A clean action will indicate that the piano has been well maintained and kept in a good environment.
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The strings and tuning pins should be free of rust and dirt. (There won’t be any dampers on the higher notes). They should all be there and should not make a noise when they hit the strings. The dampers are felts that lie against the strings and stop the sound when you stop playing. Look at the hammers, and see that they go straight forward and back, and do not wobble from side to side.Ĭheck to see if all the “bridle straps” (red or brown tabs on a cloth strip, attached to a wire and the hammer mechanism) are attached and in good shape. Play each note and make sure each key works. If they have little grooves in them where they hit the strings, the grooves should not be more than a 1/32″ deep.
Next, lift the top of the piano, and remove the “swing” panel that holds the music, and inspect the “action”, which is the playing mechanism of the piano. If the keys go down more than 3/8″ or if they are not “level”, it indicates that mice or insects have gotten in the piano and have eaten the felts under the keys. You should be able to lay a straight edge across them and not see any gaps bigger than 1/128″. There should not be any keytops or black keys missing. When you have found a piano in the color and furniture style you want, you need to examine the piano for technical and mechanical problems. So pick a color that you like, a furniture style that fits in your home, and a finish that is acceptable. On grand pianos, the number is found on the soundboard or on the plate.Īfter you have determined the age of the piano even though mechanically is has to be in good condition, your piano is going to be part of your décor and you’re going to look at it more than play it. On some later models, this number is found on the back of the piano. On vertical pianos it is usually stamped on the inside, near the top of the piano.
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The serial number indicates which year the manufactured. Most piano tuners and dealers have a book called the Pierce Piano Atlas, which lists most manufacturers. The age of a piano is determined by the serial number.
However, if you want your piano to be a lifetime investment, the newer the piano is, the better. If you want a piano for only a few years, you can buy a piano that is 75 years old and still get a couple of years enjoyment out of it. Some pianos can last longer, but then some fall apart earlier. Pianos last approximately 75 to 100 years. Thus spinets and smaller grand pianos are going to have a smaller sound than big uprights or concert grand pianos. Strings are only as long as the piano is tall or long. In both types of pianos, vertical or grands, the longer the strings the bigger and better the sound. Grand pianos sit horizontally, and come in a variety of lengths, from 4’6″ baby grand pianos, 9’6″ concert grands. A vertical piano sits against the wall, and comes in several different heights spinet: 36″ high, console: 42″ high, studio: 45″ high, and studio or old uprights: which can be as much as 55″ to 60″ tall. There are two styles of pianos: the vertical or upright piano, and the grand piano. However, if you are an accomplished player, you will want to get a larger piano, either a grand, or if space is limited, a console or studio piano. If you’re just starting out, or you play occasionally for your own enjoyment, then a spinet, or console, or a small baby grand piano might fit your needs. Not everyone needs to have a concert grand or wants a big upright in their living room. When you are looking for a piano, first determine your needs. But there is a large market for used pianos from private owners, so here is some advice on things to look for when shopping for the “perfect” used piano What Are Your Needs If anything goes wrong with the piano, you can always go back. The safest thing to do is to go to a reputable dealer.
In most cases, however, no one is giving anything away, and if you are trying to buy directly from a private owner, it is good business to know something about what you are buying. Yet, at the same time, you can get a terrific “deal,” simply because the owner of the piano did not know the true value of the instrument. There is no market for merchandise where a buyer can get “stung” like the used piano market.
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