When you’re shopping for a new piano, it’s tempting to immediately look for a nearby piano sale in hopes of picking up a hot deal. After all, as wonderful as they are, pianos are rather expensive items. Finding one for cheap could mean the difference between taking one home today and having to wait months or years more until you can afford one at full price. However, shopping at a piano sale, no matter where it’s being hosted, is something of a riskier proposition than browsing a garage sale.Unless you’re shopping at a reputable retailer, you usually going to be at a disadvantage. You don’t know the seller, and you don’t know what kind of condition the pianos are in. Now, this isn’t meant to discourage you. You certainly can find great deals on pianos at a sale, but you need to be careful. Here are a few tips on things to keep in mind if you’re thinking about buying a piano this way.
Piano Sale Prices And Discounts
When you’re shopping for a new piano, it’s tempting to immediately look for a nearby piano sale in hopes of picking up a hot deal. After all, as wonderful as they are, pianos are rather expensive items. Finding one for cheap could mean the difference between taking one home today and having to wait months … Continued
Schimmel Concert Grand Piano
What attracts you to a Schimmel concert grand piano? Is it the shape or the open lid, allowing a glimpse into the mechanics of this instrument? Maybe it’s the romanticism of the instrument or the history, knowing the greatest musicians have always played these pianos. The history of these marvelous pianos reveals a lot about … Continued
Schimmel Concert Grand Piano
What attracts you to a Schimmel concert grand piano? Is it the shape or the open lid, allowing a glimpse into the mechanics of this instrument? Maybe it’s the romanticism of the instrument or the history, knowing the greatest musicians have always played these pianos. The history of these marvelous pianos reveals a lot about why we love them, why we play them and why Schimmel produces some of the best grand pianos on the market.
Piano Tuner And Technician. Are They The Same?
I get asked a lot of questions, as you might expect, about the language of the piano industry. Is a vertical piano the same as an upright? What credentials should I look for in a piano teacher? Like any industry, we have our jargon that is sometimes difficult for people outside of the piano business … Continued
Piano Tuner And Technician. Are They The Same?
I get asked a lot of questions, as you might expect, about the language of the piano industry. Is a vertical piano the same as an upright? What credentials should I look for in a piano teacher? Like any industry, we have our jargon that is sometimes difficult for people outside of the piano business to understand.
One question I hear a lot has to do with the difference between piano tuners and piano technicians. Many clients mistakenly assume a tuner and a technician are interchangeable terms. And while a vertical piano is, in fact, the same as an upright piano, a piano tuner and a piano technician could not be more different. Let’s explore why.
Why Tune?
First, we should talk about why you need to regularly tune your piano. Pianos are made from natural materials — wood, metal, cloth. These natural materials are subject to change and fluctuation from environmental factors, the massive amounts of tension in a piano, and the simple slow march of time. To make a piano sound its best, it requires regular tuning and adjustments. We suggest having your piano tuned twice a year: once during the spring or summer and again in the winter or fall since cold and heat affect pianos differently.
However, tuning the strings is just one aspect of piano maintenance. Think of it like a regular check up on your car. With each oil change, your mechanic will inspect different parts of your car like your transmission fluid, power steering fluid or front and rear differentials. Depending on the mileage of your car, your mechanic might suggest specific adjustments or procedures such as changing brake pads or air filters.
Now, I know a piano is not a car but the metaphor works since like cars, pianos also need routine maintenance and repair on the many working parts inside. So what does this all have to do with a piano tuner and technician?
Tuners vs. Technicians
The field of piano tuning is unregulated. This means anyone who wants to can call themselves a piano tuner and start a business. That would be like my neighbor opening his garage door and calling himself a mechanic. I’m not so sure I’m ready to trust my car to him. And yet, I talk with so many people who open up the yellow pages to piano tuner and blindly choose anyone to work on their prized instrument. 
The Piano Technicians Guild started to bring a regulating force to the piano tuning industry. Participation in the guild is optional but the technicians who seek certification through the guild are who I trust to work on my pianos.
Registered Piano Technicians must pass a series of written and practical exams to prove their mastery of piano design, tuning theory, repair techniques and other topics related to piano technology. These rigorous tests prepare technicians to provide a full range of services to their clients.
Pianos are complicated and delicate instruments and you invested a great deal into your piano. Protect your investment by knowing the difference between a piano tuner and a piano technician. Choose a Registered Piano Technician to care and maintain your instrument.
