Buying a Secondhand Piano

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

I live and work in Dublin, Ireland, where a lot of the pianos I tune are antique, haven't been tuned in an age and are falling apart. If you have recently bought one of these pianos, I hope you have a good technician that is up to the task. If you are in the market for a secondhand piano, please read on.

Ask the seller to remove the front panel and key cover of the piano. This will reveal the action, strings and keys, which you will need to inspect. The problem I run into the most with old pianos is loose tuning pins - these are the protruding parts at the top where the strings are attached. Loose pins often means that the piano won't hold its tune and will just keep falling flat. Usually, this means that the pins have to be replaced, or at the least, hammered in further the holes. It can mean a lot of work and a higher bill. If you see a good bit of space between the pin and the pinblock (what they sit into), beware - it could mean a lot of unwanted hassle.

If you see any cracks, either around the pinblock or the on the body, do not buy! It will only get worse and could also mean that there is damage to the soundboard.

Sticky or "dead" keys aren't as serious as they sound, and can be easily fixed by any piano tuner. Do, however, look for missing hammers or wippens (the parts below the hammers that connect with the keys when played); if the piano is antique, it is likely that the parts are not made anymore and a part next to the missing one will have to be sent off to a piano parts supplier to be duplicated - this is as expensive as it sounds. Don't be afraid though, you may meet a piano tuner in your area with an old piano lying about that might have parts for you.

See if there are any strings missing. It is the same with strings as it is with parts, and will have to be sent off to a manufacturer. Also check the condition of the strings - if they are dull-looking or of a rusty colour, then it is possible that they will break when tuned.

See if there is a lot of dirt and dust in the piano. Dust gets into the moving parts of the action and makes them stiff.

Also, on a general note, overstrung pianos are better than vertically strung pianos. In other words, look to see if the strings are going diagonally or up and down.

There are other minor things to look out for but can be easily fixed by an experienced piano technician. If you keep these things in mind whilst shopping, you will get a better quality piano that will last you for years to come.