BUYING A PIANO
The price of a new piano can often be surprising but quality instruments are made with the finest materials and skilled craftsmanship. This ensures that the instrument will last for years and so reflects in the purchase price.
There are several options to consider when buying a piano and the decision between buying a new or pre-owned piano is usually the first question considered.
What you should expect from the supplier of your new piano:
NEVER accept delivery of your brand new instrument in its original crate! If it arrives crated, it has not been serviced.
A new piano needs to be serviced, regulated and tuned at least twice before it is delivered. As is the case with many other strung instruments, the new strings stretch continually, and the new piano will require 4 – 5 tunings in its first year. By that time they should settle.
The whole piano should be thoroughly checked through before delivery in order to alleviate unnecessary problems and frustrations, such as notes sticking on keyboard felts which are too high.
It should be regulated in order to ensure precision in the action, and even tone and touch.
You should receive at least one free in house tuning after delivery, not necessarily immediately. The piano should arrive at its new home IN TUNE. (The piano will not lose its tuning because of the move.) The piano tuner should be able to tone the piano to suit its new environment.
Always enquire whether delivery is included in the purchase price. Any piano purchased at "Piano Pleasure" will be delivered within 100km FREE OF CHARGE.
What should you know before buying a piano?
A piano is a once-in-a-lifetime investment and before buying one the following should be considered:
Making music should be enjoyable. The better a piano sounds, the more responsive it's action, the more the player will want to play it.
How do you know if you are getting a good piano?
First you need to think about the reputation of the manufacturer of the piano and the pianists who recommend the product. No performer would trust their career to an inferior product. Professional pianists choose a piano by it's tone, touch response, volume and sustaining power.
The tone of your piano should be pleasing to you, with no mechanical noise. The action should produce a quiet, even touch without clicks or buzzes. Poorly made instruments have noisy actions because of inferior workmanship and materials.
How do I evaluate a pre-owned piano?
Firstly, its ability to stay in tune is of utmost importance, otherwise the piano is worth little as a musical instrument. A full evaluation should include a check of the following:
- There should be no cracks in the bridge tops.
- The soundboard and ribs should not be loose.
- Keys and action parts should function properly.
- Pinblock torque must ensure tuning stability.
- Strings should not be broken or discoloured.
- The pitch of the piano should match that of other instruments.
- All the keys should play easily and produce consistent note-to-note tone.
- The pedals should work smoothly without lost motion or looseness.
- The case condition should be good.
- Is a bench included and is it the proper height for the piano?
Peter Maher has 40 years experience in piano building and restoration and is qualified to guide you in your choice of a used piano.
Is buying a digital piano wise?
With these types of pianos the maintenance costs are lower because they do not need any tuning. Digital pianos offer a variety of additional sounds in addition to the piano sound. (But as we have previously noted, digital pianos and keyboards cannot replicate the sound of an acoustic piano.)
Digital pianos do not appreciate in value as good quality acoustic pianos do. Acoustic pianos hold their value over the years and if kept in good condition can be sold at a price that is equal to or above its original price.
What is the difference between a Grand piano and a Vertical piano?
The main difference is the direction of the strings in the case and the action position in relation to the strings. Vertical piano strings, back and plate are perpendicular to the floor. The action therefore has to have assistance from several springs, in order to have reliable repetition.
Grand piano strings, frame and plate run parallel with the floor, so the action can slide underneath the strings. The grand piano's action is greatly assisted by gravity making it more responsive.
Remember that digital pianos devalue just the same as any other piece of electronic equipment.
Why is the action important?
The action must respond to the slightest variation in touch, so that the musician has control over how loud or soft a piece of music may be played. The ability of the piano to be played loud or soft has separated it from other keyboard instruments.
What is the soundboard?
The soundboard is the heart of the piano. When the hammer strikes the strings, vibrations are transmitted by the bridge to the soundboard. The sound of the 'played' string is then amplified by the vibration of the soundboard.
Solid Spruce is the best choice material for making a soundboard and produces the best quality sound.
How often should you tune a piano?
The number of times that your piano has to be tuned depends upon how often it is used. It is generally recomended that your piano be tuned once a year.
The tune of the piano is most often affected by changes in temperature and humidity. The soundboard absorbs moisture in wet seasons and loses it in dry seasons, causing the wood to swell and shrink thus changing the tension in the strings.
How can one piano sound better than another?
The length and size of the strings is an important factor in producing good clear tone.
The sound of a piano is the result of 12 000 parts all working together. The size, length, weight and quality of those parts as well as the way they are interrelated is known as the scale of the piano.
How can you tell if the cabinet is well built?
Properly seasoned wood maintains it's shape after cutting. This is very important in good furniture construction.
One method of case construction involves wood core stock over which a final layer of cabinet wood is glued. The outside layer is called veneer.
No piano made today has a case made out of one solid piece of wood. Solid wood case parts can crack and warp under stress. Beware of sales people who claim to have a solid wood piano.
What are the pedals for?
On all pianos the pedal on the far right sustains the sound by lifting the dampers away from the strings so that they will continue to vibrate. The pedal to the far left is the soft pedal. It makes the piano softer in volume. The middle piano differs from piano to piano. In most grand pianos this pedal holds the dampers from selected strings, so that only these notes will continue to vibrate. On most vertical pianos the middle pedal sustains only the bass notes or lowers a muting felt between strings and hammers to mute the sound.
The Guarantee:
Most of "Piano Pleasure's" pianos are fully guaranteed for 5 years, without any clauses, e.g. the need for them to be tuned only by their own staff every six months.
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