There were a lot of well-made pianos in the early 1900s, but there was also a lot of rubbish.
After decades of use and abuse, some pianos will perform very well, combining high-quality pianos with better materials and artistry intended to “Last a lifetime.”.
It is always advisable to look for these high-quality used pianos, as they are unlikely to cause problems over the years. You might think you wouldn’t because you’re just getting started and you need a good used piano to learn music.
The value of a piano depends on many factors, and second-hand pianos have many factors to consider.
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Advantages of used pianos:
1. A well-maintained used piano will have a good sound. While maintaining a good piano tone can evolve, it should not create a style that contrasts with a new piano (this happens with some poor-quality new piano). Make sure you schedule regular adjustments to help maintain sound quality.
2. It’s a lot cheaper. Some private sellers are eager to sell their instruments for whatever reason or sell a piano at a low price. Be careful, though; too low a price for a piano can be a trap. If you want to risk buying a piano at a suspicious price, please bring a registered piano technician with you.
3. Older pianos may have a mysterious history behind them; once it is established that it is an active, well-preserved piano, its life span is 30-60 years, so don’t be surprised if a seller bought an instrument 10 or 20 years ago. A tool used by a famous person will have extra value
4. Sampling is a good way to learn about pianos, and you should test as much as possible. If you don’t like the sound of the piano, don’t be afraid to move on. This time must be spent discovering your personal preferences and learning to appreciate quality.
Disadvantages of used pianos:
1. Flexible budgets are best. High-end used pianos save more money, and an unfamiliar instrument may require additional work (or at least a new tuning, part replacement, piano tuning).
2. You could get ripped off. While this is true at the professional sales level, it is safe to assume that not every private owner knows how to take care of their equipment over the years. Learn how to check for common signs of piano injury, and seriously consider hiring a professional to accompany you during piano viewing.
3. Mold growth can be harmful to health, especially in children. Under certain temperatures and indoor conditions, the piano can quickly and easily accommodate bacterial and fungal colonies. When visiting used pianos, be aware of any adverse piano room conditions.
Used pianos are more susceptible because they experience more stress. Repeated movement, fluctuating weather, and even loud playback can cause tuning problems and reduce the value of a piano over time. Be sure to check out any acoustic piano experiences you might consider.
Should I buy a new piano or a Used piano?
The new piano is in perfect condition, and the second-hand has an attractive price. So should you choose a new piano or a second-hand piano? Here’s how the two differ.
1. cost
Cost is one of the decisive factors in purchasing a piano and is also the root cause of the inability to choose a second-hand piano or a new piano.
The price of the new piano is unified. Most brand official websites can see the price.
Several factors determine the price of a used piano
- 1. Internal damage (hammer wear, string condition, joint wear, soundboard condition, bridge wear, etc.)
- 2. degree of shell wear
- 3. Price of the new model
2. Piano State
The new piano has a complete after-sales warranty service. No use of the piano after tuning will achieve its perfect state. Buying a new piano also gives you free tuning from the dealer.
Used pianos usually don’t have a warranty, and while some used-piano sellers offer limited short-term service, privately purchased pianos don’t.
Second-hand pianos require additional repair and maintenance costs, and usually, no one wants to pay extra to keep an instrument in top condition when it’s not in use. It’s hard to be sure how long a used piano you bought has been lying around the corner.
Used pianos may be simple fixes to make them look better, but these cosmetic changes won’t replace the piano’s former performance.
If you want to buy a used piano, hiring a registered piano technician is highly recommended to look at the instrument. Their technique can not only identify worn parts that need immediate repair or wear out for X years, but it can also tell you whether the price is too high and the reasonable price range of the piano.
3. The Adjuster
Both new and used pianos must be tuned after purchase, and you should usually give it a week or two to adjust to the new environment. Then make an appointment with a tuner (the new instrument usually comes with a free tuner count).
4. Other Things to consider
Piano Sound: the sound of each model varies slightly, but it goes even more from brand to brand. Bright treble? A flat bass? Based entirely on personal preference.
The size of the piano: the size of the piano is an issue that can not be ignored. First of all, you don’t want to buy a piano that doesn’t fit where you’ve already planned.
