Hundreds of second-hand pianos alter hands privately every year. Only a mall quantity are in good playing situation. We know for buying second-hand pianos and preparing them for resale is an vital aspect of our small business. Of the lots of pianos supplied to us we essentially get fewer than a single in ten of them – and practically every single one particular desires operate on it to a greater or lesser extent

When searching for a piano it is essential to try to remember two factors.

Pianos are not all of the similar excellent.

Prior to 1914, in the boom years of piano sales, huge numbers have been made in little workshops to satisfy the demand for low-cost pianos. They had been of poor good quality when new and hundreds are still about, quite a few generations later, in dreadful situation.

There had been some fantastic pianos created in the 1920’s and 1930’s. They are now 60,70,80, years old – almost old age in the lifespan of a piano. If they have been effectively maintained for the duration of their life they can nevertheless be great instruments, but if they have been neglected or abused they will be tired, second price pianos.

Some will be “the family members heirloom” passed down via many generations, a great deal loved but frequently unplayed and neglected. Such pianos might have sentimental value to their owners but their accurate worth, as a playing piano, may perhaps be nil.

Pianos do not last forever
A piano is produced up of about 5000 components lots of of which move. Despite the fact that enormously powerful and heavy it is very difficult and sensitive to damp, dryness, modifications in temperature, put on and tear and neglect.

A fantastic piano, well maintained, has much the identical valuable lifespan as a human – handful of are in really superior shape soon after 80 years! Remember that yoursite.com get will most likely be the only 1 you ever get so look for the youngest and most effective high quality instrument you can locate.

So What Ought to I Appear For In A Second-hand Piano?
Really few persons have any technical understanding about pianos. The list below will give you an thought of some of the problems often found in second-hand pianos.

Sticking keys or hammers
This is usually the outcome of becoming in a damp atmosphere. The felt absorbs moisture, swells and movement is restricted. If only a single or two notes are sticking it may well be attainable to ease them. If lots are sticking the action (i.e. the moving components inside the piano) almost certainly needs to be dismantled and rebuilt. Highly-priced!

Noisy keys or noise from the action
A sign of put on. A tuner may be able to make adjustments to lessen the undesirable noises but if it is badly worn a rebuild will be needed.

Tough Tone
Almost certainly the result of worn and compressed hammer felts. If they are not as well badly worn they may be in a position to be reshaped. Definitely heavily worn hammers can’t be treated in this way and new hammerheads need to be fitted.

Dull, dead tone
This may possibly be partially due to worn hammers but is more likely to indicate that the piano strings have lost their original suppleness and need to have replacing. This is a main undertaking and only high excellent pianos can justify the cost.

The dull tone could also be the result of splits possessing created in the wooden soundboard. These can be repaired but, once more, it is only worth carrying out this to seriously superior pianos.

Out of tune
Each piano goes out of tune as the tension in the strings alterations slightly. If the whole piano is out of tune it is in all probability mainly because it has not been tuned for some time. Depending upon how far it has fallen below pitch one or additional tunings really should put this proper.

If, Nonetheless, only a single section of a couple of notes is definitely incredibly badly out of tune and is clearly extremely substantially worse than the rest of the piano, this signals definitely issues. IT si most likely that the tuning plank has lost its ability to hold the tuning pins tightly adequate to maintain tension on the strings. It is prevalent on pianos made ahead of the 1960’s. They were not constructed to withstand the dry atmospheres designed by modern central heating systems. The timber loses moisture and shrinks, the pins go slack and the piano is beyond economical repair and useless for playing purposes. Stay clear of at all costs.

Woodworm
Extra widespread in older pianos. They attack the timber – appear for tiny holes and tiny heaps of wood dust. To verify, the piano desires to be dismantled as far as practicable and closely examined with a torch. Look behind it and beneath the keyboard. Keep away from anything that has or has had woodworm.

Moths and mice
Harm the felt hammers, dampers and crucial washers. Minor damage is not important but extensive harm is pricey to place appropriate.