Piano Notes » Piano Buying

Things To Think About When Shopping For A Piano

David — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 23:17:54 +0000

People wishing to give their children piano lessons need to think about purchasing this instrument so their children can practice in between lessons. This is truly the only way a learning piano player can improve their playing skills, by attending lessons and practicing consistently. Starting with the piano stool to the piano bench cushions themselves, purchasing a piano is not something to be done in a rush. Owning a piano is an investment decision, and people need to take the proper time necessary so they will be happy with the purchase for a long time to come. Check out Quick Reference Guide for Piano Owners and Prospects for more information.

One important consideration in regards to the purchase of any music instrument is to decide if a used or new one is the best route to take. Similar to previously owned automobiles, used pianos and other musical instruments can come with their own set of problems. Used pianos may or may not have been well-maintained or taken care of by the previous owners. However, new pianos almost always cost more than comparable used ones. Music supply shops usually have payment plans for a new piano, whereas sellers of used instruments generally require full payment up front.

For people considering the purchase of a piano for young children or who cannot afford the price of an expensive musical instrument, a used model generally is the wisest option. Also, individuals often purchase a piano and the child loses interest and no longer wants to play. A previously owned piano is generally the best option for those purchasing solely for an instrument for their children. People can always choose to sell their used instrument later and upgrade to a newer model based on their circumstances.

Another consideration is in what kind of conditions and for how long a piano has been stored. A piano kept in a moist, damp, and unconditioned basement is certainly going to decline in value and quality if stored in this manner for any length of time. A piano that is kept in a well conditioned space and played often, or at least periodically, is going to be a much better choice than the musty mildewed one. Any piano that is taken care of and played often is a preference. For more information see Why Does My Piano Go Out of Tune?

When evaluating the cost of the piano, people also need to know if they will incur any additional costs after the purchase. For example, it will be an added expense to hire a professional tuner/technician to return the instrument to playable condition. Transporting a piano is not a simple job by any means, and usually best left to professionals, so people additionally need to know if moving and setup are included in the price. A piano in a large space or music shop looks smaller then it will when it is moved to the buyer’s residence. Better safe than sorry, so it is essential to measure first, purchase later.

Purchasing a piano is an important step, and it should be taken unhurriedly and following some basic guidelines. People thinking about buying a piano must take into account several things prior to going through with the final purchase.

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Quick Reference Guide for Piano Owners and Prospects

David — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:05:02 +0000

I was recently reviewing some of the posts I had written over the past several months and realized that if I could organize them into a reference guide they might be of more use to you, so that is what I am attempting here. If you have questions about how I organized the posts or any questions or comments about one of the posts, please leave a comment at either the end of this post or the post to which the question applies.

I Want to Buy A Piano - A look at several things to consider before buying a piano.

Should You Only Buy From A Dealer - the pros and cons of buying a used piano from a dealer as opposed to a private seller.
“Run Away Now!” Pianos - Beginning a series on specific types of used pianos to avoid. This article covers pneumatic players.
“Run Away Now!” Pianos (Pt 2) - Continuing a series on specific types of used pianos to avoid. This article covers Lester spinets from the 1940s-1950s with plastic parts.
“Run Away Now!” Pianos (Pt 3) - Continuing a series on specific types of used pianos to avoid. This article covers a type of antique upright commonly referred to as “English” uprights.
“Run Away Now!” Pianos (Pt 4) - Continuing a series on specific types of used pianos to avoid. This article covers a type of antique upright commonly referred to as “squirrel-cage” uprights. (Update) Since writing these articles I have learned that the Germans made pianos similar to both the “English” and “squirrel-cage” types into at least the 1880s. Avoid them too.
The Night The Pianos Burned - Tells the story of the “Great Piano Fire” of 1904, when a large group of piano dealers gathered and burned a large supply of square grand pianos to (1) emphasize their obsolescence and (2) get them out of inventory.
How Good A Deal Is A Used Piano From A School? - Addresses the hazards of buying a piano that has been used by a school.
Quick Check List For Piano Shopping - A step-by-step list for you to follow when evaluating a piano (new or used) with an eye toward buying it.
Buying A Piano – Digital vs Acoustic - A pros & cons evaluation of the digital/acoustic buying decision. A few points that might seem surprising coming from an old piano tuner.

OK I Bought the Piano – Now What?

