Many people decide to buy an instrument after renting for a while or after deciding that an electronic instrument (digital piano or keyboard) is no longer appropriate. Other folks elect to begin study with a real piano.
Having decided to buy a piano, the next question is whether to buy a new one or a used one. This is such a personal decision!
Cost
The bottom line of a piano purchase usually is cost. Most used pianos are less expensive than most new ones.
What's involved in setting the price for a piano?
Having decided to buy a piano, the next question is whether to buy a new one or a used one. This is such a personal decision!
Cost
The bottom line of a piano purchase usually is cost. Most used pianos are less expensive than most new ones.
What's involved in setting the price for a piano?
- how good the inside parts are (the inside mechanism is called the "action")
- how ornate the cabinetry is
- the name of the brand (for a new piano, you are shouldering part of the annual marketing costs in your purchase price)
- for a new piano, the dealer's costs
- for a piano, new or used, from a commercial concern: how much it costs to deliver the piano to you (if not charged as a separate fee)
When you go shopping for a new instrument, you will find many pianos with incredibly beautiful cases! The finish is so glossy it's like a mirror! Wow! (Reality check: Think about rubbing away smudges on a constant basis.)
The mystery to solve is whether the inside of this fantastic-looking piano is as nice as the outside. Usually it isn't if the price seems "reasonable."
You pay for what you get and what you want, musically, is a good action. What you want aesthetically is a personal decision. It will be sitting in your home, after all!
New Piano
A new piano has all the benefits of a new item of any kind. It has not been used, however "gently." It has a full warranty. The casework should be in perfect condition.
Used Piano
Many people, when thinking of a "used" piano, conjure up images of a piano on its last legs, in terrible need of repair. This image is based in part on the incredibly large members of such pianos that actually exist. But "used" can also refer to several other classes of piano:
The mystery to solve is whether the inside of this fantastic-looking piano is as nice as the outside. Usually it isn't if the price seems "reasonable."
You pay for what you get and what you want, musically, is a good action. What you want aesthetically is a personal decision. It will be sitting in your home, after all!
New Piano
A new piano has all the benefits of a new item of any kind. It has not been used, however "gently." It has a full warranty. The casework should be in perfect condition.
Used Piano
Many people, when thinking of a "used" piano, conjure up images of a piano on its last legs, in terrible need of repair. This image is based in part on the incredibly large members of such pianos that actually exist. But "used" can also refer to several other classes of piano:
- The older piano that still has many years of life ahead.
- The piano that needs only minor repaid to be in good shape
- The piano that is only a couple of years old and practically like new that is being sold because the owner is moving or want s to buy a better instrument
- The piano that has been reconditioned or rebuilt by a competent piano technician and is in excellent condition. Some pianos like this are actually better than new ones, carry a similar guarantee, and cost almost as much.
Many people spend large sums of money on new pianos that are smaller or of lower quality than they would have liked, or that really don't suit their needs, because they aren't aware of the used piano option. It's especially sad when someone buys one of those new, pitifully small grands when they could have spend no more on a used grand of decent size.
There are other good reasons to buy a used piano. Since the average life of a piano is around fifty years, and with proper restoration at least fifty more, recycling older pianos make good ecological sense.
Of course, there's a trade-off when buying a used piano, you may have to take more time and look harder to find what you want, you'll take a greater risk, and you may give up warranty and some number if years of a piano's life in return for paying less money. This means that it's especially important to have competent piano technician inspect the piano before you buy it. They can give advice and give you about pianos, as well as inspect and maintain your piano. There will be few others who will able to help you, like professional pianists and piano teachers may have opinions about the tone and touch of a piano, they usually know next to nothing about the technical aspects of the instruments.
There are other good reasons to buy a used piano. Since the average life of a piano is around fifty years, and with proper restoration at least fifty more, recycling older pianos make good ecological sense.
Of course, there's a trade-off when buying a used piano, you may have to take more time and look harder to find what you want, you'll take a greater risk, and you may give up warranty and some number if years of a piano's life in return for paying less money. This means that it's especially important to have competent piano technician inspect the piano before you buy it. They can give advice and give you about pianos, as well as inspect and maintain your piano. There will be few others who will able to help you, like professional pianists and piano teachers may have opinions about the tone and touch of a piano, they usually know next to nothing about the technical aspects of the instruments.
