What To Look For When Buying A Piano

The piano is one of the most versatile and beautiful sounding musical instruments. It can be also part of your furniture if placed in living room or family room. If you have spouse or children who plays other instruments, the piano can blend very well with other instruments and is also an ideal solo instrument. If you are thinking of buying an acoustic piano, here are some guidelines:

Cost and Budget

Determine how much or how little you can spend on buying a piano. Pianos cost a lot more than other musical instruments because it is very durable. You could obtain financing, but most likely you want to make sure that the piano will be used by yourself or your family members and decide based on your family needs.

New or Used

Acoustic pianos are pretty much durable when properly cared for. It has an average lifespan of 40 years and its value depreciates very little over time. Although an acoustic piano costs more than other instruments, your investment will be well worth it because of its durability. A used piano is also a good alternative if your budget is limited. A well cared for used piano can last a long time and may quite suit your need.

It is always a good idea to bring along a pianist, piano teacher or piano tuner/technician who can help inspect the instrument before you buy it, especially if it's used. For an used piano with some mechanical issues, I highly recommend showing it to piano technician if you do not want a surprise in repair cost.

Size of Pianos

How much floor space do you have to accommodate a piano? The grand piano is larger and gives more responsive sound and quality but it's also rather costly if you are only using it for personal practice or play. It ranges from 5 to 9 feet. Upright (vertical) pianos can look great and can vary in sizes to fit a small or larger room. The spinet is very popular because of its small size. Also consider the size of the door or entrance to your living room or main entry door of your house and make sure those pianos you are buying will go through the door. You may have to take apart door frame to make the piano go through a door if it's too small.

Styles of Pianos

First you determine wher you want to place your piano in your house. Pianos come in many different sizes and styles. You can browse online for many styles and brands, or stop at a local piano store. For acoustic pianos, you want to know the type of wood used, the style of the piano, the color and the look of the piano. Obviously you want to match piano color and style to your other home furnishings.

Store Visit

Although you can browse online, pianos probably need to be seen and touched to determine its quality. Visit different piano dealers, and if possible, bring along someone who is knowledgeable or someone who has been playing the piano for a long time. That way you'll have help in determining whether the piano performs and sounds well.

Ask Questions

The piano can be a good investment but it can also be expensive so don't be afraid to ask questions. Ask about its durability, performance, sound, aesthetic and internal construction. Be familiar with the different parts and functions of a piano so you'll get a better understanding of what you're looking for.

Warranties, Repairs and Others

Ask about warranties. Also, ask about repairs and maintenance. It's better to know in advance how long the warranties are valid. Although pianos can last pretty long time without going out of order or breakage, please make sure you understand the terms of warranty. Also for especailly acoustic pianos, good piano care and regular tune up is required to keep the pianos in good condition. If you are buying a used piano, please make sure to check the piano's tuning and whether it's been cleaned. Often the seller is willing to take up the cost of tuning if it is not well tuned.

Please be very careful buying (or given free) an old piano. It is usually better to get it checked out. If you get a free piano, it may not be possible to tune or repair it to the satisfaction. Or costly repairs may be needed. A piano tuner will charge a minimum diagnosis fee. If the piano is not repairable or very costly to repair, you may need to remove it at your own cost. For reference, you can budget as follows: removal costs $150 - $300, Assessment & pre-tune $100 -$150/ follow-up tuning $100 -$150(if tuneable). But please feel free to contact me for details or any questions.