When is a piano like an automobile? …
Posted by Sarah - 22/02/06 at 06:02:23 pm
My latest obsession, since I started piano lessons last October, has been how or when I might be able to purchase a piano. With small-apartment living, I’ve been getting by on an old Roland D-5 keyboard my mother gave me several years ago. It’s compact and easy to put away, if necessary, which makes it great for our small space, but it has a lot of drawbacks: un-weighted keys, 5 octaves, a wobbly stand I can never quite adjust to the correct height, and only one “acoustic piano” sound that is tinny and grating for long periods. I don’t mean to whine. My keyboard has been invaluable for me to get in my daily practice, and I’ll keep it in case I might want a piano to take out somewhere. But I am ready for a “real” instrument and hope to get one after we move.
So, which piano to buy? It’s a huge question and one I’ve been investigating for over a month. As Larry Fine points out in his well-respected reference work/consumer guide The Piano Book, the purchase of a piano can in many ways be likened to the purchase of an automobile. There are inexpensive pianos and costly ones, used ones and new ones, plain and fancy ones, and a huge selection of models and makers. One of the major differences between the purchase of a piano or an automobile is that the piano should, with regular tuning and care, last much longer than the average car. Well-made pianos that are maintained and kept in a stable environment are expected to last at least 40-50 years. It’s a big decision, and one I’ll have to live with for decades.
One of the factors limiting my choices is, of course, price. I’m not going to spend 30, 20, or 10 grand on a piano. The budget just won’t allow it, and I have to also budget for regular tunings and maintenance (again, much like a car, pianos need regular service). That narrows the playing field considerably. Also, we won’t have room for a grand piano, so I’ll be in the market for an upright, preferably a full-sized one (48 inches or taller). In terms of looks, my personal taste is for something that isn’t solid black. Glossy ebony just isn’t a look that is going to match anything else we own. I prefer something with a warmer character, even if it’s just a bit of wood grain. I also want a good quality instrument. I’m not looking for a rusty old plunker on it’s last legs or a cheap piano made from green wood and plastic. I’m still a beginning student but I want something that I’ll be able to grow into as my playing improves; I’d rather get a nice instrument now than one I grow to dislike and feel the need to sell later. But even with all those considerations in mind, I still feel daunted by the decision.
The few new-piano dealers I’ve been to didn’t rub me the right way. Walking into their showroom was like walking into (I know you get the analogy by now) a car dealership! Lots of high-pressure tactics and marketing speak. I can appreciate that the pianos they carry are good quality, I just didn’t like the experience of talking with those sales people. Then there’s the murky market of used pianos: trade-ins at dealerships, private pianos for sale by owner, and pianos for sale from institutions. The standard advice is to take a piano technician with you if you think you might want to buy a particular used piano (much as you would take a mechanic with you to inspect a used car). Well and good, but how long will a particular used piano hold up compared to a new one? What features am I looking for? (Piano “extras” such as mute bars for practice, special pedals for different sounds, etc have changed over time and from maker to maker.)
At this point I have information overload. I’ve been to a few dealerships, I’ve been to a technician’s shop to try a refurbished piano she had for sale (pictured above), I’ve read Larry Fine’s book cover-to-cover and my mind is just spinning. I can’t buy a piano for at least a few months, which is a good thing, I think. The refurbished piano I tried out is gorgeous and is certainly a candidate. I also have a desire to try out some of the rarer brands of pianos that are imported to this country or made here. But in order to do that, I’d have to find a larger dealer or piano warehouse, because the local dealers usually only carry two or three brands. The Petrof pianos in particular sound like they’d be worth investigation. I’m also fascinated with the design of the Astin-Weight pianos, which have been made in Salt Lake City since the 1950’s and have some unique characteristics. Unfortunately, I have no idea how I’d be able to find either of these brands locally. This piano searching thing is exciting and frustrating at the same time. I may not have much of a budget, but I want to make the most of what I can spend. Anyone have any advice (or a piano for sale)?
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I know uprights are gorgeous and all that, but don’t rule out consoles, consolettes, and spinets. You can get a serviceable piano for less than you would spend for an upright.
Looking at where a piano was kept/stored can tell you a lot. A piano stored in drafty areas or in areas where the humidity varied considerably may *never* hold tuning for more than a few days. Then again, it might hold it remarkably well. The exterior can always be refinished, but what condition is the sound board in? Is it solid spruce or a laminated soundboard?
Sticky keys may loosen up with regular use. They may not. A good piano technician/tuner can help you figure that out.
We have a consolette. No, it’s not the highest quality piano ever made, but it suits our purposes and it’s a family possession (not quite an heirloom). I’d love to have an upright someday, but for now, this is fine.
Comment by Jocelyn — February 23, 2006 #