A concert grand piano worth about $145,000, which has been used by soloists accompanying the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) at the Opera House, is one of several iconic instruments up for sale.
The Steinway and Sons D-274, which was continuously used for performances and rehearsals from 1998 to 2014, is no longer used in professional concerts before thousands of people.
However, Ben Schwartz from the SSO said it remains a beautiful piano.
"It's still a very resonant, special instrument but it maybe doesn't have the kind of freshness and cut and projection that we need for a concerto soloist," he said.
"It's still a very vibrant instrument but it doesn't have quite the sort of presence or grandeur you need for the big stage in front of a big orchestra."
The piano has been played by some very famous fingers, including those belonging to Vladimir Ashkenazy, Lang Lang, David Helfgott, Harry Connick Jr, Paul Lewis, Stephen Hough, Yuja Wang, Rufus Wainright, Diana Krall, Piers Lane, Roger Woodward, Emanuel Ax, Peter Serkin, Kirill Gerstein and Alexander Gavrylyuk.
Mr Schwartz said he thought that roll-call made it a very attractive purchase for the right buyer.
"There's something about the aura and there's something about the history of it that I think will be very touching to people who care about that artistry, and they'll have a sense of that and be able to own it and be inspired by it," he said.
The piano will go on sale in Sydney on Thursday, July 21, for $145,000 - about half the cost of a brand new concert grand piano.
Potential customer Jason Li, who has been playing music since he was a child, has been trying it out.
"I think the history is pretty special," he said.
"Knowing people you revere and recognise and look up to have played it before - to have it in your house would be pretty special," Mr Li said.
"It would be a lot more special than something that's just off the rack and brand spanking new."
Several pianos up for grabs
Three of the SSO's other well-used concert grand pianos are also being sold, including the first ever Australian Steinway Art Case Piano, which was transformed in to a work of art by Indigenous artist Judy Watson for the 2007 Queensland Music Festival.
Loading...A 15-year-old concert grand piano from the City Recital Hall and the one used for outdoor performances in The Domain and Parramatta Park are ready for a new lease on life too.
Piano technician Ara Vartoukian, who has restored and tuned all four of the SSO pianos ready for sale, said age had not wearied them.
"Over the years [a piano] becomes more flexible so it loses the ability to project, especially over a big orchestra," Mr Vartoukian told the ABC.
"But the piano becomes mellow and smoother and rounder in the sound and you've got this beautiful luscious sound coming through which is perfect for a smaller venue.
"In a home environment, or in a small studio, or in a small hall they would be perfect."
Mr Vartoukian is overseeing the sale of the SSO pianos as well as 50 others he and his colleagues have restored at their Theme and Variations workshop in Sydney.
Many of those also have interesting stories associated with them, including an 1887 Steinway, which is believed to have been one of Dame Nellie Melba's rehearsal instruments.
Student Ayesha Gough, 21, who was recently one of six Australian pianists to play in the Sydney International competition, has been trying that piano out.
"It's been beautifully looked after and it's almost like playing a new instrument in terms of regular tuning," Miss Gough said.
"It doesn't feel like an old piano ... everything feels so even, it's beautiful."