How to buy a piano
Buying a piano is a very personal matter and depends on many factors. For this reason we cannot present an absolutely foolproof purchasing strategy, but we can offer universally valid suggestions as to what should be considered beforehand, and point to the essential aspects to look for when purchasing a second-hand piano.
In this way, we hope to offer our know-how to prevent you from being taken advantage of. We also expect ourselves and our instruments to be assessed using the same criteria, so that, right from the beginning, you have the feeling that at Piano Palme you are in the right hands.
Before buying
- Upright or grand piano?
- New or second-hand?
- What does an upright or a grand cost?
- What is the difference between an expensive and a cheap instrument?
- Is the size of an instrument important?
- Is the country of origin relevant? Are German instruments better than foreign makes?
- The question of age. How long can a piano last?
- What are the criteria for selecting a piano?
- The tone
- Is a cheap piano the right choice for a beginner?
- Buying privately or from a piano shop?
When purchasing
After purchase
Upright or grand piano?
Even though a grand needs more floor space than an upright, it is not confined to being placed on a wall, and can be positioned anywhere in the room. A further consideration is the expectations in regards to tone quality and touch. See also "is the size important?"
Should one buy, for a certain sum, a very good top-quality instrument second-hand, or a brand-new medium- quality instrument? This is almost a question of faith, and the customer will, to a certain degree, follow his instincts in the final decision. Anyone who has paid for a second-hand car the equivalent of the price of a smaller but brand new one, is familiar with this dilemma.
Pianos usually live longer than cars, so here the decision is no less difficult. Our second-hand instruments are so carefully overhauled and repaired in our own workshop that you probably will hardly notice the difference from a new one.
What does an upright or a grand cost?
A concert piano can cost up to ten times this sum.
German makes are available from about 6,000.- €.
The price range for grand pianos is considerably larger. The cheapest grand costs just over 5,000.- €, whereas concert grands from well-known manufacturers can cost more than 75,000.- €.
These prices are for new instruments .
What is the difference between an expensive and a cheap instrument?
Is the size of an instrument important?
However, the rule alone is not the measure of all things. Despite what we have said before, a smaller, higher quality upright can sound and play better than a bigger one. The same can be said for a grand. If you want more detailed information we would be happy to explain by way of a demonstration in the workshop or salesroom.
Is the country of origin relevant? Are German instruments better than foreign makes?
An important consideration is that the difference in quality between cheap and expensive instruments from the same manufacturer, is greater with Asian pianos as those produced in Germany. Finally, here it should be mentioned that behind some German-sounding names are instruments which have been built in factories from all over the world. For more information do not hesitate to call us or send an e-mail.
The question of age. How long can a piano last?
What are the criteria for selecting a piano?
Even if your skill is not as perfect as you would like, shyness is not called for. If the salesman doesnt suggest it himself, ask to be left alone with the instrument for a while so as you can get to know the instrument without an audience. Most shops are understanding. The touch (feel of playing) must suit you as an individual; if it doesn't, it may hinder long-term enjoyment. This is what you should find out during your 'test drive'. Try out various instruments and rely on your feelings.
Is a cheap piano the right choice for a beginner?
Buying privately or from a piano shop?
Furthermore, similar to car purchase, if any unforeseen deficiencies become evident after purchase, it is more difficult to take legal steps against a private individual than a specialist. What also should be mentioned is that at a piano shop offering a wide range of instruments there is a greater chance of finding the right piano for you.
What to look for when buying a second-hand upright or grand piano?
Pianos, as we know them today, have been built in this way for the last 100 years. Piano making reached its peak in Western Europe between the turn of the last century and the First World War. Never again have so many pianos been manufactured.
It is not surprising that there is such a large number of 50 to 100 hundred-year-old instruments on the second-hand market. The condition of these pianos varies considerably.
Pianos are sold because 1) the owner wants a better instrument, or 2) he/she no longer needs it. For the buyer, case 2 is favourable because there is more chance that the piano is ok. In case 1, it is possible that deficiencies are the cause of wanting to replace it.
A common fault is poor tuning stability, i.e. the piano has to be tuned frequently in short intervals - an irritating and costly situation. Before considering further faults to be looked for when buying a used piano, it should be said the construction type can hardly be altered but almost any faults can be remedied by a piano technician.
