OK, I'm sort of a hack. My main instrument is guitar, not the piano. However, that being said, my first instrument was the piano and organ. I just bought a house that has the room for a under 7 foot grand. Now, I love piano and my wife is also stoked about reviving her playing. My playing on keyboard has limited lately to my home studio that has Sampled pianos like Halion and Ivory. We have budgeted 20 to 30K (cdn.) for a grand piano. Now that will not buy you much in the Steinway world, or many others for that matter. I have looked at the the budget Steinways, Essex and Boston. I have looked at Yamahas in person and on Ebay, maybe a C5 used. I also played a Mason and Hamlin at a local store, which by the way I really liked, but it would be a little above the aforementioned budget. I am a little hesitant to buy a used piano that I have not played(ie: EBAY). Should I be? I suppose it could be checked out by a local technician who I could find from any local piano store in the area. Anyone with any experience in this? Also, I had never heard of Mason and Hamlin, yet I was pretty impressed by the contruction, playability, and tone of the several I played. Any pointers or help towards my piano purchase would be much appreciated.
Thanks and Cheers
Frank

Go for it. Many of us here doubled (and occasionally tripled ) our starting budgets while shopping for a grand.

Disclosure: I own an M&H A that I am deliriously happy with, and when I bought it I paid WAY more than what I started out thinking I was willing to spend. I don't regret a penny of it, though.

Yes, you should be. While a competent tech will be able to determine the condition of the piano, he cannot tell you whether you will like the touch or the tone.

BTW, when buying a piano, setting a "budget" is a nice starting point. Inevitably you will spend more than your budget. [Edit: Just saw Monica already said this. Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to repeat it!]

Good luck,
Derick

If you happen to be in the Vancouver B.C. area - and at the expense of sounding self-promoting - you may wish to check out our brand new series of "Premium Steigerman" uprights and grands now coming onto the market.

These are totally newly designed pianos meant to be the very best made anywhere in China today.

Musically they are to challenge any piano presently made in the Orient and to have appeal far beyond its own borders.

Known in Europe as "Wendl&Lung" they have had tremendous success for the last few years with some models already being found among several prestigeous colleges and conservatories there.

Steigerman Premium pianos and grands, made by same manufacturer, are finally out here in North America and, in our opinion, are nothing short of a small sensation.

Sitting right besides our Estonia, Sauter and Grotrian grands, they are holding their own nicely against some of the best pianos we happen to have in our showroom ourselves.

Needless to say, at less than half their price....

Norbert