Tips for Buying a Used Piano in South Florida
What do you look for when looking for a used piano?
- Keys that don't play are usually not a big problem
In most cases, something has broken or come unglued and is easily fixed.
- Look for notes that sound terribly out of tune when played by themselves
When the pinblock goes bad, it cannot hold the tuning pins tightly and the tuning
pins will slip. This leaves one of the three strings very flat to the others. A
bad pinblock may very well be the end of that piano if it is not a good quality
piano enough to warrant rebuilding.
There are some stop gap repairs for loose tuning pins, but generally, it is not
advisable to buy a piano with loose tuning pins except on high quality pianos such
brands as Steinway, Baldwin, Mason & Hamlin and a few others which would warrant
replacing the pinblock.
- Beware of strange rattles or buzzes
The soundboard, has ribs glued on it to strengthen it. Sometimes the soundboard
gets cracks in it and the ribs will come unglued from it in places. This can allow
the soundboard to rattle against the loose rib as it vibrates. This will sound like
a speaker distorting when it is played too loudly. Pianos also have a wooden bridge
which is attached to the soundboard and have the strings running over it. The bridge
has two pins for each string to hold the strings in place. Sometimes the bridge
splits and allow the pins to become loose. Bridges are often made in sections that
can come unglued from each other which may also caue buzzes and rattles.
- Inspect the hammers for deep grooves caused by the strings
Layers of felt can be removed to restore the rounded shape to the hammer but eventually
there is not enough felt left above the wooden molding to get a good tone. Hammer
replacement is fairly expensive and the piano needs to be of good quality to warrant
this work.
- Most important is to call a qualified technician to look at it before you buy
it
You should look at the piano first and be sure it is something you are interested
in. Then contact us to inspect the piano to check out the structural condition of
the piano. An investment of a service call before buying it can keep you from buying
and moving a piano that won't be playable.
Contact: Mark Shapiro, RPT
Shapiro Piano Service
(561) 451-2136
