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Buying pianos: Here are tips and advice for buying acoustic upright or grand pianos. What to look for, think about and how to best take care of your instrument.
When buying pianos, the acoustic instruments usually come first to mind.
Acoustic pianos consist of two main groups of instruments:
What kind of models and brands should you look at, and what type of piano would suit your needs?
Here is a helpful guide when you'd like some more help: The Piano Book: Buying & Owning a New or Used Piano.
The upright acoustic piano is available in many sizes, models, brands and prices. You can choose between either a brand new, a refurbished or a used second hand instrument.
Buying pianos that are older and of high quality can be a good investment if the instrument has been well maintained and cared for.
An upright piano is a great choice for smaller rooms, as it doesn’t take up so much space as a grand piano does.
A Grand Piano is The Ultimate Instrument for most Pianists!
The grand is beautiful and often of very high quality. As with the upright piano, you should definitely consider looking into used pianos, as there are some really good older ones for great prices that can be found (Sometimes even better than new!)
Grand pianos come in different sizes, from the small Baby Grand to the “limousine” like Concert Grand.
When buying pianos, one should always consider the space of the room where it will be put, not just for the space the piano needs, but for the sound it produces!
A Grand Piano that is made for a concert hall, even a smaller one, is usually too loud for a regular room in your home. And you probably don’t want to play with the lid down all the time…
The choice of an acoustic piano is very personal, depending on what tone quality and touch you prefer.
The pianos are also very different individually
depending on many factors; like where, how, by whom and when they were built and how they were kept and cared for.
Even if a piano looks great on the outside, and if you are not buying pianos from a reputable store; it is advisable to hire a professional piano technician to judge if the instrument is in a good shape inside as well.
Some of the most well known top quality brands are:
A grand piano actually comes in many different sizes. Should you consider buying one, make sure to pick one that works in your space.
There are some more things to consider when buying pianos. All instruments need maintenance and care, of course, but especially acoustic ones.
On the other hand, they last a lifetime or more well taken care of well! Acoustic pianos are made from wood and other parts that may change with the climate.
So, when you are buying piano and consider getting an acoustic piano, you need to find a good piano technician.
My first upright piano, a Yamaha U3- is a fantastic instrument! It might not have been so fantastic if it wasn’t for the brilliant piano technician I had.
He tuned it absolutely perfect each time- a real virtuoso. He weighted the keys to my liking with lead to get the right “feel” as I desired, and made the tuning get exactly the kind of “brilliance of tone” I wanted.
I made sure it was tuned twice a year the first years, and then once a year as recommended. The piano then lived with me through my very bohemian student years- having to be moved around everywhere, once even up side down- Eeek!
Finally being transported in a crate to another country, and then moved again! Poor piano. And still- after all that, it hardly needed any tuning! It is still my best instrument and used daily in my studio.