A Piano Tuner's Guide To Buying a Piano: Part One

So you’ve decided to buy a piano — amazing news!

Buying a piano is an exciting process, but also a difficult one, especially if your knowledge of the piano’s mechanics is limited. There are many ways to get hold of a piano: second-hand or brand new, digital or acoustic, through a piano dealer or private sale, and even via your local neighbourhood WhatsApp group.

As a piano tuner, I often find myself advising customers on the process of buying a piano. So, without further ado, here is part one of my guide to buying a piano, aimed at helping you make an informed and confident decision.

Private Sale or Dealership

There are thousands of pianos for sale privately on websites such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, and I would be lying if I said there were no absolute steals to be found. Occasionally, people do part with a good-quality instrument for next to nothing. However, most of the time, if it sounds too good to be true… it probably is.

Some pianos sold online have already been rejected by professional piano dealers because they are in poor condition and simply not worth restoring. That doesn’t mean every private sale should be avoided — I have personally come across several pianos bought and sold privately that are of decent quality — but caution is essential.

My advice would be to proceed with a private sale only if you know what to look for, or can take someone who does, such as a piano tuner, to inspect the instrument with you. Just as you wouldn’t buy a car without looking under the bonnet, you shouldn’t buy a piano without examining the action. The more you can find out about the piano’s history — including how often it has been tuned and where it has been kept — the better.

In contrast, buying a piano from a dealership is a much less risky option, and one I would strongly recommend, especially for first-time buyers. Visiting a showroom allows you to try a range of pianos, and with the help of a professional, you can identify what best suits your needs, space and budget.

Piano dealers work with customers of all levels and price ranges, and you may be surprised at how accessible the entry price is for a good upright piano. Importantly, the price quoted by a dealer usually includes guarantees, as well as the cost of delivery and tuning — both of which can be significant additional expenses when buying privately.

Second-Hand or Brand New

Most acoustic pianos have a lifespan of around 100 years, with some components requiring replacement after 40–60 years. The older a piano is, the less we tend to know about its history, and unfortunately, the greater the opportunity there has been for neglect.

For this reason, I would generally avoid purchasing a piano that is more than 40 years old (pre-1980), unless it is being sold by a reputable dealership that has thoroughly serviced the action. Don’t be afraid to ask whether key parts such as strings, hammers and springs have been replaced — a good seller will be happy to explain the work that has been done.

Many piano dealerships sell second-hand pianos that are only a few years old and in excellent condition. In my opinion, it is often far better to buy a higher-quality model second-hand than a lower-quality model brand new.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that new pianos take time to be “broken in”. Tuning stability can be an issue in the first couple of years, and the tone of the instrument will change as the hammers compact through regular playing. Buying a new piano usually comes with a manufacturer’s guarantee and is, of course, the only way to be completely certain that the instrument has been well cared for throughout its life.

Piano Tuner weighs in: Digital VS Acoustic

Playing a digital piano will never quite recreate the magic of playing an acoustic one. Even with weighted keys, the experience is fundamentally different. As a piano tuner, I naturally encourage players to move towards an acoustic instrument wherever possible.

That said, there are situations in which I would recommend buying a digital piano:

• If you need to move the piano regularly, such as in a rehearsal venue with multiple rooms. Acoustic pianos are heavy, impractical to move, and require frequent retuning when relocated.

• If the space where the piano will be kept experiences significant changes in temperature or humidity, such as garages or outbuildings. Acoustic pianos struggle in these conditions and can deteriorate quickly.

• If you know you will not commit to regular tuning, then an acoustic piano may not be the right choice.

An annual piano tuning, much like an MOT or health check-up, is a relatively small price to pay to preserve the condition, sound and value of your instrument — and something I strongly recommend to all acoustic piano owners.

Coming up in Part 2

In part two of this guide, I’ll cover piano brands, and how to choose the right instrument for your space, budget and playing level.