What do you need to pay attention to when choosing a Used piano?
The easiest way to buy a new piano is to go to a reputable piano shop and try all the pianos. If you can’t play, please find a friend who can play the piano. It doesn’t matter if you can’t find anyone who can play, ask the salesperson to play all the pianos you’re interested in so you can hear the difference in pitch.
But when you buy a used piano, you probably don’t have a warranty and can’t deliver it. The best way is to have your piano technician watch the piano with you.
There are some basic things to hear, see, and feel when examining a used piano. Again, none of these problems are necessarily fatal, but you need to realize that they exist before you invest your money and time (and labor) to buy the piano. The more problems you find, the more work you have to do to get the piano to play.
First, look at the keyboard.
From end to end of the piano? Any “Touch the bottom” key, just put there, has been damaged. Thank you. Good-bye…
When you look at the abrupt end of a key, do you see a square or a rectangle? The flatter, the better.
When you press them down, do they drop about 3/8”? Besides, playing the abnormal piano will be very tired.”.
Do the keys collide when you press them? This is a sign of key deformation that will eventually need to be repaired.
From one end to the other, with a very light and consistent force. Do all the notes make a sound? If not, the piano at least needs to be adjusted.
Play the notes again, but listen carefully to the sound.
When you play from one end to the other, is the sound quality consistent? This is what you wanted! (it’s hard to tell “Out of tune” from “Bad Voice”) .
Is the pitch consistent from one end to the other?
Play the same notes in three or four different octaves simultaneously to check for tonality.
Do a lot of notes seem out of place?
Now turn on the piano and check the strings and movements
Does the wooden part of the key look like it’s been gnawed on? Any stains on the wood or strings?
Are any of the strings missing? Are there broken strings at the bottom of the piano that can be spliced together?
The strings of a piano
Does the piano have all the Hammers and dampers? (note that the drag is only so far away, and the first 20 or so notes are missing.)
Feel the softness of the hammer (if they feel dry and hard, the sound will become thin and hard) and look for wear. If the groove is deeper than 1/8”, it can not be repaired very successfully.”.
If there are no grooves in the hammer (if the end of the hammer is flat, it looks as if it has been shaved off), the part is loose.
Does it look like the hammer’s missing a little? Does it feel perforated? That’s insect damage. If they eat the hammer, they might eat other felt parts. The piano has been sitting for some time without being played. Playing the piano kills the eggs. It’s the larvae that do the damage.
Note the swing in the hammer when you flick it gently. All vertical pianos require a “Bandage” -a narrow band of braided material running from each hammer component to a curly line.
String Hammer
Listen for clicks and buzzes when the sound is medium. Click to indicate a loose joint. The Hum can point to the detached soundboard ribs.
When you let go of the keys, do you hear “Zing”? This usually means that the damper is hard and needs to be repaired or replaced.
Is that where all the dampers are? There will be no damper at the highest octave, but all other notes should be.
Finally, open the bottom of the piano and check the pedals, the yard bridge, and the general condition of the area.
The pedals should move freely and quietly. When you press down 1/2”, you should feel the resistance, see the action in action (damper lift, hammer rail move), adjustment is usually no problem, but it is a sign that needs to be maintained.”.
Check the bass bridge for cracks around the stitches. Small cracks are usually not a problem, but large cracks can affect tone and tuning and indicate that the piano is already living in a dry environment, affecting stitching and other vital parts. If the bass bridge doesn’t break, there’s no other bridge to worry about.
Look for any signs of mold or water damage. If a piano gets wet, it’s evidence. It’s more common than you might think.
Finally, look at the piano’s serial number so you know how many years it is.
Owners often know whether a piano has entered the home, but rarely its true age. Where can I find the serial number?
Vertical Piano: inside, near or on top, near a tuning needle, often printed on wood. Newer pianos may have a metal plate at the end/inside or numbers printed on the back/outside.
Grand Piano: it was on a metal plate near the tuning needle. If the container is redrawn, the numbers may disappear. In this case, look at the soundboard near the key hinge.