Buying a Used Piano

Buying a Used Piano
Follow this checklist when evaluating a piano:

In General

Action and Keys

When playing a few notes, does it sound badly out of tune? Is it at the correct pitch? (Use a tuning fork, or an instrument like a recorder or a flute to ensure that its 'C' matches 'C' on the piano.)

Are there any buzzing noises?

Are the keys uneven, and/or display excess side movement?

Is the case dirty and untidy, with bad scratches?

Remove top and bottom panels and, using a flashlight, check all around. Are there worm or moth holes evident in the keys, action or casework (including the back of the piano)?

Do the pedals fail to work properly and quietly?

Does the action look dirty?

Can you see any broken, missing or badly worn parts?

Can you see any irregularity in what should be a neat row of hammers?

Can you see any obvious signs of moth damage?

Try repeating a few notes at the top and bottom of the keyboard. Do you notice any sluggish hammers? Do any of the notes fail to return to the rest position?

Are the damper felts dirty, hard, or not stopping the notes from sounding when the key is released?

Iron Frame and Strings

Soundboard and Bridges

The iron frame can be seen most easily in the bottom of an upright piano, although it usually covers most of the area inside the piano. The strings are attached to the frame at the bottom and to the tuning pins at the top.

Is there rust on the frame or strings (top and bottom)?

Is the iron frame cracked?

Are there cracks in the wrest plank (the wood in which the tuning pins are inserted) between the tuning pins?

Are some tuning pins leaning down more than others?

Are any strings missing, or have some been replaced? (New strings will be a different color then the rest.)

Are the lower strings steel wrapped rather than copper (these types of string are generally inferior and produce a dull sound).

The soundboard is the varnished wooden panel, which can be seen underneath the strings. The bridges are lengths of wood, glued to the soundboard, into which metal pins are driven. The strings run over the bridges and between the pins. The vibration of the strings is transmitted to the soundboard by the bridges, and this produces the sound you hear. It is vital that these parts be in good condition.

Are there cracks in the soundboard?

Are there splits in the bridges between the bridge pins? (An older piano may have a wooden bridge close to the tuning pins, in addition to those on the soundboard.)

Are the bridges poorly attached to the soundboard? (If so the sound will be of poor quality and there may be a rattling noise as the notes are played.)

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In General	Action and Keys
When playing a few notes, does it sound badly out of tune? Is it at the correct pitch? (Use a tuning fork, or an instrument like a recorder or a flute to ensure that its 'C' matches 'C' on the piano.) Are there any buzzing noises? Are the keys uneven, and/or display excess side movement? Is the case dirty and untidy, with bad scratches? Remove top and bottom panels and, using a flashlight, check all around. Are there worm or moth holes evident in the keys, action or casework (including the back of the piano)? Do the pedals fail to work properly and quietly?	Does the action look dirty? Can you see any broken, missing or badly worn parts? Can you see any irregularity in what should be a neat row of hammers? Can you see any obvious signs of moth damage? Try repeating a few notes at the top and bottom of the keyboard. Do you notice any sluggish hammers? Do any of the notes fail to return to the rest position? Are the damper felts dirty, hard, or not stopping the notes from sounding when the key is released?
Iron Frame and Strings	Soundboard and Bridges
The iron frame can be seen most easily in the bottom of an upright piano, although it usually covers most of the area inside the piano. The strings are attached to the frame at the bottom and to the tuning pins at the top. Is there rust on the frame or strings (top and bottom)? Is the iron frame cracked? Are there cracks in the wrest plank (the wood in which the tuning pins are inserted) between the tuning pins? Are some tuning pins leaning down more than others? Are any strings missing, or have some been replaced? (New strings will be a different color then the rest.) Are the lower strings steel wrapped rather than copper (these types of string are generally inferior and produce a dull sound).	The soundboard is the varnished wooden panel, which can be seen underneath the strings. The bridges are lengths of wood, glued to the soundboard, into which metal pins are driven. The strings run over the bridges and between the pins. The vibration of the strings is transmitted to the soundboard by the bridges, and this produces the sound you hear. It is vital that these parts be in good condition. Are there cracks in the soundboard? Are there splits in the bridges between the bridge pins? (An older piano may have a wooden bridge close to the tuning pins, in addition to those on the soundboard.) Are the bridges poorly attached to the soundboard? (If so the sound will be of poor quality and there may be a rattling noise as the notes are played.)