Micek Music

Pianist Shirley Kirsten has written an excellent, extremely detailed article aimed at prospective piano buyers or sellers. Read it here .

From an article written by Pamela Fiori for the Wall Street Journal, published 1/5/13: Key Points: How to Shop for a Piano 1.  Purchasing a piano is like buying a car. Figure out if you want a used or new one, what size you have room for and what you want to spend. 2.  Don't go to a showroom by yourself. Bring your teacher, your tuner or a technician along to judge all the things you are clueless about. 3.  Don't buy a piano online unless you have the opportunity to see and play it beforehand. 4.  Make sure you get a warranty (for lifetime parts and 10 years' labor for the original owner; the warranty cannot be transferred). 5.  Don't be surprised—or devastated—if you end up with a piano that's bigger and more expensive than you counted on. You really do get what you pay for. 6.  If you want to know more than you need to about buying and owning a piano, order the fourth edition of "The Piano Book" (Brookside Press) by Larry Fine, with ...

Another informative video from Robert Estrin and Living Pianos . The best advice I would give to someone who is strongly considering purchasing a particular used piano: hire a piano technician to come with you and give the piano a thorough examination. Don't spend thousands of dollars purchasing an instrument that turns out be a lemon! Bring a piano technician (aka piano tuner or piano restorer) to the instrument first. Their cost will be small in relation to the greater cost of the instrument and will deliver you peace of mind about your purchase.

The "Living Pianos" blog contains a wealth of outstanding articles on piano technique, piano brands & models, how to care for an acoustic piano, and how to select the right piano for you. The "How to Buy a Piano" article is extremely informative. Highly recommended reading for anyone in the market for a new or used piano.

Some helpful tips on buying a piano. The article is written by teacher Yiyi Ku : Buying a piano is like buying a car; they can all take you from point A to B, but some cost a lot more than others. As to brands, there are many to suit every budget. Personally, I do not recommand anything that needs to be plugged into the wall in order to produce sound, so we are talking only about acoustic pianos here. Here are some tips: Piano Buying Tip #1 : Don't buy for looks! Don't buy a piano because 'it looks good'. Baby grands may be more pleasing to the eye, but a good upright can cost more, sound better, and play better than a cheap baby grand. If you are buying a piano for musical reasons, because your child is taking piano lessons, than looks is not the most important criteria. Piano Buying Tip #2 : Do your own research. Don't trust everything you hear or read in the shops. Some shops only carry certain brands. Some brands are heavily promoted because they provide the bi...

Here's an excellent (though slightly dated) article on this subject by noted piano teacher Martha Beth Lewis.  If you don't have time to read it, then just remember her closing thought:  " In the end, you should buy the best piano you can stretch to afford, whether it's new or used. And have a [piano] technician check it out before you sign the check. "

From Grebepiano.com, 2008: "Your new piano will be a valued, lifelong companion if you choose wisely. Do not be swayed by a fast-talking salesman, lowest price, or trendy looks. A piano should be chosen just as you would a valued friend. A piano is a musical instrument first, and a fine piece of furniture, second. All fine pianos will have certain characteristics with them. This is a discussion of what to look for." To read the rest of this article, click here .