Tips to Remember When Buying A Used Piano

Are you buying a used piano? These tips will save you time and money in finding that perfect piano for you, your family and/or business!

Miller Piano Specialists December 23, 2019 3 Min Read

We’ll just put it out there: Buying a used piano can be stressful. This is true, especially if it’s your first time doing so and you don’t have any experience in knowing what makes a quality piano and what doesn’t. To help you out, here are some tips when buying a used piano.

But first, you have to condition yourself before doing so. Buying a used piano is pretty much like buying a used car; you have to ask the right questions and check the right parts. Doing so can help minimize the stress of the experience.

First Things to Consider When Buying a Used Piano

The very first thing to consider is where you will place the piano in your house. Pianos come in several sizes, so it’s crucial to measure the space out first. After that, you can decide on the color or the wood grain of the piano you want. Last but not least, decide on the budget “new” used piano, and stick to it to avoid possible confusion later.

Ask For The Piano’s History

If you’re looking for the right questions to ask, here they are.

What’s the reason for selling? It may be a tedious question to ask, but it comes with some significance. The reason why this question is essential is that the used piano might cost you in the future. Reasons such as “it’s hogging so much space” or “money is needed” are red flags. It might be that the piano has been idle and “hogging so much space” for years and without maintenance. And if money is the main reason, chances are that the owners haven’t spent on the piano’s maintenance. Always dissect the reasons and ask follow-up questions.

Has the piano had frequent tuning and maintenance? You don’t want a used piano with questionable health. Make sure that the piano has been tuned and has maintenance at least twice a year.

When purchasing a used piano, it’s so important to know if that piano has been taken care of. When a piano hasn’t been tuned and maintained, it can cause irreparable damage to the plate where the strings are attached.

Be sure to listen to episode #6 of the Miller Piano Podcast, where Sherry Carlisle Smith talks about How to Buy a Used Piano for more information.

Who was playing the piano? It’s a plus if the potential soon-to-be previous owner is a pianist. Or at least the owner is someone who is inclined with the instrument. That way, you can be assured that the instrument has been played continuously, is in great shape and that it has been treated like a prized possession.

Other Things to Consider and Check

The Brand – Owning a piano is a significant acquisition. So it’s only right that when it comes to this instrument, you have to be really discerning with the brand. Names such as Yamaha and Bösendorfer, among others, are known for creating high-quality pianos. This means that you’re getting a piano that is made of high-quality materials that can withstand the test of time.

The Keys – More often than not, used pianos for sale may come a little bit out of tune – and that’s okay. When there’s too much buzz, rattle, and out-of-tune when you test it, you’re at risk of paying for some repair in the future. Repairs may be small or huge, but the inconvenience may not be worth it. When you’re buying a used piano from Miller Piano Specialists, you can count on that any issues have been taken care of already.

The bottom line, when you’re buying a used piano, you don’t have to rush to purchase. Always check, ask questions and be sure that you know who you are buying from.

We recommend always buying local, so that you can touch, feel and hear your future used piano! We are Specialists in Used Pianos, and we have dozens of used pianos of all makes and models in stock… so if you are looking for one, look no further than Miller Piano Specialists!

Give us a call today, fill out a web form, or come visit us! We will help you find that perfect piano for your needs.

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