What Can Be Fixed on a Used Piano … And What Can’t

What Can Be Fixed on a Used Piano … And What Can’t

When you’re looking to bring a piano into your home, a used piano can be a good option. However, if you bring home a used piano of poor quality, it can hinder the ability to grow your music talent and enjoy the process. A poor quality instrument will:

  • Cost more in repair work
  • Produce a poor quality sound
  • Reduce playability
  • Make the process of playing no fun

The entire reason to play the piano is to enjoy the sounds and music you create. If a poor quality instrument doesn’t allow you to do that, you’re less likely to play. 

When shopping for a used piano, look at:

Brands – don’t skimp on quality. Choose a recognized and high-quality brand that will stand the test of time. 

Age of the piano – a piano has a reasonable lifespan, just like any other personal asset you may own. A top-quality brand that has been well cared for and well maintained can last anywhere from 20 to 100 years. The more you know about its history, the more assurance you’ll have for longevity. 

Playability – even if you’ve never played the piano before, the human ear is still wired for sound. Sit down and start playing every key, starting at the left of the keyboard, touching every note in order as you move to the right. Listen for variances in tone, and note severely out of tune, or a key that won’t play. Also note any buzzing or rattling noises. 

Inside and outside – while some individual sellers might fix up the cabinet and make it shine, telltale signs can often be discovered by peering inside. Fixing a chipped key is easy. Fixing a broken soundboard is all-encompassing. If you aren’t sure what to look for, having someone with you who can, or working with a reliable dealer can ensure you purchase a used piano that will be a part of your home for years to come. 

Things that may be easily fixed include:

  • Cabinet blemishes
  • Chipped keys
  • Missing strings
  • Loose tuning pins
  • Hammer felt

Things that aren’t easily replaceable or repaired include:

  • Pinblock
  • Piano bridges
  • Hammers

What questions do you have about buying a used piano?

3 Things To Know Before Saying YES To a Used Piano

3 Things To Know Before Saying YES To a Used Piano

Have you decided to enroll your kids in piano lessons? Congratulations! It’s one of the best gifts you can give your child. 

Yet finding a quality used piano can be a difficult task when you have no idea what you’re looking for. It’s easy to fall for “free” – you’ll find lots of ads giving away a piano for free. 

How do you know what to look for? How do you know what to choose?

Before you start looking, educate yourself a little on the most important aspects of a piano. It’ll help you make a better choice. 

What is a piano?

A piano is an instrument that makes beautiful music. It’s a conglomeration of 10,000 parts in which every one of them is used to create sound. 

You have wood and metal, strings and keys. The standard piano uses 88 keys to provide a full range of music. 

Every piece on a piano goes through changes as it sits, as it’s played, and as it ages. When constructed well, they can last for a very long time. 

But the strings used to move the keys and create the sounds will slowly move out of place. That’s where a tuner comes in, and ensures they are brought back into position. They adjust the tension to ensure it’s accurate again. 

How do I choose a piano?

Start researching piano brands and you can quickly get overwhelmed. How do you choose? Which one is best? Good news – it’s easier than you think. 

Very quickly, you’ll start to notice that some brands move to the top. When handmade pianos come out of Vienna, Germany, or Italy, they tend to get the highest prices. These are the pianos you’ll see on display when visiting your local symphony. It’s because of the sound they create. 

Yet as a beginner, you can start with something lower. What matters most is what sounds good to you. 

Sitting down and playing it will help you get a feel for the sound it creates. Is it chirpy? Is it tinny? Is it out of tune? This is where you’ll immediately hear the difference with a used piano that’s been sitting in the basement for years, unplayed and unconditioned. You can quite literally hear the difference. 

Watch for the biggest concerns

You don’t have to be a piano inspector to tell if you’re getting a good used piano. Instead, pay attention to what you’re looking at. 

Examine the exterior. Is there any visible damage to the outside?

Open the lid and peer inside. Is there evidence it was well cared for?

