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guitarnan
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| Posted: Oct 17 2007 at 6:51am | IP Logged
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I already own a used piano...but am thinking about upgrading to a better used one. The one we have is very old, ivory's coming off the keys, it's probably untunable (I haven't hired a tuner, but I'm pretty sure what the verdict will be...we hauled it over a mountain in a truck and a moving van).
How does one buy a used piano that IS tunable? Do I need to hire a piano mover?
I'm not a pianist, so I'm clueless. My own instrument (guitar) is portable, LOL!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Rachel May
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Our approach was to go to the Georgetown used piano sale and buy what was in our price range. 6 months free financing, they deliver and tune once for you.
Our old piano we enjoyed dismantling, checking out the mechanisms, trying to identify the skeletons under the keyboard, seeing which strings went with which keys etc. You can pop off the ivories and save them for a nautical unit and learn scrimshaw. In the end the military bulk trash hauled our old piano away.
Good luck!
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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JennGM
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Rachel's sale was hosted through Jordan Kitts music, which has periodic campus piano sales.
I went through the process of researching and buying a piano. Larry Fine's guide was extremely interesting. He gives suggestions on buying used, with brand names, years, etc. Your library probably has an edition or two of his book, The Piano Book -- Larry Fine.
If you have a friend who is a pianist, you could shop around. Most piano showrooms have both used and new pianos. I am partial to The Piano Co, which is in Leesburg. It's a bit unique because it was founded by a piano tuner--the tuners came first, then the showroom.
I also heard that Rick Jones Pianos, closer to you, have a pretty good reputation.
If you work with a showroom, the prices are a bit more, but it should come with delivery. If you do a sale out of a home, you have to get the movers.
I figured out what kind of look, sound, and feel I wanted, I called a local piano tuner to ask opinions. Good tuners will come and try a piano for a fee to make sure it's a good buy. There are hidden things that could potentially wreak havoc on your sale. A cracked soundboard, for one, which is hard to see.
Most tuners will say that older, antique pianos, especially the large uprights, aren't very tunable.
A few websites I had bookmarked:
Blue Book of Pianos
Piano Technicians Guild
Short Guide to Buying a Piano
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Tami
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| Posted: Oct 17 2007 at 8:00am | IP Logged
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Nancy, dh was a tuner and technician for many years. He's happy to field any questions you might have.
I'll pm you!
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God bless,
Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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Tami
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Nancy, I tried to pm you, but your box is full!! You must be a popular lady! 
PM me when you can, and I'll give you our phone #. Dh has helped many, many people buy pianos.
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God bless,
Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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JennGM
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| Posted: Oct 17 2007 at 8:10am | IP Logged
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Oh, and Nancy, if your current piano is going to the scrap pile, take off the ivory keys and sell them on eBay. 
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Carole N.
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Nancy, we have a very old piano that has been in the family for years. I remember driving to Minnesota in my dh's Chevy S-10 pickup to bringing it back to Houston! We had a piano tuner come out (after many objections from his wife) and it was in pretty good shape considering its age.
We have moved this piano all over the country and will move it to Wales as well (dh's grandmother would roll in her grave if she knew that we let the piano leave the family).
I guess my point is that even though it is not a concert piano, it has history with the family. It was great for the children to learn to play on. Our current tuner thinks that it sounds pretty good considering that the bass strings sound muddy and there is a slight crack in the soundboard. And yes, the ivory keys are coming off (thanks for the tip Jenn about ebay).
Anyway, you may find someone that has some value for the piano and would love to have it for their children to learn to play. Of course, all that being said, should any of our children prove to be a concert pianist, a new paino would be purchased!
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 Carole ... in Wales
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Chari
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I pray 
Seriously.
Our first piano was given to us by my bil......only in tune with itself, and un-tunable.
Next piano: we "baby-sit" it in our garage for a few months........finally we ask them to take it.......they offer it to us for $200. The tuning guy says it is a solid piano, so we buy it.
Soon, I realize with 6 kids playing the piano and one wanting to major in it at college........there would not be enough practice time on just one piano.........so, I mention to God:
God, I think in a few years we will need a second piano. I will not actively search for one for about two years, but if you could find one for me before then, in the range of free to $200 (what I had already paid ), I would really appreciate it. (I am serious......I really DID offer this to God in these words)
Six months later, someone offers us another piano to use indefinitely, an upright. Sure! We can use it! Next day: My husband calls and asks us if we can fit a baby grand in our small living room. NO WAY. Well, I guess if we put it HERE, we can. And, I remember my prayer request from the fall.
So, someone is lending to us a baby grand piano for an indefinite time period. The family does not want to "part" with the piano, but no one in the family plays.
What a blessing to us!  So, I put the upright in the girls' room so they can practice there sometimes. No one EVER uses the upright. The baby grand is, well, grander.
It has been five years, and we have blessed someone with the indefintie use of our upright.
Gwen wise, also prayed for a piano..........and got one, too. Cannot remember if it was free or just really inexpensive. She can tell her own story.
Right now, Willa is trying my method.
Just thought I would offer another suggestion
Blessings on your piano searching!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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chicken lady
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I see them all the time on freecycle and at auctions. People don;t want to move them, so they give them away. That is how we got ours. I nifty secret, rent a piano dolly!! MAkes moving them VERY easy, and with the money you save from not buying a piano, you can hire help!
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MarilynW
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I highly recommend Rick Jones pianos in Beltsville/College Park. They have a buy back/upgrade policy and were very efficient with us. You can let them know your budget and type of piano - and they send you emails when they get shipments. ( we bought ours in 2001)
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Marilyn
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Karen T
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Carole N. wrote:
Nancy, we have a very old piano that has been in the family for years.
We have moved this piano all over the country and will move it to Wales as well (dh's grandmother would roll in her grave if she knew that we let the piano leave the family).
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Just an FYI - if you take a piano with ivory keys out of the country and then want to bring it back in, you will not be allowed to, as ivory has been banned. I got this from a book about older pianos, from the library.
Also, even very old pianos may not have ivory keys. We have one made in 1926 and I was surprised to learn that the keys are not ivory. They are much thinner than the new plastic ones, but they are still some sort of plastic.
Karen T
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guitarnan
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Wow, this is a ton of info! I definitely have some work to do...
I love your "piano plan", Chari...I will pray today.
My dad thinks I should buy one on eBay...???
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Chari
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Nancy, I will pray with you.........and we can get Saint Cecelia to join us! I bet my kids will like to help, too.
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: How to Buy a Used Piano
