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| Built in America since 1854 | Built in America since 1862 | Built in S. Korea Since 1956 | Built in China since 1956 | Started in America in 1982 | |
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"What should I look for in a used piano?" A used acoustic (or "wooden") piano can be an excellent investment. As with any other pre-owned merchandise, however, it is crucial to determine the quality and condition of the piano you are considering to know if that piano is a good value. A piano has over 8,000 parts, some of which are quite small and hidden from view behind the plate or other immovable area of the piano. It is not possible for the layperson to judge the condition of a pre-owned piano. It takes years of technical training to adequately judge the condition of a plate, strings, soundboard, ribs, bridges, pinblock, action, hammers and trapwork.
If a piano will not hold a tuning, it is no longer a musical instrument. Anyone from a beginning student to a professional pianist attempting to play such a piano will sound horrible. While it is true that almost any piano can be rebuilt so that it will then hold a tune, this process (if done correctly) is very expensive, very often more expensive than purchasing a new piano. It should be noted that most tall old "upright" pre-1930's pianos cannot be brought back into playable condition in any cost effective way. It is also crucial to remember that just as you cannot determine if a used car is a good buy based on the paint job alone, you cannot determine the worth of a piano based only on the condition of the furniture or "cabinet" holding the piano. A piano is a musical instrument and has a monetary value based on it's quality as a musical instrument, not primarily on it's attractiveness as a piece of furniture. A piano is a tool. This tool is used to produce musical sounds. The condition of the tool will in great part determine the quality of the music produced as well as the joy the player will have in the process of producing the music. In other words, playing a bad piano is frustrating and unpleasant. Every piano player, whether beginning student or professional performing artist, needs a piano with the following attributes: Tone A piano should have rich bass tones, a warm middle register and clear treble tones. Pianos that are overly bright or "tinny" or which have dull, muddy tones should be avoided. The "scale design" or "blueprint" of the piano as well as the condition of the individual piano parts determines the tone of the piano. Touch All piano players, especially beginning students, must have a piano with a good touch to be successful. The piano keys must respond instantly and sensitively to the player's touch on the piano keys. The entire action mechanism must provide the player with note-to-note consistency, quick repetition and dynamic control. Low Maintenance A high quality piano that has received proper maintenance and has been used and stored properly can be an excellent value.
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