All About Pianos

Buying Used Pianos

2010-03-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

Buying a used Piano requires doing a little homework to study and consider a few factors into this somewhat major decision to purchase either a new or used piano for most people, especially in this weak economy.

Some of the desired brands, just to name a few, are Yamaha, Kawai, Baldwin, Wurlitzer, and Cable.

So many other name brands are out there that are also good as well. Depending on the type of buyer you are, you have many options to consider. For example, if price is not an issue in so far as available funds but still want a good piano with a lot of value for your dollar, a good used steinway could be an excellant investment. For less money, there are still many other brands that are good quality brands such as Yamaha grand pianos, Kawai grand pianos and uprights as well. Good tone quality and good touch response are a common benefit with these two brands.

If you're the type of buyer who is really trying to look for a good deal on a piano because money is tight, then you are the type of individual that needs to use caution when coming upon pianos that are a "real steal".
Because if it is a real steal, it could steal your money instead, especially if the piano being considered is a badly neglected piano. Some of the signs of neglect or wear and tear that cannot be evident, at times, until it is investigated by an experienced piano technician, are inside the piano. Piano technicians know how to discover hidden cracks in the soundboard and in the bridges. They can detect loose tuning pins or loose keys. Rusty strings can be detected visually by technician or buyer. Worn out felt hammers are common items of neglect. If those type of defects are not detected, you run into the chance later on after the purchase is made that you must have those repairs done in order for the piano to stay in tune or to get the piano to play with better response.

If you're going to buy a used piano, whether from a piano store or from a friend or relative, the best form of insurance for you is to call a piano technician and schedule a time to look at the piano for inspection and evaluation. He can tell you if the price being asked is reasonable or not. He can inform you of many things about the piano so that you are prepared to reject a bad deal and save the moving cost to you home.

Oldie but Goodie!

2009-08-15T16:26:00.000-07:00

I recently evaluated two very old upright pianos for people interested in buying or taking in a free piano. One was a Hallet Davis Upright; the other was an Everett upright. Both pianos were too good to pass up. Yet the Hallet Davis was in much need of repair. If the Everett upright needed the same work done as the Hallet Davis, I would have advised my friends not to buy that clunker because once the repair was completed, it still would not amount to a whole lot of quality as the Hallet Davis would have.

The man considering the Hallet Davis was getting a piano for free because the person giving it away just needed space in her home. The man was ready and willing to spend some serious cash on the upright. But the amount he was willing to spend was still not enough to put in quality workmanship into the old upright because there was too much rust on the strings and there were broken strings already and the piano was more than a whole step below standard pitch.

Since this person was not looking at this piano as a permanent instrument and he was moving in the future, the money put into that piano would have been a waste. Yet, for another person, this would be the perfect piano to invest all that money because there is so much potential in that Hallet Davis that would make it a most beautiful sounding instrument to the point of surpassing any new piano sound. The Hallet Davis was built in the year 1900. It featured an uncommon method of transferring sound from the string to the soundboard using agraffs instead of pins in the bridges.

Another person was considering purchasing the Everett Upright for just $200.00 from the owner. He waited for me to show up at the person's house so I could evaluate the piano. Well, when I got there, it didn't take me long to see that what he was purchasing was definitely worth every penny he spent. the piano was old, but it was close in tune. The keys played nicely and it had beautiful tone. If the piano was sold for a thousand dollars, it would still be worth it. He got a very good deal. There are still many good upright pianos out there. Please be sure to recognise that not all upright pianos are doomed for the junk yard. It's easier to recycle a piano by fixing it up than to let it go to the land fill especially when there's gold (superb value) in them pianos.

When to 'Get Rid' of the Old Clunker Upright or to Keep it.

2009-08-03T16:13:00.000-07:00

So much quality and workmanship can be found in so many old upright pianos that date as far back as the late 1800's. Life was more meaningful and quality was of paramount importance to manufactures. Pianos were designed with utmost care and hand craftsmanship. They were built to last for generations; it was heirloom quality.

Many families have kept their uprights for many years and handed them down to the next generations in their family tree. Many kept those piano regularly maintained and others left it to many years of neglect because no one was there to remind them of the dire need for care. The most common form of neglect was that of many years without a tuning. The family got use to the sound of it and the look of it.

Oftentimes, I've been called upon to come and tune the piano with the warning from my client that "Its been twenty five years since this piano has been tuned!" or "This piano has never been tuned since we've had it...and it been here forever!"

Okay, maybe they want me to give it my best shot on that piano; but there are some things I must explain to them before tuning it. First of all, several tunings or pitch raises are necessary before the piano will begin to hold a stable tuning. But before even that is considered, there are many repairs needed in the piano action because the felts are all worn out and the strings and tuning pins may contain rust. In short, the piano is in need of a complete overhaul.

When people hear the price that is required to fix er up, they begin to think, "Well now, let's think it over a bit. Is it worth all that money in repairs?"
My answer is usually, "That depends on your future plans with your piano. If you're moving without the piano some day, or if you're planning to buy a new one later on, the answer should be no." If the piano is of sentimental value, keep the piano, but don't put money into it if it's not of great value especially if the value doesn't change much after the repair is completed. If you have a Steinway upright, it has much value to it because of its many years in reputation of the best quality that can be found in any piano. There are many pianos that are not Steinways but are just as valuable.

It takes an experienced and qualified technician to thoroughly evaluate the piano to assess the repairs needed. When the qualified technician deems the piano to be condemned, it's best to take his advise and don't let anyone be given that piano, but it should be disposed of. If the piano has life left in it, then be prepared to pay the cost to have the work done properly, or at least have the very minimal amount of work done to keep the piano student inspired to practice until a replacement for that piano is purchased.