Steinway Grand Piano Rebuilding
A Steinway grand piano has a well-deserved reputation for quality and performance. Many pianists, concert halls and piano dealers trust and recommend the Steinway line of grand pianos to serious musicians looking to make a purchase to last a lifetime. Steinway pianos hold their value for decades because of the solid construction that goes into … Continued
Steinway Grand Piano Rebuilding
A Steinway grand piano has a well-deserved reputation for quality and performance. Many pianists, concert halls and piano dealers trust and recommend the Steinway line of grand pianos to serious musicians looking to make a purchase to last a lifetime. Steinway pianos hold their value for decades because of the solid construction that goes into each one.
Pianos Are Not Created Equal – Inner Rim Components
A piano is not your average instrument – not by a long shot. Unlike most other instruments, it has an extremely wide range which means that music for other instruments can be composed on a piano. This also makes a piano an incredibly effective way to teach music to those learning for the very first … Continued
Pianos Are Not Created Equal – Inner Rim Components
A piano is not your average instrument – not by a long shot. Unlike most other instruments, it has an extremely wide range which means that music for other instruments can be composed on a piano. This also makes a piano an incredibly effective way to teach music to those learning for the very first time. In many ways, pianos are the epitome of Western music. However, a grand piano is also one of the most complicated instruments given that it has thousands of parts – some small and some large – and ever part of the piano has an effect on the way it sounds when played. In fact, pianos have so many parts that even the best trained piano experts would find it near impossible to name them all.
Because each of these parts is so important, it is imperative that they are well protected. Some of the most minuscule and fragile parts of the grand piano are held within the inner rim. This means that the rim should be composed on the finest and most durable quality wood – preferably a laminated maple, spruce or beech wood. Additionally, this also means that regular maintenance. Even the tiniest part of a piano can have a major affect on other areas if it happens to break. For example, a broken string can cause the hammer to wear unevenly, or a broken pin can affect the tension of the strings and throw off the whole sound of the instrument.
The inner rim is the part of the piano that contains the sounding board, or “voice” of the piano as well as the bridge, plate, pin block, tuning pins and strings. In other words, it holds the heart of the piano. All of these parts are extremely important, and here is why:
Sounding Board – This “voice” of the piano is the part that is responsible for taking the vibrations from the strings and amplifying the notes into audible tones. Without the sounding board, the piano’s music would be much softer and not as full-bodied.
Bridge – The bridge is the part of the piano that is responsible for translating the string’s vibration into the sounding board where they are amplified into the music we hear.
Plate – The plate of the piano is generally made of aluminum and cast iron. The reason it is not made of wood – like much of the rest of the instrument – is because it is responsible for holding the tension of the strings. Most grand piano strings have a combined tension of multiple tons.
Pin block – The pin block is a large wood block at the holds all of a piano’s tuning pins. These pins are connected to the stings and affect the tension of the strings. The tension of a string is responsible for the note produced when a key is pressed.
Strings – The strings of a piano are the wires stretched and held into place by the plate. As each key is pressed, a small hammer strikes the string. Each string plays a different note, which is why each key makes a different sound.
If you’re ever curious about what lies within the inner rim of a piano, you can look at a diagram or ask one of the many music experts here at Cooper Piano – but do not attempt to rifle through the parts within a grand piano yourself as just the slightest tug can send a piano out of tune or, worse, cause expensive damage.
Have you seen the inside of the inner rim of a grand piano? Were you surprised by what you saw?
Highly Rated Schimmel Pianos Don’t Disappoint
In today’s hyper-connected world, we look at reviews and ratings for everything we consider purchasing whether it’s the latest smart phone or a new pair of shoes. We trust the opinions of our family, friends and coworkers so we might ask around, use social media or check out any one of the numerous review sites … Continued
Highly Rated Schimmel Pianos Don’t Disappoint
In today’s hyper-connected world, we look at reviews and ratings for everything we consider purchasing whether it’s the latest smart phone or a new pair of shoes. We trust the opinions of our family, friends and coworkers so we might ask around, use social media or check out any one of the numerous review sites on the Internet. So where do you turn to find information about the highest rated pianos?
