Photo: Marta Wave

Are free pianos worth it?

The truth is that almost all pianos that are given away for free are not worth the cost of having it moved into your home. If the piano has experienced some of the neglect that has been mentioned above, you may be in for a costly transition to get your 'free' piano to a point where it can operate sufficiently.

masterpianoservices.com - Why You Should Avoid Free Pianos

Why could Freddie sing so well?

Freddie Mercury's jaw size had to be larger than normal to begin with to allow his extra teeth to fit into a normal arch form,” he added. It turns...

Last updated Dec 18, 2021

Why do parents get mad when their kids cry?

Many parents share that they often feel embarrassed when their child cries. It's helpful for parents when they become aware that these feelings are...

Last updated Nov 3, 2020

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Promotion

It seems everyday there are more and more used ‘free’ pianos up for grabs in online buy and sell ads. This can be a very enticing offer to someone that’s entering the world of piano ownership. As with anything that’s being given away there’s always the potential of great finds out there, but with used pianos it is extremely rare. In this article we will examine the world of the free used piano. Although the allure can be very strong, we will explain why choosing to take on a free used piano is almost always a loosing cause.

Let me ask you this: Why would a used piano be given away for free? Doesn’t the piano have value to the owners? Why don’t they want it anymore?

There are a number of reasons why these free pianos show up online. Let’s explore each of those in a little detail.

Reason 1 – The current owners no longer use the piano.

This is one of the most typical answers that you’ll get from the owners, and it’s most likely the main reason. Sometimes people take on a piano from a family member with the thought they will make use of it, and it ends up collecting dust until the decision is made to offer it up. This is understandable – many pianos get left alone without being played. The concern is that if the piano was never used then it was most likely also not maintained – that means no regular tunings, potential exposure to swings in humidity (some owners just stick the old piano in the garage), no cleaning, and a number of other exposures that happen to unwanted pieces of furniture (sunlight damage, water from spilt drinking glasses, etc). Reason 2 – The current owners are moving and do not want to move the piano with them. The owners have written their old piano out of their future plans – chances are that if they’re not taking it with them, then they have probably shown the piano the same neglect that I outlined above. If they do end up moving the piano with them, it’s very unlikely that they will use piano movers – why would they want to pay extra to have a piano moved that they didn’t really want to keep? If it ends up going with them, more caution should be applied when someone else finally does get around to taking the piano off their hands. Reason 3 – The current owners know it has no value, either monetary or sentimental.

Which pianos have the best sound?

6 Digital Pianos with the Most Realistic Piano Sounds Kawai MP11SE. You'd have trouble finding any list of keyboards with realistic piano sounds...

Last updated Aug 24, 2019

Can I work 9 12 hour shifts in a row?

The short answer is no. Although the law states that employees have the right to 24 hours of uninterrupted rest in a seven-day period, the terms...

Last updated Jul 20, 2020

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Promotion

In this case, the owners are aware the piano has no value – they may have even looked into it and found that they cannot get any money for it based on it’s condition. If a piano has been well maintained and is in good operating condition, then the owners will get some money for it. Older pianos that have been maintained can continue to be very useful for many decades. Ok, so now we have some understanding of why these pianos show up for free. If it’s being offered for free, why not take the piano? The truth is that almost all pianos that are given away for free are not worth the cost of having it moved into your home. If the piano has experienced some of the neglect that has been mentioned above, you may be in for a costly transition to get your ‘free’ piano to a point where it can operate sufficiently. As always with taking on any used piano, it is advisable to bring in a piano technician to determine the condition of the piano before to decide to take it home. (NOTE: The simplest of piano moves – main level home to another main level in a home – will cost a minimum of $250. Plus, then after you get it home and find out it cannot be tuned or fixed, for a reasonable price, that you will then need to pay to have it disposed of – that will cost an additional $300 min.) If you haven’t had a chance to read through any of the other Master Piano Services posts on piano inspections, here’s a brief listing of some of the conditions that are covered during the typical inspection of a used piano: Condition of the Keys: Key tops missing, keys level, side play, chucking, sticking or broken keys. Condition of the Soundboard and Bridge: Signs of dryness (cracks, warping, etc.), condition of bridge pins, ribs on back of soundboard.

What is 4 4 called?

common time The time signature of a piece of music indicates how many beats are in each measure, and what note value is equivalent to a beat. The...

Last updated Aug 31, 2021

What is the best age to discipline a child?

8 to 12 Months Experts say this is the best way to help your child stay out of trouble and makes it a lot easier to follow the rules. Oct 3, 2005

Last updated May 13, 2019

Promotion

Condition of the Hammers and Action Parts: Dryness and wear on hammers, alignment of hammers to strings, loose play in action parts, missing action parts. Condition of Pedals: Missing parts, loose pedals or trap work, squeaks, missing lift rod cushions. Condition of Dampers: Alignment to strings, unified movement, missing felt, dryness of felt.

Condition of Cabinet: Overall appearance, scratches, missing hardware, damaged casters or hinges.

These inspections are very thorough and will help to prevent you taking on a free used piano that may lead to very costly repairs. Ensure that you and your family have a great experience with music and owning a piano – take the time to understand the world of used pianos, and be cautious with the free used pianos out there. Read as much as you can about them before buying and owning. Ask questions with an experienced piano technician – we’re always here to help! We want your piano experience to be an enjoyable one.

Lee Johnson

Certified Piano Technician

Master Piano Services

Contact Us

masterpianoservices.com - Why You Should Avoid Free Pianos

Does songs increase IQ?

Exposure to the right kind of music and sounds in these years helps to develop a higher IQ in the teenage years - this, in turn, helps the child to...

Last updated Jul 25, 2021