PIANOFINDERSOUTHWALES
Nigel Morton's Guide to Buying a Used Piano

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OVERVIEW

New Pianos If money were no object, most of us (apart from the diehard period-piece collectors) would probably choose to buy a brand new instrument, with FREE delivery, a FREE tuning and FREE after sales service.

Unfortunately though for most of us, money most definitely is an object, and only a few of us can justify spending the £5,000 plus necessary to secure a good quality New Upright. So the question now becomes should I go for an entry level New Upright or should I consider a better quality used instrument.? Let's assume you have a budget of say £1500 - £2000. If you are determined to have something "new and shiny" then sales staff at the High Street music shops will try at length to convince you that their particular Far Eastern import is superior to all the others --------etc: The budget end of the imported market changes so quickly it is nigh impossible for anyone other than a dealer to keep up to date! But if you must have a new piano then I would personally recommend a visit to either Gardner Pianos in Cardiff, Coach House Pianos in Swansea. [CONTACTS] or Vale Pianos near Evesham.

Reconditioned Pianos My advice to anyone tempted by that shiny black budget import from the Far East, is to SAY NO! at least until you've tried a few of the many "Reconditioned" instruments available for the same price or less. Unfortunately this term has become almost meaningless (being frequently used to describe a piano that has merely undergone a cosmetic clean up & tuning !). For this reason, if buying privately it is essential to get the instrument checked over by a Tuner in order to establish the true extent of the rebuilding work and to have a detailed assessment of its current condition. {See VALUATIONS & INSPECTIONS under [PIANO SERVICES ] }. I use the term here in its littoral sense ie: a piano that has been restored, as far as is practically possible , to its original condition.

Dealerships which offer a full restoration service (Gardner Pianos & Vale Pianos ) are the best place to find a fully reconditioned instrument and reputable dealers such as these will take pride in showing you exactly what has been replaced and what is original but still in sound condition. Other sellers with more modest workshop facilities will offer either partially reconditioned instruments (typically with rebuilt Action&Keys and re-polished casework) at slightly more modest prices, or Entry-level starter pianos which will have received only a basic mechanical Overhaul and a cosmetic facelift. There is nothing wrong with either of these options provided a) The seller is open & honest about the extent of the restoration, and b) This is reflected in the price.

Having found a suitable seller, usually by recommendation, you must be prepared to be advised by them, but as ever it is the case that " you get what you pay for"!!! And whether you spend £500 or £5,000 on an instrument from a dealer , the one thing you ALWAYS pay for is his profit margin ( 15% - 20%) plus his overheads ( typically 2 moves, 2 Tunings, & Workshop Time), UNLESS that is, you manage to find a Recommended Used Piano for private sale .

.PIANOFINDERSOUTHWALES exists primarily for the benefit of potential used-piano buyers:- offering a selection of recommended instruments for private sale at the lowest possible price while at the same time providing a "shop window" for sellers and enabling them to realise significantly more than the "trade" value of their piano even after paying a modest commission.

Used Pianos The tremendous popularity of E-bay together with the "free-Ads", shop-window postcards, local paper and traditional auction saleroom lots, means there is no shortage of used instruments on the market; and always the temptation to "snap up" that good-looking bargain on impulse. BEWARE! Never a month passes in which I don't have to declare at least one such "impulse purchase" as UNTUNABLE! and two or three others as needing extensive repair in order to become tunable!

GET IT INSPECTED BEFORE YOU BUY

Even for the cheapest instruments (indeed particularly for this end of the market), before purchasing & paying for removal it is ESSENTIAL that you get the instrument checked over by a professional {See VALUATIONS & INSPECTIONS under [PIANO SERVICES ]}to establish a) Its current condition & estimate for essential repairs, and b) Its approximate value.