Player Piano Repair And Maintenance
When it comes to music and owning musical instruments, everything needs to be well taken care of. Sometimes that means having things repaired or having routine maintenance, which is especially true for pianos, organs, keyboards and, yes, player pianos. I know how expensive it can get to keep up with a piano, and while it … Continued
Player Piano Repair And Maintenance
When it comes to music and owning musical instruments, everything needs to be well taken care of. Sometimes that means having things repaired or having routine maintenance, which is especially true for pianos, organs, keyboards and, yes, player pianos. I know how expensive it can get to keep up with a piano, and while it may seem like a pain at first, making sure all of the keys are in tune and the piano is up to snuff is very vital to its longevity and being able to make music well for many years. This is especially true for player pianos, which are usually working extra hard.
Piano Dealers And The Recession
We’ve all felt the hurt from this recession economy–it has been pretty difficult for most, and for others a hard recovery. However, things are slowly and surely getting better, which allows us to enjoy the nicer things in life. One, for example, is the joy of music. Musical instruments can get expensive, but, they are … Continued
Piano Dealers And The Recession
We’ve all felt the hurt from this recession economy–it has been pretty difficult for most, and for others a hard recovery. Howeve
r, things are slowly and surely getting better, which allows us to enjoy the nicer things in life. One, for example, is the joy of music. Musical instruments can get expensive, but, they are a once in a lifetime purchase that can be handed down to each generation, allowing for it to be experienced and loved again and again. One of those purchases can be a piano.
Used Piano For Sale And Buying From A Dealer
For those people that are presently in pursuit of a used piano for sale, this is a great idea as there are definitely dynamite deals out there to be found, and it isn’t that difficult to find them either. Whether looking locally or online, there are an amazing amount of options when it comes to buying used instruments, and although the most appealing part is the often the price, this should … Continued
Used Piano For Sale And Buying From A Dealer
For those people that are presently in pursuit of a used piano for sale, this is a great idea as there are definitely dynamite deals out there to be found, and it isn’t that difficult to find them either. Whether looking locally or online, there are an amazing amount of options when it comes to buying used instruments, and although the most appealing part is the often the price, this should not be the only detail that is considered when shopping around for a used piano.
Purchasing pretty much any product that isn’t brand new requires a totally different approach. Therefore, when a shopper sees a used piano for sale that they are thinking about buying, there are several things that should scrutinized prior to picking one. For this reason, some may prefer to do this sort of shopping in person because it’s a more personal experience and they can actually see the used piano up close or even play it, which is recommended.
In addition, during a visit to a reputable dealer, the experts there should certainly be able to provide more information on a particular used piano for sale that a customer may be potentially interested in, as well as answer any questions that they may have. When evaluating a used piano for sale, the history is of course quite important, this includes learning about the age and the environment it’s been exposed to. Furthermore, people commonly inquire about the previous owners and how much they played it or for what purpose it was used.
It is also advisable to ask if the used piano for sale that you will possibly be taking 
home is composed of all original parts or re-manufactured. Usually, regardless of how old a piano is, if it’s up for resale, chances are it’s probably been restored at least a little on the inside, outside, or both. This is normal and nothing to be concerned about, in fact, refurbishing can often result in upgrades which usually improve the performance or appearance of the piano in one way or another. However, it’s critical to note that a piano cannot be judged by it’s exterior, as it’s what is on the inside that counts just as much, if not more!
Another nice aspect of buying a used piano for sale directly from a dealer, is that they often come with a dealer warranty, which is helpful since the manufacturers warranty is often expired or non-transferable. Some piano dealers even offer moving and tuning services for free with the purchase. It’s because of these types of perks that pre-owned pianos are becoming more popular than ever. They are actually a perfect starting point for people who really want to play, yet aren’t looking to completely empty their pockets in order to do so.
Regardless of a persons particular preference in piano style, whether it be an upright or a 
baby grand, there is always a spectacular selection of pre-owned pianos available, no matter where someone may happen to live. Thanks to the convenience of the worldwide web, most people have access to virtually unlimited resources in regards to research or shopping for goods and services, right from the comfort of their living room. Speaking of room, future piano owners should also try to calculate how much space they can afford to compromise for a piano prior to picking one out.
Are you currently searching for a used piano for sale? If so, whether you are schooled on the subject or not, it would be a smart move to stop in and meet your local piano dealer. Locating a respected one that has established their longevity in the land of music is mandatory, this way, they can be relied upon to easily and appropriately address any issues involving a piano that was purchased at their place of business. Just remember, the sooner you pick one, the sooner you’ll be playing!