Why Does My Piano Go Out Of Tune? - One of the most common questions asked by new piano owners. No, it is not necessarily that there is a problem with the piano or that your tuner is a drunkard.
My Piano Keys Make Noise But My Tuner Can’t Find It
I Play One Note And Hear Three!
Why Are My Piano’s Pedals Loose?
How To Make Life Simpler For Your Piano Tuner

I Want An Easy Hymnal For My Child

EZ-Play Hymnal For Young Players

Just For Fun

History Of The Piano -Victor Borge

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Buying A Piano – Digital vs Acoustic

David — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:20:10 +0000

(This is a post I have avoided writing since the day I started this blog, because of the controversy it holds for many people in the piano field. I have decided, though, that the time has come for me to state my case and let the chips fall where they may. Keep in mind, as you read this that, although it is my opinion based on decades of experience, if a piano teacher, technician, or sales person tells you something different I am not saying that, in their particular case, they are wrong. Just ask them to read this article and leave a comment explaining their opinion. )

One of the hardest decisions facing many first-time piano buyers (especially those with young children starting piano lessons), is the choice between digital and electronic pianos. Most of these people have, at best, limited knowledge about pianos, what makes the differences between different kinds of pianos, and what is involved in maintaining a piano, and have to look to various sources for that information. (Hopefully, that is why many of you are here!) Let’s take a look at some of the concerns raised about digital pianos over the years and see how they stack up:

Disclaimer – If you can afford, and have space for, a high-end grand (such as Steinway, Bosendorfer, Bechstein, etc.) at least 6 feet in length, go ahead and get the acoustic piano. There is no digital equivalent, to the best of my knowledge for these jewels of the pianomaker’s art. Just be sure that you include cost of maintenance in your consideration. Since these pianos are so resonant, even minor deviations in tuning will be more obvious than in lesser instruments, so you should plan on having a tuning at least three times per year. That would be a minimum of $3000 over a ten year period. (I don’t know of anywhere where a tuning still goes for under $100.)
Digital pianos don’t sound like real pianos. Until just a few years ago, I would have agreed with this for all but the very top-end digitals. Since then, with advancements in computer (the basis of a digital piano is after all a type of computer) and sampling technology, it is now possible to get an instrument in the <$3000 range that does a good impression of the sound of a >$100,000 concert grand. While not an exact match for sound, if you compare the <$3000 digital to a comparably priced acoustic, in most cases the digital will have a superior sound. Added advantage – you can plug headphones into the digital and rehearse while a baby is sleeping or Dad is watching the football game in the next room.
Digital pianos are expensive to repair and maintain. Maybe so – but nothing like an acoustic piano over the long haul. Digitals are by definition more stable and don’t require routine maintenance like the 2-3 tunings needed annually for an acoustic piano. This is an added benefit if you live in a small town or rural area where a tuner has to travel from the next city over, adding $50 or more in travel charges to each tuning visit.
Digital piano keyboards play like organs – and they’re short. This used to be true. Now, though, you can purchase an 88-key “hammer-action” keyboard(such as the Casio Privia
or M-Audio ProKeys 88) that plays as well as any spinet and most consoles manufactured in the last 20 years and sounds better than most of them. No, it will neither play as well as or sound as well as a Steinway grand, but as I said earlier, if you can afford a Steinway (or better) you should get it.

There are pros and cons for both digital and acoustic pianos. Do your homework, then buy the best piano (digital or acoustic) you can afford for your situation and enjoy it for years to come.

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Quick Check List for Piano Shopping

David — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:01:03 +0000

: Middle C

Okay, you’ve done your homework and found a piano you want to check out (new or used). Here is a quick checklist you can use to see if this piano comes close to what you want before you pay a technician to check it (in the case of a used piano) and spend time and energy negotiating that great deal. This list is by no means comprehensive, and of course if you think of other items that should be on the list we would appreciate you sharing with us. (In other words, please leave a comment.)

