Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Thinking of buying a Baldwin 243 from 1984

The asking price is $1000. That seems fair if the piano checks out, but I wanted to ask around anyway.

Here are some pictures: http://imgur.com/a/dj5a7

The serial number is 389793. I believe that means it was made in 1984.

My mom actually had a piano just like this, made a few years earlier. I thought it was a great piano, she kept it in excellent condition as well. But eventually, as she later learned, the corfam on the hammer butts totally hardened up and ruined the sound. I read that Baldwin stopped using corfam in 1984 though, and someone from Gibson said for that serial number that buckskin was used. Fingers crossed.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Some pianos from that era had the synthetic material replaced under warranty. A 30 year old action may be a bit noisy, depending on the use and maintenance it has had but this stuff gets really noisy. Take a tech along anyway to know for sure.

The Corfam had no effect on the sound, but it sure can mess up the action. If you look under the top, it will appear as grey or black and white, instead of tan. To open the top of one of these, you need to open the keyboard cover and lift the front and top as one unit. There is a prop that swivels down to hold it open.

That is a nice looking Baldwin 243...

I have a 243 from that era, (1985) and I like it. It has a nice tone and holds a tuning very well; and I pound on it pretty hard at times.

The price doesn't sound too bad either, but I've seen them for a little less (and a little more). Probably wouldn't hurt to have a tech check it out to be on the safe side.

All the best.

Rick