There are three main causes of quality deterioration in a piano: wear and tear, ageing and environmental harm.
Wear affects the moving action parts - i.e. the complex structure responsible for striking the strings to produce a note when a black or white key is struck. When connecting parts move, friction occurs causing rub and wear.
The action materials are mainly wood, felt, metal and leather. 
All parts which touch the strings directly, i.e. the hammers and dampers are covered with felt.
Felt and leather are affected by ageing and the former can fall victim to moths , whose favourite meal is wool. Leather, as we all have experienced, becomes hard and brittle with age. Hammer felt possesses only a limited degree of elasticity, so that with time the strings press into the felt forming grooves, which, with time, prevent precise hammer/string contact
Ageing affects not only felt and leather but also wood. Wood is an organic substance which reacts to changes in temperature and humidity. It shrinks and expands, and in time cracks can develop.
Cracks in the wrest plank cause the tuning pins to loosen and the piano will constantly go out of tune. Cracks in the soundboard weaken the transference of the vibrations, thereby reducing the tone quality.
External influences
This includes environmental influence such as extreme temperature fluctuation, too low or too high humidity, direct sunlight, water damage or other liquids, as well as moth infestation or harm through mice.
The cabinet
The cabinet often offers clues to what the piano has been through. If the veneer is raised or loose, one can assume that water is the culprit. Mould or mildew marks on light-coloured surfaces indicate that the piano has been kept in damp rooms. Dust inside or on the back of the instrument is also a useful indicator. Traces of mould in the dust suggest that the piano has suffered from damp.
Cracks can develop after complete 'drying out'. A mouldy smell inside is a clue to unsuitable conditions. A glass of beer is often placed on a piano. Where beer is put down, a glass will often be knocked over and the beer will seep into the instrument. Look for ring marks and cigarette burns on the cabinet. Such traces suggest that the piano has spent time in a pub or restaurant. It will often retain its sour smell for years after, and you must decide whether you want to import this odour into your living room.
The condition of the keyboard, the condition of the felt and cloth
Correct key function, crooked keys, unwanted noises
As long as the key is held down, the note should reverberate. As soon as you let go the sound should cease immediately. If this is not the case then the damper mechanism is faulty.
The pedals, too, should only have a minimum of play sideways and not cause excessive noise. The right pedal lifts the dampers, i.e. when the pedal is depressed the note played must resound even though the key has been allowed to return. If not, there is a problem with the dampers - something which can usually solved by a specialist.
They are lifted by long wires which has led to their American name: birdcage piano. Only a few manufacturers have had satisfactory results with this system (e.g. Blüthner, Ibach or Steingraeber). Generally speaking they cannot be recommended because they fail to meet today's standards.
This can be repaired but is expensive.
The vibration transference is then lessened and tone quality is lost. Soundboard cracks can be repaired by gluing narrow, wedge-shaped pieces of spruce into the cracks.
Subsequently the surface is sanded smooth and re-varnished.
This, of course, cannot be true. Often a seller doesn't really know how old the piano is. Maybe he has bought it second-hand himself. Sometimes the age is deliberately falsified. A dealer can establish the age of a piano, fairly accurately, by consulting lists of serial numbers.
Position...where it shouldn't stand
What else should I know? (general care, cleaning etc..)
A polyester finish is best cleaned with a chamois leather dampened with water, to which a little white spirit and detergent has been added.
For French polish (shellac) there is a special cleaning product.
Never use water or household cleansers on shellac.
The keys can be wiped with a well-wrung chamois leather. Take care that no liquid runs down between the keys. You can also run a vacuum cleaner over the keys from time to time using the upholstery brush attachment.
Keep the vacuum cleaner away from the action. It is easy to cause considerable damage here.
If possible do not place flower vases or other potential 'water bombs' on the piano. Also, picture frames or clocks or other adornments can rattle and vibrate, which doesn't add to the enjoyment of the music.
For pets, the piano should be declared a taboo zone.
Finally, a tip: lavender or anti-moth paper (available at the chemists) placed within the cabinet will repel the piano's worst enemy.
It is important to sit on a suitable stool when playing the piano. An adjustable stool, which guarantees the correct seating position, can be recommended
We hope you have lots of fun playing your piano.
The PIANO PALME team
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