Should I Buy A Used Piano?
For most buyers, yes. A good used piano usually offers better build quality for the money than a new piano at the same price, because a well-made instrument can last for decades. The important thing is to buy from a dealer who has properly inspected the piano, so you know it is in good working order and arrives with delivery, tuning and a guarantee.
It is a question we are asked almost every day, and the honest answer is that a used piano is the right choice for the great majority of people. Here is the reasoning behind that.
Why a used piano often makes more sense
A piano is one of the few things you can buy where age is not the enemy. A quality piano built thirty or forty years ago, and looked after since, can play beautifully and has a great deal of life still in it. That means your money buys more instrument. The same budget that buys a modest new piano will often buy a considerably better used one.
Quality also lasts. The makers whose pianos we most often recommend built their instruments to endure, and a good one that has been maintained will reward you for many years. This is the heart of why we have always dealt heavily in used and reconditioned pianos.
The one real risk, and how to remove it
There is a genuine risk with used pianos, and it is worth being honest about it. A piano is, in effect, a large wooden box under enormous string tension, with thousands of moving parts. A poor example, or one that has been neglected or stored badly, can have problems that are expensive to put right and very hard for a non-expert to spot.
This is exactly why where you buy matters more than almost anything else. Buying privately or at auction, you are on your own. Buying from a specialist, the piano has already been assessed and prepared by people who know what to look for, and it comes with a guarantee. That single difference removes most of the risk that makes people nervous about used pianos in the first place.
What we check before a piano is sold
Every piano we sell is inspected by our technicians and any necessary work is carried out before it reaches you. We are checking that the instrument is structurally sound, that it holds its tuning, and that the action and tone are right. Only then does it go on sale. It is the same principle as having a survey done before buying a house: the expert eye catches what an untrained one cannot.
Used does not mean worn out
It is worth clearing up a common worry. A used piano is not a tired piano. Many of the instruments we sell have had careful single ownership and gentle use, and a piano that has been played and tuned regularly is often in better health than one that has sat untouched for years. Condition, not age, is what counts.
Try several before you decide
No two pianos are quite alike, and the only way to find the one that suits you is to play a few side by side. We keep a large stock of upright pianos and grand pianos in our Faringdon showroom for exactly this reason. Spend an hour or two with us and the right piano usually makes itself known.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy a used piano?
For most buyers, yes. A good used piano usually offers better quality for the money than a cheap new one, provided it is bought from a dealer who has inspected it and stands behind it with a guarantee.
Are used pianos a good investment?
A good used piano holds its value well. Quality instruments depreciate far less than most purchases, and a well-chosen piano can often be traded in or sold on later.
What should I check when buying a used piano?
That it holds its tune, that the action is even, and that there is no serious problem with the frame or soundboard. These are hard to judge without expertise, which is why buying from a specialist is the safest route.
Come and see our used pianos
The Piano Gallery is an independent, family-run piano specialist established in 1980. Every piano we sell is inspected by our technicians before sale and comes with a guarantee. We hold a large stock of quality used pianos, all available to play and compare in our showroom.
The Piano Gallery
13-17 London Street, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7AE
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Any other time by appointment.
Telephone: 01367 244554 | Email: sales@thepianogallery.co.uk