Hello,
I am considering purchasing this piano...

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/1463621440.html

I am wondering more about these pianos, and what this particular one is worth/what I should pay. I could not find much information on the web. I need something affordable. Also, how much would a tuning normally cost for a piano like this? I assume I would need to have it tuned once moved to my house. It seems to be in great well kept condition. I am not looking for a super nice grand sounding instrument, but something I can keep in my living room and play from time to time and it not sound like a old dead honky tonk piano. Thanks!

David

This is better. A spinet will be the same to tune, but the cost of other maintenance will be much cheaper with the studio Baldwin.

What if I only paid $150 for the spinet?

You could consider this one as well. It looks like you have a lot of better pianos than spinets at the same price, so I would suggest you just leave the spinets out of consideration.

I really don't want to spend more than 100-150.

You will more than make up the difference in price if you ever need work done on the spinet. What if you only paid $150 for the Janssen? Make an offer!

I tried. They wont take lower than 330. I can get the spinet for 150 though. I don't plan to have this piano for more than a few years, I just think it would be nice to have while in my current home for now. If the piano is in good shape when I check it out, what maintenance or repair would need to be made? What problems do spinets normally have? Thanks for your help!

Does the Story & Clark have a drop action? It looks tall enough it may not. The plastic elbows in drop actions have the tendency to get brittle and break over the years. Removing a drop action from a piano is time consuming and not fun, so it's expensive to repair if there is a problem. If it doesn't have a drop action, I'd go for it.

how can i tell when i go to check it out?

also, is 150 a good deal?

Measurements are 60" wide X 40" high X 24" deep.

If you want a throw-away piano, the Story and Clark might be okay. The other two pianos are better, and more likely to retain their value, and so may be cheaper in the long run.

I tuned a Story like that in a church last week. Plenty of nasty overtones, but the hammers needed filing. It's worth the $150, assuming the tuning pins are tight.

thanks guys. i guess i just need to find out what the best type of piano is for my small budget.

how much am i looking at for a standard tuning? Assuming it doesnt need any other work...

I just tuned my piano for $75 But that is because I knew the tuner, and Chinese piano tuners usually charge less. A regular tuning from a certified tuner would cost from $125-250 depending on how much effort they will need to put in.

Also, do NOT buy a spinet piano. They are IMPOSSIBLE to fix once they are broken, and repairs will be costly. Also a lot of spinets have indirect action, so there will be a delay between you pressing down the key, and the string actually resonating. Also their soundboards are small and mediocre. In addition Baldwin>Story & Clark. Go with the console piano - you won't regret it.

well i ended up buying it. it seems to be in really good condition from what i do know about pianos. ill be sure to post some more pictures and info later once its set for a while, tuned, and opened up and played more. thanks for everyones advice!