Test all of the pedals, listening for squeaks, rattles, and other noises. Obviously, if you are looking at new pianos this should be a deal-breaker until the dealer’s technician resolves the problem, and even then it is a red flag that the dealer did a poor job of preparing his inventory for the sales floor. (What other problems might have been missed?)
Hold down the right (damper/sustaining) pedal. push down each of the keys in turn and check that they return to proper level. (Holding down the pedal takes the weight of the dampers off the keys, making problems with sticking or sluggish keys easier to find.)
Starting at the left of the keyboard, sound each of the bass notes (the wound strings) with a firm but moderate touch. This is to check for rattles or buzzes in the wound strings which can indicate either loose windings (which require string replacement) or other problems that can possibly be repaired without replacing strings. Some of this is to be expected in older used pianos that are not claimed to be either restored or reconditioned(unless you have several notes in a row buzzing – possible loose bridge or soundboard crack, either one a fairly major repair.) However, any of these problems in a new piano at a dealership reflect back to my red-flag comments in item #1. You should never see these problems in a new piano on the dealer’s sales floor because he should have them taken care of before the piano is placed there.
This step is where, if you don’t play but are buying a piano for yourself or your child, you want to have a friend with you who does play. You want to determine if the piano is in tune, not just with itself but also with industry standard pitch. Although ideally a dealer should have a pitch standard (tuning fork or tone generator) available for you to use, to be sure I have provided mp3 files below for A-440 and C-523.3 (the A and C above middle C). (Most families now have at least one mp3 player. I use my cell phone.) In case you are not sure where middle C is located, look back at the picture at the beginning of this post. Note the alternating pattern of 2 black keys and 3 black keys. Locate the 2-group closest to the center of the keyboard. The white key to the immediate left of that 2-group is middle C. Five white keys to the right (right of the second black in the 3-group) is A-440. 2 more white keys to the right is C-523.3. The 2 mp3 files should very closely match that A and that C. Then all the A’s and C’s up and down the keyboard (just repeat the pattern in the middle C octave) should sound like higher and lower versions of the same note. Repeat that process with the other notes. With a new piano, if the tuning is more than slightly off you don’t want it. New pianos have quite a bit of stretch in the strings, and if they aren’t given enough tunings that they will stay tuned while on the show floor, then that means that the dealer is trying to cut corners and stick the customer with the extra tunings that a new piano requires. If they cut corners there, where else will they cut corners, and how much more will it end up costing you if you buy their piano? If you are looking at a used piano from a private seller, and the piano is off but not severely, then the question becomes how long has it been since the last tuning and has the piano been moved since that tuning. You might have to get your piano technician to evaluate that one for you.
If your piano prospect has made it this far, there is a good chance that this piano might be worth buying. The next step can be the clincher. Ideally, if you don’t play, either you brought a competent pianist with you or the seller plays. You need to hear the piano played. As it is, listen (1)for any difficulties the player seems to have with the piano, and (2) how the piano’s sound makes you feel. (1) is just one last check for mechanical problems, but (2) is purely subjective. Is the sound grating or soothing? There is no right answer, and you don’t have to explain why. Just know that if you get the right instrument and take care of it, it can bring you pleasure for decades to come.

Photo Credit, keith whitfield

Reference:

Schmeckel, Carl. The Piano Owner’s Guide. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1974.

Pitch Download Files (right-click to save to computer):

a440

c5233

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How Good A Deal Is A Used Piano From A School?

David — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:13:24 +0000

“My son’s school just got some new pianos and is auctioning off their old ones. Could I get a good deal there?”

(Before we continue, I need you to go back and review “Why Does My Piano Go Out of Tune?”. We will continue from here when you return.)

Going for a cup of coffee while you read the other article…

Welcome back – let’s begin:

School pianos are generally purchased on a lowest bid basis. The district will usually specify how many pianos they want and some general standards they expect the instruments to meet, then put out the proposal for bids. Lowest bid usually gets the deal.
Piano service, at least in larger districts, is usually contracted on a lowest bid basis. Tunings are usually done at most twice per year. Regulation and other maintenance is usually put off as long as possible, sometimes requiring special authorization from the purchasing department. Smaller districts don’t have enough pianos to attract low enough bids to make it worthwhile for them. Since they generally have to pay full retail for their service, pianos often only get tuned once a year. I have even encountered some poorer districts where the pianos only got tuned if the teacher shelled out personal funds to get it done.
Temperatures in classrooms where pianos are kept can vary as much as 25 degrees in the course of a day, depending on region and season. Many schools have programmed thermostats so that the heat (or cooling) kicks in about 7 a.m. then cuts off by 4 p.m.
Schools have always tended to keep pianos until it would cost more to repair them than to replace them. I would expect in the current economic climate, especially with the way arts programs are getting less and less support in school budgets, this will probably become the rule more than the tendency.

To sum up, you have a piano that probably was not the best available to start with, kept in an adverse climate until it is thoroughly worn out and given only a fraction of the maintenance it needed over the course of its lifetime. Sounds like a terrible deal to me.

Photo Credit, eflon

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Mason & Hamlin -How They Are Made

David — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:01:30 +0000

In the last post, we took a look at the history of the Mason & Hamlin piano. Today we have an overview of how the modern Mason & Hamlin piano is made. Kudos to Pianojanna for posting this video as well as the two in the previous post.

How It’s Made – Mason & Hamlin Pianos

This video does not say much about the piano’s action or about the numerous times that the piano will need tuning before it leaves the factory, but it gives an excellent depiction of what goes into building a quality piano. It pleases me to see some of the jobs that are still done by hand, because I am still old-school enough to not believe that those tasks can be done as well by machine.

I have not had the opportunity to personally play one of the new Mason & Hamlins. If you have any experience with these instruments I invite you to leave a comment and tell about your experience.

References:

Williams, John-Paul. The Piano: An Inspirational Guide to the Piano and Its Place in History. London, Quarto Publishing plc, 2002.

Mason & Hamlin-History. http://www.masonhamlin.com/history/