Inspect the keys. Ensure they are all even, not chipped, and movable. 

Ask questions like: when was the last time it was tuned? 

You’ll get a feeling about the quality even after a few minutes. 

Bypass the problems and move straight to quality

Instead of playing a guessing game with online shopping, or visiting garage sales in your local community, stopping by our location will provide you with a full range of high quality used pianos. 

We know the quality because we’ve inspected them ourselves. 

We can help you find the right used piano to suit your needs. 

How Do You Know How Much To Pay For A Used Piano?

How Do You Know How Much To Pay For A Used Piano?

Looking to bring a piano in your home? Sometimes your best choice is to find a good used piano. 

But how do you know how much it’s worth? 

Makes and models only go so far. You can’t always compare the same make and model together and expect to pay the same price. A lot goes into determining how much a used piano is worth. 

Of course, ultimately it depends on how much someone is willing to sell the piano for, and if they can find a buyer who is willing to pay the price. But how do you know the price you’re paying is fair? What makes a piano “good”? And is paying for one better than taking in a free model?How Do You Know How Much To Pay For A Used Piano?

Comparables – When you find what you think is a good deal, often the best place to start is by doing a little research. When comparing, you can start by taking in the make, model, and brand of the piano. You also have to consider things like age, condition, and location the piano has resided in throughout its life. It’s rare – almost impossible – to find two pianos with the same background. But by using an appraiser or a reputable dealer, you can determine the differences and make adjustments accordingly. 

Depreciation – Depending on the make and model, some pianos hold their value very well. If you can track ownership and location for the piano, some people prefer to take the original cost minus depreciation to calculate the used price. This valuation method can work well when standards are kept high, such as when the piano was kept in good condition in a theater or institution. 

Current Value – For some, the easiest way to value a piano is to determine what it would take to restore the piano to its original playability. If the piano is in good working order, has value based on its make and model, but in need of a little work, paying the difference can give you a fair price. This means you might have to perform a little renovation to bring it to proper working condition. But it can give you a great value for your money. 

Of course, finding the “diamond in the rough” is difficult for most consumers. That’s why trusting a reputable piano dealer can work in your favor. If you have a question about finding the right piano for you, we’re here to help. 

Vintage, Antique and Used Pianos, What’s The Difference

Vintage, Antique and Used Pianos, What’s The Difference

People use the words vintage, antique and old interchangeably when describing a piano.

The adage “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” can describe many things. And often times the words we use to describe are subjective at best.Vintage, Antique and Used Pianos, What’s The Difference

But is there a difference in the way the labels are used? Does one hold more value than the other?

In general terms, the word antique describes an object of considerable age valued for its aesthetic or historical significance. While time periods change depending on who’s valuing an item, antique is usually associated with something 100 years or older.

Vintage is usually used when describing an item that was popular in a different era. It’s not necessary that the object was produced within that time period, simply that it mimics the look and feel of the item that peaked in popularity during that time frame.

In some cases, people look to labels to help determine value. But this only holds true if both sides agree. Arguably, antique should be used to describe a piano with considerable age. But in all other cases, your good judgment will come into play.

In a physical situation, where you can touch, feel and listen to a piano, you can decide quickly how well it meets your qualifications. If evaluating it from a virtual world, a picture online, being conscious of the meaning and what is used to place a piano in that category will be a judgement call at best.

Which brings us to used. The term used applies to everything that can no longer be sold as new. It’s been used on a showroom floor. It’s been owned by a previous owner. Antique can be used. Vintage can be used.

No matter what label a piano has – antique, vintage or used – playability is never guaranteed. A piano can easily be classified as an antique, and not be able to produce a sound. A piano listed as vintage can be severely out of tune. A piano with the used tag can be comparable, even better than a new one in some cases, depending on upkeep and maintenance.

In all cases, research is your best course of action. Learn all you can about your potential purchase. Do your research online. Trust a piano expert who can guide you along the way. Then purchase the right piano for you.