Have you ever bought a used piano?

AggieCouple

I'm looking on craigslist at the ones priced $300 and under.  ML is 4, so I don't want to commit to anything better until we know one of the kids might pursue it for a long time.

H thinks considering there are used upright pianos on CL going for $13000, $300 must be total cr*p, not even worth $300 and the muscle/time to move it.  I think as long as all the keys play and it stays in tune, it's good to go go.  

For once, I am the cheap one; or maybe he is being smart about the investment.  I am really not caring about the brand at all.  Should I care?  Will I end up just throwing away a $300 piano and spending more soon after?  Should I invest a teeny more?  

DandelionMom

I think I'd at least take the time to see it.  I have a piano that cost more to move than it was worth but it was a sentimental thing for me (was my grandmother's).  It is fine for the kids to learn on.  I don't see why we'd need anything better unless one of the kids really gets into it. 

KoriBrett

No matter what you do you will have to tune it after you get it in place.  That can run about $150 ish, more if strings/hammers need to be replaced, etc.

To me the big thing is how it sounds, and how it feels to play it.  Some have really super slow-action keys, some are almost effortless.  Some $$ pianos sound muffled and tinny, some of the cheap old upright grands have a bigger more rounded sound to them.  (if any of this makes sense... lol)

I would be more apt to go for a cheapish one that sounds good and feels good to play.  Unless someone plays into highschool & college, meh, it will be fine.  My mom paid $100 for a used upright grand when I started at age 5.  It's currently in my house being played occasionally.  It needs some repairs, but it's been a good hunk of wood, you know?  ;-)

ridesbuttons

It is so difficult to move a piano, I know people who would give one away as long as they didn't have to physically move it.  Most certainly it will need to be tuned, but if you can see it in advance and give it a try, what do you have to lose?

JOEBunny

We have one that is from my grandmother that is about 70 years old, so I didn't buy it, but there are a couple on our craigslist that are similar to one my mom has from the 80's are between $300 and $700.  Hers is fine, just not a "style" that everyone loves.  We felt the same way, we want the kids to give it a shot, but if they are as musically talented as I am, they will not play very long.  I want them to find something they enjoy and that is one of the things I wanted to try. 

She will start lessons at about 5.5 based on recs from the piano teachers I talked to.  

joy143dh

Like PP said, it'll run you about $150 to tune it and another $150 or so to move it properly.  I would call up a piano mover (many do tunings as well) and ask them to meet you there to look at it with you for $50.   The way I see it, it's like insurance on $300 for $50. 

AggieCouple

OK, am I crazy?  We were going to move it ourselves (strapped down, in the back of a truck).  Then have someone come and tune it at our house.

KoriBrett

We moved ours ourselves.  However, it took 4 big buff guys to do it and they still scraped up our front porch a little.  Lots of beer and lots of muscles.

AggieCouple

Hmmmmm.  I was imagining more like wheels, a ramp, H and a 4 month pregnant me.  No?

ShufflerChick

It's very difficult to move a piano and not damage it. That is why it costs a lot and there are movers who specialize in just this.

Have you considered getting a keyboard instead? There are nice ones out there that have a full keyboard and the same feel and sound of a piano with pedals and all, but without the pricey moving and tuning. They're great to learn on and take up less space, and you won't feel as bad getting a real piano later on if the kids show promise. My mom is professional pianist, I've been playing as long as I can remember, and we have a $600 keyboard at our house. Eventually, we'll splurge on the grand piano, but we don't have a need right now or the money, so we got the keyboard. I play it, my mom plays it, and DD loves it with all the different sounds and playback options.