As I'm considering the possibility of purchasing a used piano, I'd like to educate myself more about what a tech should be checking when assessing a used/restored piano. Anyone wanna share your knowledge/experience in this regard?

I'm cross posting this from the tech forum cuz I figure non-tech people might have something valuable to share as well.

To be blunt. You have been here looking at my new pianos.
That was great. 5 hours of playing is a record!!!!
Now perhaps you can come back and I will explain the other aspect of my business.
I can show you the different jobs in progress and what to look for when you are shopping around.
I offer this tour to anyone looking for a used piano.
Especially important if your looking for a rebuilt instrument.

The information I can share, my weed out some pianos you may come across and save you the evaluation fees.

Read the Piano Buyer guide for that (see ad on right).

--Cy--

The one thing I would watch out first and foremost is considering the great price available on some great new pianos available on market today.

The value and 'sense' of buying a used piano today needs to be measured against this basic fact - either way may work.

However, the "picking" of what really makes sense today is becoming increasingly difficult - an honest tech personally knowledgable with latest product out there will have to agree.

Technicians can be uselful in this quest - or *not* - as a recent thread here had amply discussed...

Good luck in your search - please always follow your own sense and decide according how YOU connect with a particular instrument. Including the persons/people involved....

Norbert

Holy cr@p. 5 hours? I'd trust Rod's stuff far far far more than many other used pianos you might find out there. If you don't end up getting one from him, you should at least trust his judgment about a piano he may evaluate for you.

Rod, do you do evaluations? I had the idea you didn't...?

I'm happy to evaluate pianos being sold privately or by other dealer if they don't mind.
I avoid looking at rebuilt pianos from other rebuilders.
I also have no problems having other rebuilders or technicians check out our pianos before they leave the shop. In fact I encourage it.
Hey if I missed something I want to know before it's delivered.
I have had technicians in my shop every month for 20 years for PTG meeting and so far they still like me and our work. O.K. they like the work

BTW me advising Jason to revisit me was not a attempt to sell him something I have. All the pianos I am working on are owned by clients.

My invite was to answer his questions in the way of show and tell.

Yes I did spend some good hours at Rod's. I love playing , and when you get to play nice pianos time just flies! The Walters and Bluthners grands are really nice, but the Bluthners are way way out of my price range

I've read the Piano Buyer before but didn't notice any mentioning of the specific things a tech look for when they evaluate used piano. Perhaps I'm missing something? Care to point me to the right direction?

Thanks for chiming in Norbert. Yes, the ultimate decision will be made from my feeling with the piano, I'll only hire a tech if I'm very close to purchasing a used piano. I'm nothing close to that yet, but I want to prepare myself now just in case.

The Estonia and the Walters 190 both connect to me in a very different way. Your Estonia is very lyrical and poetic, and the Walters have a boldness in it. The Estonia is like a hot blonde, while the Walter is like my buddy that I hang out with. I remember someone in another thread giving his Estonia a female name - no doubt in my mind that Estonia is female and the Walters are male pianos!

Hi Jason:

Back to your question:

If I see the piano isn't a dog, I 1st check structural integrity, look for the big stuff. I then check the sustain and tone to understand the potential of the piano, or lack of potential. I'll also then check the mechanics, ie: action and trapwork, and then I'll talk to the person who called for the appraisal and try to determine their expectaions of the piano and try to determine if the piano meets their expectations.

Hope this helps

Steve