Looking for the perfect piano for you can be difficult, especially if you are looking for the perfect used piano. If you don’t consider yourself an expert in piano shopping, there are some things you can look out for when looking to buy a used piano. Here are 4 tips on buying a used piano:
1. The Brand Matters
When looking for a quality used piano, the brand you choose could make all the difference. Some of the high-quality brands include Yamaha, Pearl River, Baldwin, Wurlitzer, Pramberger, Young Chang, Samick, Kawai, Bösendorfer, and Steinway & Sons, to name a few. When you invest in a higher-quality piano, the way it’s built and the piano parts will offer the best-sounding piano that will like for years and years to come.
2. Check The Keys
Buying a used piano may mean that the keys may be a bit out of key (unless you’re buying from a piano dealership, where the piano is tuned and cleaned beforehand). Once you find a piano you like, make sure to play the piano and hear for any buzzing or rattle noises. Any sound that sounds odd or severely out of tune could signal a severe repair the piano may need. Not every fix is inexpensive or straightforward, so make sure to do the research and ask the piano dealer for any insight.
Luckily, if you decide to buy a piano from Miller Piano Specialists, you can always be sure that any issues have been taken care of beforehand.
3. The Age of the Piano
Another tip for you to take-away is to ask the dealer the age of the piano you’re interested in buying. The piano’s life is based on the duration of time that the piano can produce a quality tone and touch, varying from 20-100 years. Finely made and hand-made pianos have a life expectancy of over 70 years, and most mass-produced pianos have a life expectancy of 50-65 years. Of course, any piano’s life expectancy also depends on how well the piano was taken care of. So make sure to ask all the details so that you are as informed as possible.
4. What’s The Piano’s History?
Making sure that you know the piano’s history is essential to know before buying a used piano. Asking the right questions could save you time and money. Not sure what questions to ask? Here are a few questions that could help you out:
- Why is the piano being sold? – It’s essential to ask the seller why the piano is being sold. Dissect the reasons and ask them with follow-up questions. It may seem like a tedious question to ask, but asking them could save you from some trouble and from losing money.
- Has the piano had frequent maintenance and tuning? – The last thing you might want is a used piano in not-so-good-shape. Ask the seller and make sure that the piano has been tuned and maintained at least twice a year. It could mean it may have some irreparable damage to the strings or other things if it hasn’t.
- Who was the previous owner? – Although this is not an essential question, it would be a plus if the previous owner is a pianist or musician. If so, you could be assured that the piano has been taken care of and played continuously.
Conclusion
All in all, buying a used piano is one of the best investments you could do. We hope you enjoyed reading these 4 tips on buying a used piano. Are you interested in buying your dream Yamaha piano? We can help you.
If you’re interested in buying a digital Yamaha piano, we are open! Our hours are Monday-Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. We are happy to help you in person again, using all the guidelines we have been provided. We are here for you.
