Samick Pianos
Samick is one of the world’s largest piano manufacturers—a Korean company that’s been building solid, value-driven instruments since 1958. If you’ve played a piano in a school, church, or community center, there’s a decent chance it was built by Samick.
They’re not flashy about it. Samick doesn’t carry the brand recognition of a Yamaha or Kawai, but they’ve been quietly building pianos for decades—including many of the “hidden” brands you see in studios and practice rooms worldwide.
Samick: Six Decades of Building Pianos
Hyo Ick Lee founded Samick in South Korea in 1958, originally importing Baldwin pianos. Within two years, the company was building its own uprights. By the 1980s, Samick had grown into one of the largest piano manufacturers on the planet, exporting instruments globally and opening operations in Germany and the United States.
In 1983, Samick brought on Klaus Fenner—a respected German piano designer—to rework its grand piano line. The Fenner-designed instruments won international awards and marked a turning point in how the industry viewed Samick: not just a volume producer, but a company capable of serious engineering.
Over the years, Samick acquired or built instruments for multiple heritage brands, including Wm. Knabe & Co., Pramberger, Kohler & Campbell, and the German maker Seiler. Today, much of Samick’s production takes place in Indonesia, with higher-end lines retaining more premium components and tighter quality control.
Our founder, Jerry Binder, was close personal friends with Lee Hyo-Ick and we were the biggest retailer of Samick pianos in the US for many years. Our rental fleet started with 30 Samick pianos. Some of which we still own and are still fantastic instruments. You can even rent one for $48 per month!
THINKING ABOUT BUYING? That’s normal.
Most people researching pianos plan to buy. The smart move? Rent first, decide later. The right piano reveals itself after weeks of playing—not from a spec sheet.
What Makes Samick Different
Samick occupies a practical spot in the piano market: reliable instruments at accessible prices, built by a manufacturer with decades of experience and genuine engineering depth.
Tone: Clear, modern, and balanced. Mid-range Samick pianos lean toward a slightly bright voice aimed at versatility. Higher-end models—especially the Fenner-designed grands—push into warmer, more complex territory.
Action: Medium-weight and responsive. Accessible enough for beginners, serious enough for daily practice. Not as light as a Yamaha, not as heavy as a Weber—a comfortable middle ground.
Build: Modern CNC-machined production with standardized parts. Quality control has improved significantly over the decades, particularly after the Fenner redesigns.
PLAYED IN PIANOS — Why "Previously Rented" Is a Feature
New pianos are stiff. They can need up to 4 tunings in the first year just to settle. That's why professional musicians prefer played-in instruments—a piano develops its character over time. You wouldn't run a marathon in brand new shoes. Our rentals are already played in and arrive at your home ready for practice.
Samick at PianoPiano
We rent one Samick model: the instrument that makes the most sense for our customers.
Samick 43” Continental Console
A compact console designed for apartments, small rooms, and anywhere space is tight. The 43” height keeps the footprint manageable while still delivering a full 88-key acoustic action—real hammers, real strings, real piano feel.
This is a straightforward, well-built practice piano. For families testing whether piano lessons will stick, or adults returning to the keyboard after a break, the Samick console is the most practical way to get a real instrument into your home.
At $48/month, it’s our most affordable acoustic rental. That’s less than most streaming subscriptions combined—for an actual piano in your living room.
Who Samick Is For
Samick fits players who want a real acoustic piano without the premium-brand price tag—and who’d rather spend their money on lessons, not logos.
If you’re comparing Samick to Yamaha or Kawai and wondering whether the savings are worth it: rent it and decide for yourself.
Families and beginners who want an honest acoustic instrument at a monthly price that makes sense. A Samick console gives you real keys, real hammers, and real strings—not a digital approximation.
Adult returners and hobbyists who want a serious-enough piano to grow on but aren’t ready to commit to a top-priced Japanese or European brand.
Budget-conscious players who know that any well-maintained 88-key acoustic piano is a professional instrument—and that the name on the fallboard matters less than the feel under your fingers.
People who are short on space, or live in a walk-up. The console design makes it easy get up stairs and around corners. And its diminutive size means the small won’t overwhelm small apartments. We’ve even seen customers fit them under their kids’ loft bed!
WHY OUR PIANOS LAST
We’re a rental company. We buy pianos we want to own forever—so our grandkids can rent them to your grandkids. You can purchase if you want, but that’s not our goal. We just want you to play it, love it, and send it back when you’re done so we can find a new home for it. That’s why we only buy quality instruments that will last forever.
Why Samick Makes a Great Rental
Samick is one of the best arguments for renting before buying—because the brand rewards hands-on experience more than name recognition.
Find out what you actually like. Samick’s balanced tone and medium-weight action make it a great starting point. Live with it for a few months. If you decide you want something brighter, or warmer, or heavier—switch. No penalty.
Skip the “which era, which series” research. Samick, like all brands, has built a lot of pianos over a lot of years, and quality varies by model and production era. When you rent from us, we’ve already done that homework. Every piano in our fleet is maintained to our standards, regardless of brand.
100% first-year credit toward purchase. If you fall in love, apply your rental payments toward buying that piano—or any other in our inventory of equal or greater value. We won’t let you make a mistake.
RETURN
SWAP
PURCHASE
Explore Samick at PianoPiano
Curious what a Samick feels like under your hands? We can help you find the right one for your playing style and space.
Browse Samick Rentals | Contact Us
Questions? We’ve been renting and selling pianos since 1975. No pressure, no haggling—just straight answers.
Learn About our Other Piano Brands
Avery Bond | Hardman | Kawai | KPOP™ | | Samick | Weber | Yamaha | Young Chang |