Buying a New or Used Piano / Keyboard by Art Scott

Buying a New or Used Piano / Keyboard by Art Scott

Rule # 1  Buyer Beware

I have a many friends who sell new and used Pianos and Digital Keyboards.   Some are incredibly honest.

I have over 50 years experience as a piano student (I learn something new every lesson I teach) and 40 years as a teacher.  I have watched pianos being built in a factory from scratch by Artisans.

I also know of one person locally who will claim that a Piano has been totally refurbished including new strings, new hammers, new sound board and even a new pin block.   Usually, none of this is true.  The buyer gets stuck with a Piano where maybe the pin block is cracked making the instrument worthless.   When a tuner goes to work on his with his tuning hammer, the strength of the pin block and mechanism have been compromised, similar to a car that has been in a wreck.   It will not hold tune.

Dishonest sellers will sometimes pour a glue (called dope) solution to try temporarily 'fix' the cracked pin block, affecting the surrounding tuning pins.  It does not work.   One day I walked into a home where a huge upright piano was on it's back and the tuner had left the solution to dry...when I told the mother the truth, she got rid of the piano and bought a new digital keyboard.   Needless to say, the owner was very angry that she was being taken advantage of.

Even though there are 11,000 parts in a Piano, the main elements that I mentioned, 

Strings, hammers, sound board pin block, and the action which is the working mechanism from when you strike the keys and the hammers hit the strings to start the vibration.

Before you buy anything have a professional, licensed Tuner / Technician go through the Piano...it will be the best money you have ever spent.

I even heard of a local piano 'salesperson' who sells pianos out of his home.  He will spray paint a brass plate to make it look new and that is all they do.   If a price on a major name brand seems suspiciously low, walk away.   

I highly recommend buying pianos from reputable dealers, who are honest and will put into writing a decent warranty, even on used pianos.

If you have any questions you can call my favorite and only tuner / technician I recommend, Harout Sujian.

He is emphatically honest and will check out any piano for you.   You can reach him at 949.350.5550.

http://propianorepairbyharoutsujian.blogspot.com/

Art Scott, Teacher / Performer

www.MUSICBYARTSCOTT.com    949.454.1221