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Whether you intend buying new or secondhand, our aim is to assist you
in choosing the piano that is right for you. However, there are many
pitfalls and we recommend that before acquiring a piano you seek the
advice of a fully qualified tuner or technician. |
BUYING NEW
In general, if you find a reputable piano retailer, buying a new piano
should be no problem. The choice of piano is yours, and the amount you
pay will in general determine the quality of the instrument. When you
find a piano that satisfies your needs, purchase the one you have tried,
as another of the same make and model could be quite different in touch
and tone.
BUYING SECONDHAND
Once again, buying from a reputable retailer, tuner or technician should
not be a problem, as the piano will have been professionally restored
where necessary, and it should be covered by a warranty. However,
beware of poorly restored pianos, or instruments with only 'cosmetic tidying
up' sold as'fully restored'.
AVOID SPENDING AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE ON A
'BEGINNER'S PIANO'
You would not give a learner driver an old car with faulty brakes and
bald tyres.
A poor piano is as hazardous to the musical life of a learner as a poor
car is to the physical life of a new driver.
A large piano is usually best, whether upright or grand.
UPRIGHT PIANOS
The most common of the many different types of piano are:
| Straightstrung or Overstrung |
Overdamper or Underdamper |
In a straightstrung piano, the strings run parallel to
one another
throughout. An overstrung piano has the bass strings running diagonally
across the piano, crossing over the treble strings - hence overstrung.
Overstringing is preferable, as the strings are longer than is possible
otherwise, and this produces a much better tone. |
In an overdamper action, the hammers (the action parts
which strike the strings) are obscured from view (when looking into the top)
by a wooden rail holding the dampers (the action parts which press on to
the strings to stop them from sounding). An underdamper action has the dampers
located beneath the hammers and they are usually much more effective
than overdampers. |
If a straight strung overdamper piano is in good condition, it can be
satisfactory, and occasionally one finds examples produced by some of
the best piano manufacturers. However, without expert knowledge it is
usually best to avoid them, as by far the majority are old, worn out, and
unsatisfactory - particularly for a beginner
GRAND PIANOS
A horizontal piano, standing on three or six legs, is called a grand,
which also could be straightstrung or overstrung. Again, the overstrung
construction is preferred.
The action of a grand is located behind the keys, and can partially be seen
through the strings, beneath the music desk. Without removing the action
it is difficult to identify which of the several different types of action
is present.
Unqualified persons should never attempt to remove a grand action; there
is considerable danger of causing damage.
THE FOLLOWING CHECKLIST WILL HELP YOU IDENTIFY PROBLEMS WHEN
PURCHASING A PIANO IF A QUALIFIED TUNER OR TECHNICIAN IS NOT AVAILABLE.
IF THE ANSWER TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS IS "YES" IT IS ESSENTIAL TO SEEK
PROFESSIONAL ADVICE:
| First Impressions |
Action and Keys |
1. When playing a few notes, does it sound badly out of tune?
Is it at the incorrect pitch?
(Use a tuning fork, or an instrument like a recorder or a flute to
ensure that its 'C' matches 'C' on the piano.)
2. Are there any buzzing noises?
3. Are the keys uneven, with excess side movement?
4. Is the case dirty and untidy, with bad scratches?
5. Remove top and bottom panels.
With a good torch check all around.
Is there any woodworm in the keys, action or casework (including the back
of the piano)?
6. Do the pedals fail to work properly and quietly? |
1. Does the action look untidy and dirty?
2. Can you see any broken, missing or badly worn parts?
3. Can you see any irregularity in what should be a neat row of hammers?
4. Can you see any obvious sign of moth damage?
5. Try repeating a few notes at treble and bass. Are there any sluggish
hammers? Do they fail to return to the rest position?
6. Are the damper felts dirty, hard, or not stopping the notes from sounding when the key is
released?
(Dirty or hard felts could cause buzzing noises, and notes continuing to sound
indicate broken damper springs.) |
| 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.
1. Is there rust on the frame or strings? (top and bottom)
2. Is the iron frame cracked?
3. 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?
4. Are any strings missing, or have some been replaced? (New strings will
be a different colour from the rest) |
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 are in good condition.
1. Are there cracks in the soundboard?
2. 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.)
3 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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