Just saw this ad on gumtree for a cheap refurb Steinway... I'm a bit of a newb but it sounds too good to be true. Anyone know what the deal is with this?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/reconditioned-steinway-upright-piano/111783340

I do not think it is particularly cheap for an old Steinway F. It is hard to assess it from the blurry photos.

The ad says "completely restored" which is about as fuzzy as one can get(although specific work done is listed later). Just using a phrase like that is, for me, a bad sign.

There is no date given for when the piano was originally built. I don't know if the work described can be done to a good level for the price being asked. It sounds like they may have just sprayed on some lacquer over the old finish. Whether this is at all acceptable other posters will probably know.

Definitely not cheap, IMO. Yep, photo quality is horrible.

A shame the sostenuto was removed.

Thanks guys.

I'm conscious that you're all not from the UK... so I wonder if you're not judging the price fairly for a UK Steinway.

The thing is I really want a well-priced used UK Steinway... if this isn't it then where can one get a reasonably priced one?

I think you first have to find, by having any candidates inspected by s tech, what the quality and extent of the rebuilding work is. Only then can you know how "fair" the price is.

If you're in the UK, mightn't you be as well or better off with a Bechstein or a Knight? I hadn't heard of Steinway uprights being so very special, though I'll admit I haven't played one.

I don't know... I haven't even heard of Knights.

A Bechstein would be great too really.

Tha mantra is; (all together now, not too loud);

Get it checked out by a tech.

Call the Royal Welsh School of Music and ask who they use.

Knight was a respected UK maker, I think known mainly for uprights. They're no longer in production, so all the cautions about inspection by a tech would apply.

I always recommend people read this before purchasing a used Steinway piano:

A Grand Guide to Buying a Used Steinway Piano: www.usedsteinwaypiano.com

Nice looking site Casey. I think your tag is enough though.