Second Hand Pianos

Find out what you should be looking for when searching for second hand pianos. Make an informed decision before buying

Buying second hand piano may be just what you need if you want to save up a bit of money and still satisfy your music needs. However, buying second hand pianos may prove to be quite the hassle if you don’t know what to look for in a used piano.

Here are a couple of things that you should do: the first thing you should notice are the hammers. For some pianos you will need to open the lid in order to view them. Once you reach them, notice if there are grooves in the hammers. You will want to stay away from a piano that has the bottom of the hammer flat as this will necessitate some heavy repairs that will cost quite a lot.

When buying second hand pianos you may also want to play a piece that explores the whole range of the piano. If you don’t know such a piece or if you don’t know how to play piano at all then bring someone who does along with you or you can also ask the seller to perform. The piano should therefore generally sound the way you want it to and each note should be played at the dynamic you want it to be. If the piano is not properly adjusted then you probably don’t want to buy that one because it will take a lot of work to do it yourself.

You can also try playing a chromatic scale. Before buying second hand pianos you should notice whether there is a sound like a ‘zing’ when you release a key. If there is then you also may not want to purchase that piano as the dampers need to be replaced and this is a very costly operation.
Another thing you should look into when buying second hand pianos is that the thing could have been home to moths is which case you shouldn’t buy that piano. You can easily spot it that is the case with a piano if there are unusual wholes in the wood.

Also a common problem when buying second hand pianos is that when playing down notes, the springs do not back them up immediately. If this is the case then fixing this problem would cost you a lot of money so it is better that you would skip this one as well.

The last thing you should do when buying second hand pianos is to search the whole thing for insect infestation (especially termites) which would present a danger to your health. The things you could look for are actually seeing insects, insect droppings or sawdust.

Buying a second hand piano

If you are planning to buy a piano and you are unsure if you should get a new one or a second hand one then you should think about a few decisive factors such as: how often are you going to play it, are you an experienced player, a beginner or are you planning to start playing now, how much money are you planning to spend on it?

Usually what happens is people buy pianos based on their emotions; they would want to learn to play the piano but they lack the motivation. Usually their pianos end up ignored or even worse, in their basement. If you are about to start learning how to play piano or you are at the beginning stage then you should settle on a second hand piano. Even if money is not a problem for you, spending it on a piano which you may then no longer use would be unwise. Practice on a second hand piano until you are certain that you want to continue learning.

Buying a new piano is not overly complicated but you should have basic knowledge of a piano so you know what to look for, not just fancy looks. However, buying a second hand piano is a totally different thing. Without good advice you could end up buying a piano with a major flaw or that is simply no good. But on the other hand a second hand piano can offer a lot more value for the money you pay for it if it has been maintained properly.

There are many things you should consider when buying a second hand piano, such as the condition of the strings, hammers, the sound quality and many more. You definitely don’t want to buy a 50 year old piano, unless of course if it has been reconditioned and has a brand name. You may also want to stay away from a second hand piano that has been used in a public space such as a church or a restaurant because it most probably was heavily used.

You can also have a professional tuner-technician inspect a second hand piano and let you know if it will make a good acquisition or not. Also, if you intend to buy a second hand piano from a private seller make sure that he or she can include tuning and delivery with your purchase.
Informing yourself over what is a good second hand piano is a critical step that you have to make if you want to enjoy a good quality musical instrument for many years to come.

Choosing the right instrument has been a big issue for musicians. Since musicians need a very distinct musical instrument, sound quality and reliability of the instrument would then be the utmost concern and with this, it has been giving headaches to some artists. For new pianists who are still learning the basics, trying on the keyboard would be the first solution for them. It won’t really cost them a lot for a new investment since they are still starting out. Some would grandiosely have a brand new piano at home but having second hand pianos can cost them less. Others would go for a private piano tutorial house where they pay for hourly rate to use the piano.

For new piano artists who are still on the verge of starting out to use this instrument, buying a second hand piano won’t hurt you and with this, here are some tips on buying a second hand unit.

1. Check the pedals: Always try to check if the pedals really work. Usually, the modern piano has 3 pedals, one for sustaining, one for stopping the vibration of the strings and the soft pedal. These three pedals are essential in using especially in a very rich music sheet where almost all your “expressions” are expressed. When to sustain, when to soften and others are only parts of really playing the piano. Keep that in mind that with the songs you are playing are also expressed through the use of your pedals.
2. Always inspect the externals: The externals refer to the cover of your piano, the cover of your strings and others. In this manner, you will then see if your second hand piano is still in its presentable status. Checking this will also allow you to assess how much this unit should really cost you; if it’s really that expensive for a second hand or of a good quality with such price.
3. And lastly, always try to test and play the unit you are planning to buy. Always remember that a slight off key would lead you to disappointment so allow yourself to test it. Try to play your songs; from the contemporaries of Yiruma or the grand pieces of Handel. In this part, you should be then able to perfectly try and tell yourself if you really want to but it or not.