ANATOMY OF A PIANO
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NEW OR SECOND HAND
Customers often contact Allans Music seeking advice about a second hand piano they may have seen. Commonly asked questions include the age, the quality, what it is worth and if it represents good value.
Buying a second hand piano can prove to be a very good decision, but for too many people it has turned out to be a very bad decision. If a price sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Purchasing any second hand product has associated risks, and this is particularly true for pianos. However, a good second hand piano that has been correctly maintained can give years of additional service.
As you would expect, the older the piano, the less likely it is to be in good condition. Unfortunately, a lot of second hand pianos are past their use-by date and require much work (and expense) to bring them back to life.
You should be aware that many second hand pianos do not come with the manufacturer’s warranty and spare parts are not always available.
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If a good second hand piano has been maintained and housed in the right conditions, the soundboard should have aged well. However, some of the mechanical aspects may have deteriorated over time and this could lead to a costly refurbishment.
It is important to point out that some pianos are not suitable for the varied Australian climate and may have future problems with a deterioration of the sound quality and action response. For example, Yamaha season their pianos for destination (group of countries) and would recommend you research the piano’s history to avoid possible problems with the instrument in the future.
Without inspection by a qualified technician, it is very hard to tell how much wear and tear the instrument has had and whether it may be in need of major repairs. Too often people buy a ‘bargain’ piano only to find that it is not worth repairing. As a general rule, if the piano needs anything more than tuning and minor adjustments, you should keep looking, or consider purchasing a new piano that falls within your budget.
Allans Music advises to only purchase a used piano from a reputable store, where the piano has been inspected and a full report has been made by a qualified technician.
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