Any piano buffs out there

[Mikey]

I'm looking for a piano for my daughter, she's been playing for just over a year and is clearly enjoying it. We got her a weighted keyed casio keyboard the christmas before last without knowing much about it and have bought something with 60 keys unaware that she would need something around 80 keys.

Her tutor has suggested an upright as they don't take up much space but give a better sound quality than a keyboard. I'm however lost!!!, this is like double dutch to me. There are loads on the auction sites but how do you know if you are buying a lemon, I wasn't looking at spending a lot, but have been warned that for every good upright there are 10 duff ones.

If there are any knowledgeable peeps out there how to I spot the ones to avoid?

[Bill HH]

No idea i am afraid, but from a gardening point of view an old piano would make a great planter.

I am sure we have an expert on piano's here, they will help you without doubt.

[bearded bloke]

Oi VC,get in here & talk to Mikey

Those with iron frames stay in tune much longer the those with wooden frames,but oh boy they are chuffin' heavy

[Mikey]

From what I can gather Bill, thats about all a lot of them are good for.

[veggiechicken]

An ordinary piano (not electric) needs tuning twice a year - especaily in a centrally heated house where the temperature fluctuates.
You need one with an iron frame, not wood as they warp.
An overstrung upright gives a better sound as the wires operating the keys are longer,
Don't buy from an auction site - lots come up on Freecycle and it may be worth having a look at those first. Would need tuning after moving. Do you know anyone who plays who could come with you - just to check that all the keys work?
Ask the tutor if she can recommend a make and a piano tuner.
Have fun!!
PS I sold my Boudoir grand piano (there's posh) for an electric keyboard (Yamaha) years ago as I found the tuning a real bind and I don't tickle the ivories enough these days to justify it.

[Bren In Pots]

Mikey is there a shop you could try, because when we bought our piano we had the option of renting it for the first 6 months then if we wanted to keep it the price we'd paid in rental was deducted the full price.

[Mikey]

Iron frame?, what you mean its metal not wood....?

When you say heavy, what are we talking about 2 man lift or more?

[bearded bloke]

Hang on bud,off to take a piccy

[Bill HH]

As an aside in our care home we had an upright piano and the tuner was a blind man, i often thought what a perfect match for an occupation.

[bearded bloke]

Ere we go bud ....





There is an iron frame inside the casing that the strings are fixed to,to get the whole thing off the ground I reckon 4 man lift,but it would be very unstable.
As Bren said check freecycle,etc,if you get an old one make sure the ivory cappings are properly fixed on the keys.

[Mikey]

An ordinary piano (not electric) needs tuning twice a year - especaily in a centrally heated house where the temperature fluctuates.
You need one with an iron frame, not wood as they warp.
An overstrung upright gives a better sound as the wires operating the keys are longer,
Don't buy from an auction site - lots come up on Freecycle and it may be worth having a look at those first. Would need tuning after moving. Do you know anyone who plays who could come with you - just to check that all the keys work?
Ask the tutor if she can recommend a make and a piano tuner.
Have fun!!
Have

Have I found a specialty of yours????

Erin's tutor has given my wife the contact details of her tuner, and said whatever we get it would probably need tuning every 12 months or so, as we are mean and don't put the heating on very often!!!!

I hadn't thought of looking on free sites, as I thought they would probably be the dire models, but I'll go and have a nose. I don't really have anyone other than the nipper to come with me, she can play the scales on it for me, and I guess I'd know if it sounded duff, like really duff!!! I know I should avoid anything with missing or broken keys and anything with sticky keys, but are there other signs of a poorly looked after plant pot?

[bearded bloke]

Just a thought Mikey,while you are looking for the piano also look for a height adjustable stool,the standard ones with the built in sheet music box will be too low for a child to reach the keys properly.

[Mikey]

Mikey is there a shop you could try, because when we bought our piano we had the option of renting it for the first 6 months then if we wanted to keep it the price we'd paid in rental was deducted the full price.

I'm not really in that kind of price bracket Bren, a couple of hundred is my limit plus retuning, the shops round us are in the couple of thou bracket...

[Mikey]

BB, I've seen a couple which come with stools but have no idea if they would be adjustable is that normal?


OH MY ..........BB some of these stools are more expensive than the pianos!!!

[bearded bloke]

Mrs BB found her's on a local website,lots of them available as few people have the capability to move them from place to place,if you can get hold of a van with a tail lift or a low loading trailer with a loooooooooooooong ramp your away