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If you are a novice piano buyer trying to buy a used piano, there are several types of instruments that should be instant “red flags”. Each of these types of used piano has one or more potentially critical problems severe enough that a buyer would be best-served to totally avoid them. There will be a few pianos in some groups that are exceptions to the rule and might be safe to buy after a technician’s inspection (some of these possibilities will be mentioned), but to be as safe as possible you should avoid them completely. In most cases, if you buy one of these pianos you will end up spending several hundred to several thousand dollars more than should be needed for basic piano maintenance just to get the piano as playable as possible and keep it there. Unfortunately, even after you spend the extra money you will not be happy with what you have.
(This is Part 3 in a series. If you missed Part 1, you can find it here. You can find Part 2 here. Each post will address at least one of the types of used piano in question. Your comments and questions are welcomed.)
“English” uprights –
Has someone told you about a small upright that their father or grandfather brought back from Europe after World War II? It is extremely ornate (it was reconditioned and refinished about 40 years ago and has stayed in the family since), has carved grill work across the front with a red velvet backing and two bronze sconces on the front. He has seen a similar piano in an antique store for $3000 (or more) but since his, by his own or are such a close friend, he will sell it to you for only $500. If his cousin is willing to bring his pickup truck and help, he will even throw in delivery. He reminds you at this point that his piano will go beautifully with the antiques you have collected, although to the best of his knowledge it was made sometime between the two World Wars. And as a final selling point he reminds you that his piano is shorter than the typical American upright piano and will fit in better with your modern ceilings.
Great guy, right? Maybe, but if this deal is a typical example of how he does business I would have my doubts. Is this a good deal? Definitely not! 99% of the pianos found in the American used piano market listed as “English uprights” date between about 1850 and the early 1880s. Most were bought by American soldiers in the latter days of World War II and shipped home. Most have only a partial cast iron frame and thus cannot sustain the stresses involved in tuning to modern standard pitch. Most were designed to be tuned lower than A-440. A result of the lighter frame and the lower pitch is a weaker sound, thus the vented front. These instruments can be refinished and made to look nice if you are decorating part of your home with antiques. However, you will need to buy another piano if someone is actually going to play.
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