How Do You Buy A Used Piano?
A high-quality used piano can be a smart investment, both financially and musically. Many top-name used pianos such as Steinway or Baldwin appreciate in value each year. Because a used piano is a big investment, carefully research your purchase, and bring in outside help to be sure you’re getting a good deal. Step 1 Ask a piano teacher or a piano tuner if they know of any pianos for sale or if there are certain manufacturers you should look for. Search the newspaper or check with the music department of your local college. Colleges periodically retire instruments and sell to the public at reduced prices. Step 2 Look for more than just a piece of furniture when shopping for a used piano. The old adage “you can’t judge a book by its cover” especially applies. If a piano’s beautiful case is disguising a wreck of an instrument inside, it may be more trouble than it’s worth. Find out who owned the piano and if possible, how often it was played. Step 3 Determine the age of a piano by locatin
Before you visit a used piano, you can learn about its background. Ask the seller about the brand, model, year of manufacture, and if possible, the piano’s serial number. You can use the information to find the piano’s value before you even leave your house.1. Why Are They Selling the Piano? The reasons for selling a piano are plenty; make sure those reasons aren’t going to cost you. Watch out for reasons like: “It’s taking up space,” or “I could use the money.” It might allude to piano neglect; and if they need the cash, chances are they haven’t been spending on maintenance. You should also ask whether they’ll be purchasing another piano, and if so, why they prefer it to the one they’re selling.zSB(3,3)2. How Often Was the Piano Being Tuned? And was the tuning schedule consistent? A piano must be tuned at least twice per year – anything less could mean you’ll soon be p
