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What to Look For When You are Buying a Piano
Keys to sound investment
Tone: Individual tastes can differ but it is agreed piano tone should be rich and pleasant. Tone should be clear, project well and have a singing quality. Look for a piano with a solid spruce soundboard with consistency in color and grain pattern in the wood, full length notched ribs to carry tone across the soundboard as it is amplified and a sturdy plate construction so that the tension can be as high as is needed to produce rich full sound.
Touch: Curiously, this is the area of the piano that the player will respond to most - even more than the tone of the piano. Of course, only the player will experience the touch of the piano, but younger players will stay at the piano longer if the touch is right because it will respond to what their fingers are trying to accomplish. Touch is largely a matter of engineering so that each key responds uniformly to the players finger pressure, the keys are able to recover quickly and can be struck again when necessary (this is called repetition).
A metal action rail, like an engine block, will insure that the action parts are mounted on a firm foundation. The keys should all travel the same distance with the same amount of finger pressure so that the player can approach the piano keyboard with confidence & consistency.
Tuning Stability: There are twenty tons of tension created by the strings on the plate the piano. The piano must be able to withstand this amount of tension and still stay in tune. A piano that will not hold tune is not a value at any price. So look for features such as a pinblock that is immune to changes in humidity and temperature changes, cut thread tuning pins, and a formula that takes into account the climatic elements of the area of the world where the piano will be used. Moisture is the greatest enemy of stability to a piano's life and its ability to hold tune.
Beauty: Pianos are often seen more than they are heard. You will want your piano to reflect your good taste and harmonize well with the rest of your decor. High quality materials, including woods, lacquers, polyester for proper finishes in keeping with the design you select, insure beauty at the time of selection and for many years to come.
Long Life: The sound and touch of a piano when it is new will tell only part of the musical life of the instrument.
Many pianos are built with cost as the main consideration. These pianos inevitably have a very poor musical life. After a few years of average wear they lose their musicality.
A well made piano, with proper care, may serve generations of pianists.
Value: Price is what something costs. Value is what it is worth.
The true value of a fine piano is much more than the physical unit itself, it is what it can accomplish in the life of the user. In areas like mental stimulation, stress relief, enjoyment, and self satisfaction. The better the piano the greater the true value.
A FINE PIANO IS:
A wise financial investment
An incentive to musical success
Provides aesthetic satisfaction
A hobby for a lifetime
An educational tool
A focal point for home and family
Buy From a Reputable, Well Established Dealer.
Selecting a known, highly accepted brand name with a good service reputation from a respected dealer will give you the assurance of a good purchase decision.
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