Pleyel

Colour: Polished ebony

Pleyel was founded in Paris in 1807 by the composer Ignace Pleyel and became the house most closely associated with Chopin, who played Pleyels by preference and gave both his first and his last Paris concerts at the Salle Pleyel. The firm's instruments are known for a singing, slightly veiled tone that sits some way from the brighter German and Japanese sound, and they remain among the most characterful French pianos a player can buy.

This grand measures 160cm, a little over 5ft 3in, and is finished in polished ebony with the pierced fretwork music desk carrying the Pleyel name and a lyre pedal unit. Priced at £5,995, it has been assessed and prepared by our team at The Piano Gallery, and it is an unusual instrument to find on the used market in the UK.

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

What does a Pleyel sound like compared with a Steinway or a Yamaha?

Lighter and more transparent. A Pleyel tends towards clarity and a singing treble rather than power, with a bass that is defined rather than thunderous. A Yamaha will be brighter and more even, a Steinway broader and stronger. If you play Chopin, Fauré or Debussy, the French voicing is not a compromise but the sound the music was written for.

Why is Pleyel so closely associated with Chopin?

Chopin owned and performed on Pleyels throughout his career and famously preferred them when he felt well enough to shape his own sound, saying he turned to another maker only when he was out of sorts. He gave his first Paris concert and his last at the Salle Pleyel, the firm's own concert hall. The association is genuine rather than marketing.

Is a French grand harder to maintain or find parts for?

Routine tuning and regulation are no different from any other grand, and any competent tuner will be at home with it. Where an older French instrument can differ is in specific action parts, which are less standardised than modern Japanese components and may need to be made or adapted rather than ordered. In practice this affects restoration work rather than ordinary upkeep.

Is 160cm long enough to be a serious instrument?

Yes. At 5ft 3in this is a proper grand rather than a token one, with enough string length for the bass to speak properly and a full grand action. Longer instruments give more depth still, but the step from an upright to a grand of this size is far bigger than the step from this size to the next one up.

How do I judge the condition of an older grand?

Play it, and then ask what has been done to it. The things that matter most are the soundboard and bridges, the tuning pin tightness, and how much life is left in the hammers and dampers. This piano has been assessed and prepared by our technicians and we will talk you through exactly what we found and what was done. We would always encourage you to come and play an instrument of this kind before buying.