an internal wall is the usual advice, away from radiators, open fires and direct sunlight, and not in a conservatory. It is sudden swings in temperature and humidity that unsettle a piano, rather than the room simply being cool. At 58cm deep this one will sit comfortably in a hallway or against a sitting room wall without dominating the floor space.

What will it cost to keep in good order?

Two tunings a year is the normal recommendation for a piano in regular use, and one a year is the minimum if it is played only occasionally. Beyond tuning, an upright of this type needs very little: an occasional regulation of the action to keep the touch even, and sensible placement. We can put you in touch with a tuner in your area after delivery.