Three Guys and a Pickup Truck!

2009-07-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

Have you ever needed to move a piano from one location to another and when you found out the cost, it was more money than you wanted to pay? I'm not going to say that you should never move your piano by yourself, but hiring a competent moving company can save you heartache and damage to your piano. Then again, I've heard horror stories about how a moving company my customers have hired were no more qualified than young kids without experience and without care for the owners property.

If you must move the piano yourself, let me share just a few tips to keep you on a safe path.
But first, Let me tell you about when I was only a child and what I remember. I was always amazed whenever my dad and his friend in the piano business would either bring a piano to my dad's shop or deliver from the shop. They used only a pickup truck, a piano dolly and ropes and a few blankets. One of those movers was quite the mover because he was old and very strong and full of energy. He was the Boss. But he was very smart and knew how to move pianos after many years experience. Well, to move a grand piano, they simply had the three legs disassembled and wrapped in blankets. The piano was placed on a skid and tied up with blankets and ropes. They would load the piano unto the piano dolly, roll it out to the driveway, tip the load on a corner, then have the driver back the truck toward the piano. After aligning the bed of the truck to the piano, the old experienced mover would place his back up against the leaning piano and on the count of three, with the help of two guys, lift it into the truck. One guy was in the truck to guide it. The piano was standing on the shid on the bed of the truck. So they leaned the piano back unto the side of the pickup and blocked up the bottom. During travel, one guy stayed in the truck to watch that piano.

At the other end of delivery, moving it out of the truck was much easier but still had some
challenges ahead. After the piano was positioned into the home, they unwrapped the piano and set it up on its legs and the job was complete. It pays to ask questions about a moving company's experience because moving a piano is not the same as moving a couch!

Do I need to have the piano tuned every time it's moved?

2009-07-25T23:29:00.000-07:00

Pianos generally need to be tuned every time it is being moved from one house to another. But to move a piano from just one room to another, you don't need to have it tuned. The reason pianos are tuned after a move is because there are a number of things that happens to a piano:

1. The jostling about of the movement of the piano on a dolly hitting bumps etc, on the ground jiggling the tuning pins from the impact of it
2. The ride in a truck knocks it out of tune
3. A different climate at the new location causes the wood in the piano to expand or contract in the soundboard and wood posts and bridges, causing the piano to go out of tune.

If the piano is very out of tune to begin with, the move at a future date should not prevent you
from at least getting the first tuning in because even if the piano is not moved, it will still go out of tune because it will require a second tuning anyway from the sudden strain of the pitch raise it required.

Once a piano is in place at the new location, it is recommended that you let the piano set in place for at least two weeks to a month period of time. It is during this time that the piano is acclimating to the new temperature and humidity. Of course you can still play the piano while you're waiting.

How do I know when my piano is out of tune?

2009-07-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

I am constantly finding many people who have not
had their pianos tuned for many years, even customers
whom I have served. The most common response is, "my children
don't practice anymore", or "My piano sounds fine."
I know money is tight in this economy, but if your piano starts to sound like this piano in
this Youtude video, IT'S TIME FOR A TUNING! See the video here:

It is normal for pianos to be tuned twice a year, once a year, and sometimes
it only needs it once in two years. One way to find out if your piano is out of tune is to use a guitar tuner or chromatic tuner; but check the piano only in the middle of the keyboard because the extreme bass and extreme treble will always show a difference to the electronic tuner.

If the piano is not being played, it may be time to consider selling the piano. If a piano is not being played anymore, your child may be having difficulty playing that old tall upright piano that has never seen any type of maintenance for many many years. When your child took lessons at the teachers lesson studio, the piano may have sounded so much better than the one at home. Or perhaps the teachers piano may have sounded out of tune and out of regulation.

There are many talented children out there who need inspiration and motivation and
a well tuned piano. Click here to see this young pianist playing a steinway grand. Here is a younger pianist: Click here. Do you think your child is too young to learn? Look at this three year old Pianist: Click here. Don't let years of neglect in tuning or maintenance cause your
child to quit taking lessons or play the piano. At least once a year is all it takes
to keep your piano in good shape.

Ebooks I would recommend for anyone interested in piano tuning or repair is listed below.

2009-07-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

1. Piano tuning explained for the beginner and the professional Click here.

2. How to repair your own piano Click here.

3. How to rebuild your own piano Click here.

4. How to refinish your own piano Click here.

5. How to build your own Piano Tuning Business Click here.

If you have a piano, this blog is for you.

2009-07-16T14:42:00.000-07:00

This blogspot is for individuals that have pianos and would like to have their questions answered
regarding anything related to pianos in general or about their own pianos. People who don't
own pianos are welcome to ask questions as well. Maybe you're thinking about purchasing a piano
that is used or it is new. I am not a seller of pianos and am in no way associating myself to belong
to any piano retail store. I am a piano technician and I do service pianos for some stores, but I do
not represent them in anyway. My many years of expertise enables me to explain about how to care for and maintain a piano. It enables me to explain about needed repairs and what to expect from a piano technician or tuner. This blog is intended to do primarily one thing; share with you, the
piano owner, purchaser, pianist, my experience with pianos to help you understand these amazing
instruments that seem to hold their value for many years.

From time to time, I will start this blog by sharing with you some interesting things such as
Photos, comments, and some useful tips for your piano. If you have any ideas or questions
you would like me to consider, feel free to comment.