Buying A Used Piano
What are the advantages of a used piano?
If you are going to buy a used piano, its age and condition are going to become a big factor in your decision. Obviously, the older the piano is, generally the worse it's going to be for wear. So if you can find a used piano that is as good as, or close to as good as, the new one you're considering, then that should be a good option for you. A lot of people look at used pianos as a way to cheapen the purchase, to get something that passes for now. My advice to people who are looking to buy pianos is to buy something that's a little bit better than what you think you need, because you're going to grow into it, and you don't buy a piano every day, every week, not even once a year. Most people who buy a piano end up keeping it for at least a decade, if not two or three decades.
What should I consider when buying a used piano?
What's important to consider when you're buying a used piano is that the condition of the piano is sound. So you don't want to just look at the external condition of the piano, you want to look at the internal condition of the piano. The internal condition makes sure that the action mechanism is in good shape, it's not too worn; the strings are in good shape, and that there's not too much rust on the tuning pins and it will hold its tuning. If you're buying a piano from a store and it's used, generally the store will have done this labor for you and even offer a warranty. However, if you're buying from a private party, it'd be wise to bring a private technician out to oversee this stuff for you and make sure the piano is in good shape and give it a clean bill of health before proceeding.
How much does the overall condition affect a used piano?
Pricing is the key factor that forms the major part of the equation related to the overall condition of the piano. Any brand of piano which complies to any model or size can be bought at any price depending on the apparent condition of the piano. If the piano is old, bedowned and worn out, requiring a full rebuild, then it is worthless as the cost of rebuilding will be much more than the piano's worth.
How important are warranties?
Warranties are important in that they offer a pretty long period of time within which you have action for recourse, if something goes wrong. Piano warranties are typically ten years, and it covers both parts and labour if it's a new instrument. Used warranties vary, but usually offer much longer periods of time on the parts than they do on the labour, since the labour is the most costly component of the warranty. In general, if you've researched your piano, and you've bought it right, and you've checked it out if it's a used piano, or if you've bought a reputable brand, the warranties really are not going to be a factor. They're there more for a 'comfy' feeling about having something that you know is under protection, but there isn't a whole lot that's going to fail in a newer instrument.