New or used piano? Some tips to choose your music instrument
It is common opinion that buying a tool you can use to save money. In fact, the cost is often less than that for the new, and a second-hand piano can also have a good ratio between quality and price.
But keep in mind that such a purchase must be weighed very carefully: it involves a decidedly tricky for the buyer, because it requires a good knowledge of the construction of the instrument, or a lot of trust in the seller, be it a private or a shopkeeper; In the latter case, you run less risk of negative surprises, although the cost may be higher: the dealer should in fact lead to the execution of the necessary technical maintenance and repair.
As a general rule, finding a used piano or music instrument is not hard: there is plenty of free ads in classifieds websites to choose from. Moreover, in the case of used pianos there is extreme variability between tool and valuable tool: aside from the fact that it is difficult to find comparable models - also because most of the manufacturers of the past no longer exist - it is necessary to consider the differences resulting from 'age and condition of preservation and maintenance, on which it is impossible to get accurate information. Especially harmful are the salt, excessive humidity, improper heating system of the house (as you can see, in principle, what is healthy for people it is well for pianos).
Even apart from damage to the unit, the time it carries an action of gradual deterioration - is still talking decades - but implacable primarily on the mechanical (moving parts are generally subject to the most wear and tear), and then on the other components - in particular on the soundboard which over the years has lost his "office" (a slight curvature that giving elasticity, enhances the ability of natural sound amplifier): though the latter problem is more difficult to appreciate than the failure of mechanics, is even more insidious because it would require costly technical measures to restore.
It should be reported as misleading to the consumer a work of renewal just aesthetics Charity (what unfortunately happens in many cases), which do not have adequate quality music and mechanics. The buyer is often misled, because unconsciously we tend to give the instrument a functional value, difficult to judge, equal to that which is aesthetic rather under the eyes.
If we add to this that it is very difficult to judge how the work of restoration has been performed on the mechanical and structural parts, we realize how difficult it is to compare prices: do not forget, however, always compare them to those of the new instrument with similar characteristics, that may be more affordable than you think. The competition exerts a moderating influence on the price; that competition is much more transparent in the case of new instruments: the price, therefore, tends to be higher in used, at least with respect to quality - that tends to decay over time.
However, there are some objective factors that can help in the evaluation:
first of all, the age of the instrument is of the utmost importance being able to determine with certainty. This can be done by looking at the serial number, usually stamped on the frame, ensuring that it is intact and authentic. This number will then be tried under the same brand in the literature, which report the serial numbers for the year of manufacture - for information please contact us (click below for reference numbers from Kawai);
then, the brand. In the past there were many manufacturers, often small craft, which no longer exist today. Even if sometimes they were building great tools, a piano for a brand that still exists enjoys greater evaluation;
finally, the use which might be made of the piano. The function will be more ornamental, the more you will be able to freely orient the technical constraints - the furniture of the old pianos are sometimes very beautiful. Plus there will be directed instead to actually play the piano, the more preferred will be the new tool (to the limit, a recently used).
But keep in mind that such a purchase must be weighed very carefully: it involves a decidedly tricky for the buyer, because it requires a good knowledge of the construction of the instrument, or a lot of trust in the seller, be it a private or a shopkeeper; In the latter case, you run less risk of negative surprises, although the cost may be higher: the dealer should in fact lead to the execution of the necessary technical maintenance and repair.
As a general rule, finding a used piano or music instrument is not hard: there is plenty of free ads in classifieds websites to choose from. Moreover, in the case of used pianos there is extreme variability between tool and valuable tool: aside from the fact that it is difficult to find comparable models - also because most of the manufacturers of the past no longer exist - it is necessary to consider the differences resulting from 'age and condition of preservation and maintenance, on which it is impossible to get accurate information. Especially harmful are the salt, excessive humidity, improper heating system of the house (as you can see, in principle, what is healthy for people it is well for pianos).
Even apart from damage to the unit, the time it carries an action of gradual deterioration - is still talking decades - but implacable primarily on the mechanical (moving parts are generally subject to the most wear and tear), and then on the other components - in particular on the soundboard which over the years has lost his "office" (a slight curvature that giving elasticity, enhances the ability of natural sound amplifier): though the latter problem is more difficult to appreciate than the failure of mechanics, is even more insidious because it would require costly technical measures to restore.
It should be reported as misleading to the consumer a work of renewal just aesthetics Charity (what unfortunately happens in many cases), which do not have adequate quality music and mechanics. The buyer is often misled, because unconsciously we tend to give the instrument a functional value, difficult to judge, equal to that which is aesthetic rather under the eyes.
If we add to this that it is very difficult to judge how the work of restoration has been performed on the mechanical and structural parts, we realize how difficult it is to compare prices: do not forget, however, always compare them to those of the new instrument with similar characteristics, that may be more affordable than you think. The competition exerts a moderating influence on the price; that competition is much more transparent in the case of new instruments: the price, therefore, tends to be higher in used, at least with respect to quality - that tends to decay over time.
However, there are some objective factors that can help in the evaluation:
first of all, the age of the instrument is of the utmost importance being able to determine with certainty. This can be done by looking at the serial number, usually stamped on the frame, ensuring that it is intact and authentic. This number will then be tried under the same brand in the literature, which report the serial numbers for the year of manufacture - for information please contact us (click below for reference numbers from Kawai);
then, the brand. In the past there were many manufacturers, often small craft, which no longer exist today. Even if sometimes they were building great tools, a piano for a brand that still exists enjoys greater evaluation;
finally, the use which might be made of the piano. The function will be more ornamental, the more you will be able to freely orient the technical constraints - the furniture of the old pianos are sometimes very beautiful. Plus there will be directed instead to actually play the piano, the more preferred will be the new tool (to the limit, a recently used).