Top 5 Reasons to Buy a Used/Restored Piano
Some people may have heard that a piano will never be as good as it was brand new, others that the materials and craftsmanship that went into an older instrument is often of a higher quality; there are many misconceptions about the differences between used and new pianos and it can sometimes be difficult to make an informed decision when it comes time to choose your instrument. The purpose of this article is to explore these topics, separate the fact from the fiction and present the top 5 reasons to buy a used/restored piano:
Quality of materials and lever of craftsmanship In an older instrument, it is often the case that the quality of wood and craftsmanship was higher than what goes into new pianos today. In recent years, many of the traditionally European and American piano companies have now outsourced their production to Asia. The use of cheaper materials and factory production has greatly lowered the production standard of the (especially less expensive) new pianos. It is true that there are phenomenal, handcrafted instruments still being made new today, but those will generally come at a very high price point.
A piano is an incredibly complicated piece of mechanical technology. Every acoustic piano contains hundreds of thousands of tiny parts and when neglected or abused, it is very possible for something to go wrong within the inner workings of the instrument. However the notion that an old instrument must also be a damaged instrument is entirely false when it comes to restored piano. A piano restored at the hands of experienced technicians can add twenty plus years onto an instrument’s lifespan.
After purchasing a brand new piano, the value of the instrument is likely to drop significantly upon purchase. When buying a used/restored piano, the instrument is likely to have already suffered the vast majority of its depreciation in value since it was newly built. Ultimately this can save you a lot of money not only at purchase but also down the road, should you decide to ultimately resell the piano. As long as you have your instrument tuned once every 6 months, stationed away from heaters and at a relatively constant humidity, your piano can last you a lifetime and, if it was used or restored, retain its value very well relative to that of a brand new piano.
Piano buying is almost never an inexpensive endeavor, so, especially when looking in the high end, it is always important to search for the very best value for your money. Purchasing a used or restored piano can often save you thousands to tens of thousands of dollars during your piano hunt and, for the reasons established before, can be of equal to even better quality. There is always the option of buying an incredible, brand-new and hand crafted instrument today but be prepared to pay for it. There’s no other way to put it: Buying a used/restored piano from a dealer who knows what they are doing will ultimately save you thousands on a piano of very competitive quality to that of one made brand new.
Each piano is always unique, but this is perhaps more true for used/restored instruments. Older pianos were often built in a variety of unique styles and shapes that we no longer see built today. It is important not to understate the aesthetic value a beautiful, antique piano adds to any room. A piano with a history has a strong sense of character. To know your instrument has a story of its own, that you are now a part of: Having a used/restored instrument can be an alluring thing of beauty that should never be placed below brand new .