0 items
No products in the cart.
3 easy steps to buying a piano
Buying a Piano
Purchasing a piano can seem like an overwhelming experience to many. There are scores of brands; a large selection of types of pianos from grands, verticals, digitals; not to mention the various levels of quality that are available. If you are thinking and feeling that a piano would be a fine acquisition for your home, for yourself or other family members (perhaps the kids are taking lessons), you just might feel like you’re standing in the cereal aisle at the grocery store and trying to make a decision on what to get! There are so many choices that it seems overwhelming.However, there’s an advantage to coming to a store like Piano World. We are always striving to be in the know about the industry; able to help folks through the maze and, more than that, we are passionate experts in the world of pianos! We’re proud of the fact that we’re not just sales people but musicians and technicians each with at least 30 years experience in the music business. (Yes, we started young!) So we’ll be glad to help you figure out just what you want, need and will be forever happy with after the fact. Our mission is to provide you with the best possible instrument within the budget you determine.
STEP ONE
Consider your options
STEP TWO
Consider your space
STEP THREE
Consider the warranty
STEP ONE
Consider your options
First- consider all the reasons that people buy pianos and ask yourself some important up front questions.
- Who is going to play the piano and what quality level is needed? Good? Better? Best?
- Will a used piano do or are we the type that likes to buy new with a warranty?
- What kind of piano do you want?
A grand? They have a very responsive action and a baby grand will fit in only a 5’ X 5’ space. Perhaps a professional Studio with richer tone will be just fine. Maybe a traditional console with a beautiful wood cabinet finish will be just what will work. Are the digital pianos that never need tuning and that you can play with headphones something you’ve thought of? These qualifying questions can be very helpful to target the right piano for your needs
STEP TWO
Consider your space
Here are some helpful guidelines about what’s available. Digital pianos come in basically two varieties..
- The piano series: these are the ones that have sounds and other features; and
- The ensemble series. These instruments have sounds and rhythms (music styles) to play along with. The ensemble series are usually the kind that many think of as having more ‘bells and whistles’ as the saying goes, but we prefer to refer to these as having far more ‘features’ for great music making. Come into our store for a demonstration of these features and you’ll see what we mean!
Grand pianos come in sizes ranging from just under 5 feet to a little over 9 feet. Thus we have Baby grands; Living Room grands and Concert grands. With all other things being equal, bigger is usually always better. This is because the richer tone quality will come from a piano with more sounding board square inches and the longer strings. Vertical pianos can range from the 36” tall spinet up to the older Victorian Uprights that can be 56” tall. Newer more modern vertical pianos come in CONSOLES that are about 42-44’’ tall; and STUDIOS that are 45’’ to 52’’ tall.
STEP THREE
Consider the warranty
Consider the warranty of the piano & company.
- How long does the warranty last?
Check the warranty to see when it begins and when it expires, as well as any conditions that may void coverage. - Who do you contact to get warranty service?
It may be the seller or the manufacturer who provides you with service. - What will the company do if the product fails?
Read to see whether the manufacturer will repair the piano or replace it and which conditions apply. - What parts and repair problems are covered?
Check to see if any parts of the piano or types of repair problems are excluded from coverage. - Are there any conditions or limitations on the warranty?
Some warranties provide coverage only if you maintain or use the piano as directed. For example, proper humidity and piano care may be an issue. Finally make sure the warranty will meet your needs.
